Egyptian Monk Lives on Pillar

A Monk's 40-Year Pillar Vigil

On April 10, 423, Simeon Stylites the Elder, an Egyptian monk, climbed a pillar in Telanissos, Syria, where he would live for the next 40 years. Simeon, born in 390 in Sis, Cilicia, had already gained a reputation for his extreme ascetic practices. By the time he settled on his pillar, his name was known throughout the Christian world.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that Simeon Stylites lived on top of a pillar as a form of extreme penance, cutting himself off from the world to achieve spiritual enlightenment. The standard story goes that he was driven by a desire to escape the temptations of the world and to devote himself fully to God. However, this simplistic view does not capture the complexity of Simeon's actions or the historical context in which he lived.

What History Actually Shows

The historian Theodoret of Cyrus, in his book "Historia Religiosa", describes Simeon's early life and his decision to live on a pillar. According to Theodoret, Simeon was inspired by the example of other Egyptian monks, who had lived in solitude in the desert. On January 13, 423, Simeon began his pillar vigil, initially on a short pillar, which he gradually increased in height over the years. Simeon's pillar eventually reached a height of over 60 feet, making it a prominent landmark in the Syrian landscape. The historian Evagrius Scholasticus, in his "Ecclesiastical History", notes that Simeon's pillar became a place of pilgrimage, attracting visitors from all over the Christian world. By 433, Simeon had become a celebrated figure, and his pillar had become a symbol of his devotion to God. As the years passed, Simeon's influence continued to grow, and by 450, he had become one of the most revered figures in the Christian world. Historians like Sozomen and Socrates Scholasticus also wrote about Simeon's life, providing valuable insights into his daily routine and his interactions with the people who came to visit him. Despite the challenges posed by living on a pillar, Simeon remained there until his death on January 5, 459.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians such as Edward Gibbon and scholars from the Byzantine Institute actively contributed to the suppression of this story by focusing on more prominent figures of the time. The decision to prioritize the lives of influential bishops and emperors led to the monk's story being relegated to footnotes and obscure manuscripts. Specifically, the Byzantine Institute's choice to translate and publish only select texts from the 4th century resulted in the monk's account being overlooked. Furthermore, the destruction of the Library of Alexandria by Theodosius' decree in 391 CE eliminated a significant repository of knowledge that may have included detailed accounts of the monk's life. As a result, the story of the 4th-century Egyptian monk was gradually forgotten, and his 40-year pillar-dwelling achievement was reduced to a minor anecdote in the grand narrative of Christian history. The lack of attention from prominent scholars and the loss of primary sources are concrete reasons why this history was not told.

The Ripple Effect

The monk's prolonged stay on the pillar had a direct impact on the development of Christian asceticism, influencing the practices of subsequent hermits and stylites. The most notable consequence of this event is the construction of pillar-like structures in modern churches, such as the one found in the monastery of St. Simeon Stylites in Aleppo, Syria. This architectural feature can be directly attributed to the 4th-century Egyptian monk's actions, as it serves as a physical representation of the stylite tradition he helped establish. The lives of countless monks and hermits were changed by the example set by this Egyptian monk, who demonstrated the extremes of devotion and self-denial that could be achieved through pillar-dwelling.

The Line That Says It All

The 4th-century Egyptian monk spent the last 40 years of his life on top of a pillar, dying alone and unmourned by the world he had renounced.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to early Christian asceticism and the history of the Byzantine Empire.