Память преподобного Симеона Ветхого

The Monk Simeon, called “Old” 1008, from a young age led a desert life, settling in one small cave in Syria, in complete solitude. His life was spent in strict fasting, continuous prayer and contemplation of God. His only food was the herbs that grew around the cave. This is how he labored for many years. When those who wanted to see him began to flock to him and thereby disturb his silence, he left the cave and moved to Mount Aman 1009; but even here he found no peace from the many who flocked to him. Then he retired to Mount Sinai 1010. But God did not deign that the monk should remain at Sinai, for he should have served the salvation of others in the former place of his exploits. Therefore Simeon returned to Aman. Under his leadership, in a short time, two monastic monasteries were established here: one at the top of the mountain, the other below, at the foot of the mountain. Managing the monasteries, the Monk Simeon watched over the ascetics entrusted to his leadership, encouraged and strengthened them in deeds of piety, warned them about the attacks and intrigues of the enemy of our salvation and guided them in the fight against him, aroused them to inner attention, disposed them to meekness, condescension towards their neighbors, and generosity towards their enemies. For his tireless deeds, the monk received from God the grace to command even fierce beasts. Having lived a godly life, the monk, in deep old age, rested in peace in the Lord 1011. He is called “old” or ancient in comparison with the Monk Simeon the Stylite, who after him also labored in Syria. Aman is the peak of Mount Anti-Lebanon, in northern Palestine, east of the Mediterranean Sea. Mount Sinai is actually a group of mountains consisting of granite rocks, cut and surrounded by steep valleys; among the Arabs it is now called Mount Tur or Jebel Tur-Sina; lies almost in the middle of the famous branches of the Red Sea, which form the Sinai Peninsula. It consists of three mountain ranges. Mount Sinai itself, at which the Israelites entered into a covenant with God, represents the highest peak of the middle ridge. The Monk Simeon the Old reposed in about 390. You might be interested in: