Simeon Stylites

Saint

Simeon Stylites
Saint; Simeon Stylites
	6th century depiction of Simeon on his column. A scallop shell symbolizing spiritual purity blesses Simeon; the serpent represents demonic temptations (Louvre).
Venerable Father
Born	c. 390; Sis, Cilicia, Eastern Roman Empire
Died	2 September 459 (aged 68–69) ; Qalaat Semaan, Byzantine Syria (between Aleppo and Antioch)
Venerated in	Oriental Orthodox Church; Eastern Orthodox Church; Catholic Church; Anglican Communion;
Canonized	Pre-congregation
Feast	1 September (Eastern Orthodox Church); 29 Pashons (Coptic Orthodox Church); 5 January (Western Christianity); 27 July (Syriac Orthodox Church); Monday after second Sunday of the Exaltation of the Cross (Armenian Apostolic Church);
Attributes	Clothed as a monk in monastic habit, shown standing on top of his pillar

Simeon Stylites or Symeon the Stylite (Greek: Συμεών ό Στυλίτης; Syriac: ܫܡܥܘܢ ܕܐܣܛܘܢܐ, romanized: Šimʕun dʼAstˁonā; Arabic: سمعان العمودي, romanized: Simʿān al-ʿAmūdī c. 390 – 2 September 459) was a Syrian Christian ascetic who achieved notability by living 36 years on top of a pillar near Aleppo (in modern Syria). Several other stylites later followed his model (the Greek word style means "pillar"). Simeon is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, Oriental Orthodox Churches, and the Eastern Orthodox Church. He is known formally as Simeon Stylites the Elder to distinguish him from Simeon Stylites the Younger, Simeon Stylites III and Symeon Stylites of Lesbos.