Simeon Stylite's Influence on Later Ascetic Practices
James Lanbro
Religion 204
April 10th, 2013
Saint Simeon Stylites Influence on Later Ascetic Practices
Saint Simeon Stylite the Elder was a pioneer of early Christian monasticism. He is noted today as the man who sat atop a pillar, braving the cold, heat, sleet and rain, day and night, for 37 years. Living mostly in the fifth century, he was highly influential in convincing Pagans and Jews to convert to Christianity (1). After his death, he became a prime example influencing Monk’s in the practice of asceticism. His extreme examples of fasting, self-torture and prayer were all examples of how to become closer to the Biblical Lord.
Simeon was born approximately 389 CE to a middle class family in a small village in northern Syria. His family owned a flock of sheep to which he tended in his youth. At the age of 13, while herding his sheep, he stumbled upon a Christian Church on a Sunday. There he heard a sermon that influenced him to become a Christian. By the age of 18 he left his family to live in a nearby monastery to become a monk. As a monk he practiced extreme forms of ascetics including hermitage, fasting and self-torture (2). “Behold, my servant shall prosper, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. As many were astonished at him – his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the sons of men- so shall he startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which has not been told them they shall see, and that which they have not heard they shall understand.” Isaiah 53.13 – 15
John the Baptist, Jesus and his disciples and Saint Paul practiced ascetics and were Simeon’s major influences. Both John and Jesus practiced a 40 day fast, and both suffered a greatly terrible tortured death. Ascetics were a giant part of Simeon’s methods of operation. From the time he discovered the Gospel as an adolescent he began fasting as a form of worship. When he was in his
Religion 204
April 10th, 2013
Saint Simeon Stylites Influence on Later Ascetic Practices
Saint Simeon Stylite the Elder was a pioneer of early Christian monasticism. He is noted today as the man who sat atop a pillar, braving the cold, heat, sleet and rain, day and night, for 37 years. Living mostly in the fifth century, he was highly influential in convincing Pagans and Jews to convert to Christianity (1). After his death, he became a prime example influencing Monk’s in the practice of asceticism. His extreme examples of fasting, self-torture and prayer were all examples of how to become closer to the Biblical Lord.
Simeon was born approximately 389 CE to a middle class family in a small village in northern Syria. His family owned a flock of sheep to which he tended in his youth. At the age of 13, while herding his sheep, he stumbled upon a Christian Church on a Sunday. There he heard a sermon that influenced him to become a Christian. By the age of 18 he left his family to live in a nearby monastery to become a monk. As a monk he practiced extreme forms of ascetics including hermitage, fasting and self-torture (2). “Behold, my servant shall prosper, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. As many were astonished at him – his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the sons of men- so shall he startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which has not been told them they shall see, and that which they have not heard they shall understand.” Isaiah 53.13 – 15
John the Baptist, Jesus and his disciples and Saint Paul practiced ascetics and were Simeon’s major influences. Both John and Jesus practiced a 40 day fast, and both suffered a greatly terrible tortured death. Ascetics were a giant part of Simeon’s methods of operation. From the time he discovered the Gospel as an adolescent he began fasting as a form of worship. When he was in his
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