Simeon Stylites

Christian ascetic saint

Source-basedRising

Lived 389–459, aged 70

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Wikipedia
39 languages
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Era
389–459
Aged 70

Summary

Updated 2026-05-29

Fifth-century Syrian ascetic who became a major draw by literally moving into a pillar near Aleppo for 36 years. The stunt spawned a whole movement of pillar-dwelling monks and secured him sainthood across three major Christian denominations.

Biography

About

Simeon Stylites or Symeon the Stylite was a Syrian Christian ascetic who achieved notability by living 36 years on top of a pillar near Aleppo. Several other stylites later followed his model. 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.

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