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Symeon of Trier

December 15, 2023

Saint Simeon of Trier (or of Syracuse), also Symeon (Greek: Ὁ Ὅσιος Συμεὼν ὁ Πεντάγλωσσος ὁ Σιναΐτης, Sicilian: San Simeuni di Saraùsa), was a monk and recluse who died in Germany in 1035. He is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church with his feast day on May 1,[1] and in the Catholic Church in Germany.[2]

Tomb of St. Simeon of Trier

Life edit

Simeon was born in the late 10th century in Syracuse, Sicily,[3] to a Greek father and a Calabrian mother, during the period of Arab rule of the island. His father, who had been a soldier of the Byzantine army, sent him to Constantinople when he was seven years old to learn to read and write their native Greek language. As he grew older, Symeon decided to lead a life of religion, so he set out on a pilgrimage to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Afterwards, for seven years, he became a guide, leading pilgrims to the holy places, before tiring of this life and preferring instead to live as a recluse.

Having heard of a holy recluse who lived in a tower on the bank of the Jordan River, Simeon went to work as his servant, living in the lower room of the tower, while learning from his new master how to practise the life of a recluse. Forced to depart, he realised after reading and re-reading the Lives of the Fathers (Vitae patrum), that in order to become a recluse he should train for a time in a monastery. As a result, he entered the Monastery of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem and became a monk. After two years there, he transferred to the famed Saint Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai in Egypt. While he was a member of that community, he was ordained as a deacon.[4]

After serving the brethren for some years there, Simeon gained the abbot's permission to depart to live as a hermit, settling alone in a small cave on the shore of the Red Sea. A monk from the monastery brought him bread every Sunday, but after two years, being disturbed by passing sailors and seeing how worn out the monk who brought his food had become, he decided to return to the monastery. On the orders of his abbot he then restored a ruined monastery on the peak of Mount Sinai, but upon his return he still conceived a desire to live as a hermit, so he absconded and found a spot in the desert. The abbot soon discovered him, and called him back to the monastery.

In 1026 the abbot sent Simeon to Rouen in France on monastery business with Richard II, Duke of Normandy. He duly set out, but while travelling down the Nile his boat was attacked by pirates, who butchered the crew. Simeon barely escaped with his life, diving into the water. When he swam ashore he had no idea whether the people in the little village he reached were Christian or not, because he was unable to communicate with them in any of the languages he spoke (namely Coptic, Syrian, Arabic, Greek and Latin).

Eventually Simeon made his way to Antioch, where he joined a group of some 700 pilgrims returning from Jerusalem, among whom was the German abbot, Eberwin, of the Abbey of Tholey. Simeon joined the group, but when they reached Belgrade the Hungarian officials barred them from going any farther, so they returned via Rome to France. Simeon finally reached Rouen, only to find that Duke Richard was dead. He fulfilled his mission and then traveled around France and Germany, visiting Abbot Eberwin in Tholey and going to Trier.[3]

In the meantime Poppo, Archbishop of Trier (1016–1047), was planning a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and, after meeting Simeon, invited him to accompany him on the journey. They set out and reached Jerusalem. Simeon, however, chose not to return to his own monastery in Egypt, instead accompanying Poppo back to Trier, a trip which lasted from 1028–1030.

After their return, Simeon asked Poppo if he could live as a recluse in the great Roman gate of the city, the Porta Nigra. Poppo agreed and conducted a ceremony on 29 November 1030, the feast day of St. Andrew, before all the clergy and people in which Symeon was enclosed in a cell, high in the gate tower.[3]

 
St. Simeon, in the vestments of a deacon, being attacked by demons

Shortly after he was enclosed, 'dead and buried to the world' for his love of God, a great flood ravaged the city and country round about. The people now thought that Symeon was a sorcerer whose devilry had caused the flood, so they pelted his cell with stones, breaking the window. Even so, Symeon persisted with his prayers and fasts, allegedly beating off demonic attacks, eating a sparse diet of bread, water and beans, and praying upright with his arms outstretched, lest in lying down he fall asleep. He died on 1 June 1035, and was buried in his cell, just as he had insisted.

