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Venerable Simeon of Emessa the Fool-For-Christ, and his fellow ascetic Venerable John (21 July)

July 21, 2026 · 1 min read

The Monks Simeon, Fool-for-Christ, and his Fellow-Ascetic John were Syrians, and they lived in the sixth century at the city of Edessa. From childhood they were bound by close ties of friendship. The older of them, Simeon, was unmarried and lived with his aged mother. John, however, although he was married, lived with his father (his mother was dead) and with his young wife. Both friends belonged to wealthy families. When Simeon was thirty years old, and John twenty-four, they made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Venerable and Life-Creating Cross of the Lord. On the journey home the friends spoke of the soul’s path to salvation. Dismounting their horses, they sent the servants on ahead with the horses, while they continued on foot.

Passing through Jordan, they saw monasteries on the edge of the desert. Both of them were filled with an irrepressible desire to leave the world and spend their remaining life in monastic struggles. They turned off from the road, which their servants followed to Syria, and they prayed zealously that God would guide them to the monasteries on the opposite side. They besought the Lord to indicate which monastery they…

Source: Orthodox Times · Read the full story →

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Δέσποινα Χατζή

These two friends, Simeon and John, left the horses and servants and went on foot to the Jordan. It struck me that Simeon had an old mother and John a young wife, yet they chose the monastery. How different from us today.

Eleni Prifti

I was also impressed that Simeon left his old mother at 30 and John his new wife at 24, yet they walked to the Jordan without turning back. Today we find it difficult to leave the mobile phone for an hour. What a strong faith these two had.

Πέτρος Λαμπρόπουλος

Yes, Despina, that's exactly what I was left with. Simeon left his old mother without a second thought, while John his young wife, and yet they continued on foot towards the Jordan. Today we find it difficult even for a week away from the children. How the world has changed, huh?

Ηλίας Χατζής

Yes Despina, what you say about the old mother and the new wife made an impression on me too. Simeon even had to arrange some things for his mother before leaving, as he says further down in the text. Today we find it difficult to leave even the mobile phone for an hour, let alone everything. What do you say, could we today do something similar even a little?

Ζωή Λαμπροπούλου

Yes, Elias, the story of Simeon's old mother and John's young wife stuck with me too. Further down I see that Simeon did make sure to get his mother's finances in order first. Today we have a hard time even putting down the cell phone, as you say, but maybe we can start with something small, like walking a little more without looking at a screen. What would you try first?

Yes, Zoe, Simeon's old mother made an impression on me too, that he only left her when he first sorted out the house and the money. I would first try leaving the cell phone at home when I go for an afternoon walk in the church garden. Have you tried anything like this lately?

Βασιλική Θεοδώρου

Not yet Despina, but I liked that you said it. I left the cell phone in the drawer yesterday afternoon before I went to water the basil in my garden and I felt calmer. Simeon settled his mother first, this shows how responsible he was. Did you finally try it with the walk?

Ανδρέας Παναγιωτόπουλος

Yes, Simeon's old mother shows how responsible he was before he left. I left the cell phone in the locker yesterday before going to basketball at the parish court and I felt lighter. Did you finally try it with the walk in the garden?

Μαρία Παππά

Yes, Basiliki, Simeon taking care of his mother first shows how down to earth and responsible he was before he left. Yesterday I put the mobile phone in the drawer all day and quietly sewed a pillow for the church, without missing anything. Did you finally go for a walk or did you just stay with the royals?