Bio

 

 Simeon was born in modern-day Turkey in the city of Antioch. His mother was named Martha and later became a saint herself, after raising Simeon on her own after Simeon's father died when he was five years old. When this happened, he was also entrusted into the care of a monk named John, who became his closest friend. When Simeon was only seven, he and John built pillars, inspired by his namesake of the first Simeon Stylites, and they sat atop their pillars to have peace in their prayer and contemplation.

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Though they had built these pillars to find solitude, word spread about their choice of living and their extraordinary devotion to prayer, and pilgrims came to visit the two of them. Simeon, who was now 20 years old, came down from his pillar to avoid this and to hide in the mountains.

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More people continued to arrive, hoping to learn from him, however, so several years later, Simeon re-emerged to build a monastery for them and a new pillar there for himself.

 

He was ordained a deacon, also, before he climbed back up his pillar.

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After John died, it was said that Simeon became even more minimalist and solitary, eating only what grew on a nearby branch and, after being ordained a priest, having visitors receive communion from him on his pillar by climbing a ladder. He would even celebrate Mass from his platform, and it was said he made many miracles happen from there as well.

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As his life drew to a close, Simeon moved to a new pillar on a more isolated mountainside, where he remained until he passed away. During this time, he likely wrote the letters and hymns attributed to him. In all, Simeon lived for about 76 years, spending about 70 of those off of the ground.