Veneration edit

Within a month miracles were being reported at his tomb, and a ladder was set up so that sick and needy pilgrims could climb up to his shrine.

At the urging of Poppo, Abbot Eberwin wrote an account of his life and early miracles in the very same year he died - as Maurice Coens has shown.[5] Archbishop Poppo swiftly sent this to Pope Benedict IX, who responded with an official bull of canonization. Poppo then founded a monastery at the site of Symeon's life and tomb. When Poppo died in 1047, he was buried there.

He was canonized in 1042 by Pope Benedict IX. Many more miracles were recorded subsequently, and the fame of St Symeon spread far and wide.[6]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Ὁ Ὅσιος Συμεὼν ὁ Πεντάγλωσσος ὁ Σιναΐτης (in Greek). synaxarion.gr. 1 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
  2. ^ Heikkilä, Tuomas (2001). (PDF). Vol. 1. Helsinki. Archived from the original on 2004-05-21.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ a b c Monks of Ramsgate. "Simeon". Book of Saints 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 8 November 2017  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ Jestice, Phyllis G. (2004). Holy People of the World: A Cross-Cultural Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 808. ISBN 1-85109-649-3.
  5. ^ Maurice Coens, ‘Un document inédit sur le culte de S. Syméon, moine d’orient et reclus a Trèves’, Analecta Bollandiana 68 (1950), 181–96 [184–86].
  6. ^ Eberwin, ‘De sancto Symeone, recluso in porta Trevirensi’, AASS, Jun 1, cols 0089A-0101E

Sources edit

  • Eberwin, ‘De sancto Symeone, recluso in porta Trevirensi’, Acta Sanctorum, Jun 1, cols 0089A-0101E.
  • Maurice Coens, ‘Un document inédit sur le culte de S. Syméon, moine d’orient et reclus a Trèves’, Analecta Bollandiana 68 (1950), 181–96.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saint Simeon of Trier.

December 15, 2023
symeon, trier, saint, simeon, trier, syracuse, also, symeon, greek, Ὅσιος, Συμεὼν, Πεντάγλωσσος, Σιναΐτης, sicilian, simeuni, saraùsa, monk, recluse, died, germany, 1035, venerated, saint, eastern, orthodox, church, with, feast, catholic, church, germany, tomb. Saint Simeon of Trier or of Syracuse also Symeon Greek Ὁ Ὅsios Symeὼn ὁ Pentaglwssos ὁ Sinaiths Sicilian San Simeuni di Sarausa was a monk and recluse who died in Germany in 1035 He is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church with his feast day on May 1 1 and in the Catholic Church in Germany 2 Tomb of St Simeon of Trier Contents 1 Life 2 Veneration 3 See also 4 References 5 Sources 6 External linksLife editSimeon was born in the late 10th century in Syracuse Sicily 3 to a Greek father and a Calabrian mother during the period of Arab rule of the island His father who had been a soldier of the Byzantine army sent him to Constantinople when he was seven years old to learn to read and write their native Greek language As he grew older Symeon decided to lead a life of religion so he set out on a pilgrimage to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem Afterwards for seven years he became a guide leading pilgrims to the holy places before tiring of this life and preferring instead to live as a recluse Having heard of a holy recluse who lived in a tower on the bank of the Jordan River Simeon went to work as his servant living in the lower room of the tower while learning from his new master how to practise the life of a recluse Forced to depart he realised after reading and re reading the Lives of the Fathers Vitae patrum that in order to become a recluse he should train for a time in a monastery As a result he entered the Monastery of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem and became a monk After two years there he transferred to the famed Saint Catherine s Monastery on Mount Sinai in Egypt While he was a member of that community he was ordained as a deacon 4 After serving the brethren for some years there Simeon gained the abbot s permission to depart to live as a hermit settling alone in a small cave on the shore of the Red Sea A monk from the monastery brought him bread every Sunday but after two years being disturbed by passing sailors and seeing how worn out the monk who brought his food had become he decided to return to the monastery On the orders of his abbot he then restored a ruined monastery on the peak of Mount Sinai but upon his return he still conceived a desire to live as a hermit so he absconded and found a spot in the desert The abbot soon discovered him and called him back to the monastery In 1026 the abbot sent Simeon to Rouen in France on monastery business with Richard II Duke of Normandy He duly set out but while travelling down the Nile his boat was attacked by pirates who butchered the crew Simeon barely escaped with his life diving into the water When he swam ashore he had no idea whether the people in the little village he reached were Christian or not because he was unable to communicate with them in any of the languages he spoke namely Coptic Syrian Arabic Greek and Latin Eventually Simeon made his way to Antioch where he joined a group of some 700 pilgrims returning from Jerusalem among whom was the German abbot Eberwin of the Abbey of Tholey Simeon joined the group but when they reached Belgrade the Hungarian officials barred them from going any farther so they returned via Rome to France Simeon finally reached Rouen only to find that Duke Richard was dead He fulfilled his mission and then traveled around France and Germany visiting Abbot Eberwin in Tholey and going to Trier 3 In the meantime Poppo Archbishop of Trier 1016 1047 was planning a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and after meeting Simeon invited him to accompany him on the journey They set out and reached Jerusalem Simeon however chose not to return to his own monastery in Egypt instead accompanying Poppo back to Trier a trip which lasted from 1028 1030 After their return Simeon asked Poppo if he could live as a recluse in the great Roman gate of the city the Porta Nigra Poppo agreed and conducted a ceremony on 29 November 1030 the feast day of St Andrew before all the clergy and people in which Symeon was enclosed in a cell high in the gate tower 3 nbsp St Simeon in the vestments of a deacon being attacked by demonsShortly after he was enclosed dead and buried to the world for his love of God a great flood ravaged the city and country round about The people now thought that Symeon was a sorcerer whose devilry had caused the flood so they pelted his cell with stones breaking the window Even so Symeon persisted with his prayers and fasts allegedly beating off demonic attacks eating a sparse diet of bread water and beans and praying upright with his arms outstretched lest in lying down he fall asleep He died on 1 June 1035 and was buried in his cell just as he had insisted Veneration editWithin a month miracles were being reported at his tomb and a ladder was set up so that sick and needy pilgrims could climb up to his shrine At the urging of Poppo Abbot Eberwin wrote an account of his life and early miracles in the very same year he died as Maurice Coens has shown 5 Archbishop Poppo swiftly sent this to Pope Benedict IX who responded with an official bull of canonization Poppo then founded a monastery at the site of Symeon s life and tomb When Poppo died in 1047 he was buried there He was canonized in 1042 by Pope Benedict IX Many more miracles were recorded subsequently and the fame of St Symeon spread far and wide 6 See also editSaints canonized by Pope Benedict IXReferences edit Ὁ Ὅsios Symeὼn ὁ Pentaglwssos ὁ Sinaiths in Greek synaxarion gr 1 Maioy MEGAS SYNA3ARISTHS Heikkila Tuomas 2001 The Papers of the Nordic Conference on the History of Ideas From Local Hero to European Celebrity The Textual History of the Legend of St Symeon of Trier PDF Vol 1 Helsinki Archived from the original on 2004 05 21 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link CS1 maint unfit URL link a b c Monks of Ramsgate Simeon Book of Saints 1921 CatholicSaints Info 8 November 2017 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Jestice Phyllis G 2004 Holy People of the World A Cross Cultural Encyclopedia Vol 1 Bloomsbury Academic p 808 ISBN 1 85109 649 3 Maurice Coens Un document inedit sur le culte de S Symeon moine d orient et reclus a Treves Analecta Bollandiana 68 1950 181 96 184 86 Eberwin De sancto Symeone recluso in porta Trevirensi AASS Jun 1 cols 0089A 0101E Portals nbsp Biography nbsp Catholicism nbsp Germany nbsp ItalySources editEberwin De sancto Symeone recluso in porta Trevirensi Acta Sanctorum Jun 1 cols 0089A 0101E Maurice Coens Un document inedit sur le culte de S Symeon moine d orient et reclus a Treves Analecta Bollandiana 68 1950 181 96 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saint Simeon of Trier Symeon of Trier in the Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints Trier people over 2025 years Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Symeon of Trier amp oldid 1174569808, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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