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Commemorated on April 19
The Monk Simeon
the Bare-Foot (Bosoi) was the son of a priest. At 15 years of age he came
under the spiritual guidance of the bishop of Demetriada (Laryssa diocese),
Pakhomios, who gave him monastic vows and ordained him to monk-deacon. In order
to better learn strict monastic life, Saint Simeon soon withdrew to a monastery
near Mount Olympos, and from there he settled on Holy Mount Athos, at the Laura
of Saint Athanasias. By his humility and zealous obedience he there gained the
respect of the brethren and was ordained to priest-monk. When the monk
transferred to the Philotheon monastery, he intensified his God-pleasing-toil,
he became an example for the brethren, gained their overall love and was
unanimously chosen as head of this monastery. Afterwards, through the sly
cunning of the enemy of good, Saint Simeon had to put up with unjust grumbling
on the part of weak-souled monks. Leaving it to the will of God to bring
judgement upon the culprits, Saint Simeon quit the monastery and withdrew to
Mount Phlamuria. There, in solitude and quiet, without roof nor fire, in old
clothing, and almost without food, in constant prayer either standing or on bended-knees,
the holy hermit carried on the inner struggle. After three years certain
God-loving people came upon him, and inspired with reverence for his lifestyle,
they besought him to accept them to live with him.
After seven years by
the efforts and zeal of Saint Simeon a whole monastery was formed. A church was
built in the Name of the Most Holy Trinity, wherein the monk made daily Divine
liturgy. When the life of the brethren in the wilderness monastery had been put
in order, the wise servant left the monastery and began to preach the Word of
God in Epirus, Thessaly and Athens. By his instructions and teaching the saint
affirmed the wavering in their faith, those in error he set aright on the way
to salvation, the strong in their faith he made even stronger, and he taught al
to love one another, and to observe Sundays and feastdays with a visit to the
churches of God.
The boldness of the
holy confessor aroused the wicked malice of the opponents of the Christian
faith. In the city of Euripa they slandered the Monk Simeon in front of the
city-governor, Ayan, accusing him of making a Turk accept Christianity. The
saint was arrested and sentenced to public burning. But the providence of God
did not permit of the culmination of the injustice. At the interrogation where
the condemned one had been led to in shackles, barefoot (bosoi) and in an old
ryasa, Saint Simeon – inspired by the Holy Spirit – so wisely gave answer to
the governor, that Ayan was not able to impose the death sentence. The saint
received his freedom and continued with his efforts, sealing the preaching of
Christianity by healings and miracles. Many followed after the Monk Simeon and
entrusted themselves into full obedience to him. Everyone he accepted, he gave
blessing for the monastic life and sent them on to his monastery. The work of
Saint Simeon finished at Constantinople. He peacefully expired to the Lord and
was buried reverently by the patriarch himself at Chalkas, in a church in
honour of the Most Holy Mother of God. After 2 years, when the monks of the
Phlamuria monastery decided to transfer his holy relics to the monastery, and
the grave with his body was opened, fragrance wafted forth and here already
began healings.
The Vita and the
Service to the Monk Simeon were published at Smyrna in the year 1646.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.
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