St. Simeon wrote 36 epistles and essays on spiritual topics and current ecclesiastical matters.
There is also extant a Latin version of a sermon, deMorte Assidue Cogitanda.
The following details are biographical only:
We have two accounts of St. Simeon’s life that are extant – one by his disciple Markolon, the other by Cosma the Priest in 472.
He was originally an enclosed anchorite, and raised his cell to avoid the honors paid to him.
St. Simeon’s pillar was only three feet in circumference at the top, which would barely afford standing ground.
He was born at Sisan, a village on the borders of Cilicia and Syria. He embraced the monastic life, aged about 16.
From 413 to 423, Simeon dwelt in an enclosed cell near Antioch where his austerities speedily attracted a number of followers who formed a society called the Mandra.
In 423 he built a low pillar which he gradually raised, until in 430 it was 40 cubits high; there with his neck manacled by an iron collar, he spent his 30 last years of life engaged in perpetual adoration, save when he was bestowing advice about mundane matters.
His extraordinary life made a great impression; large numbers of Arabians, Armenians and other pagans were converted by him, while emperors bishops and pilgrims from distant lands, even Spain and Britain, consulted him most reverently.
On August 29 he was seized with a mortal illness and died on 2 September, 459/60.
What he wrote
The following points provide evidence for St. Simeon’s Orthodoxy: - The Nestorians, Alexander of Mabbug and Andrew of Samosata, wrote against him and his teacher St. Jacob Kafrshimi to John of Antioch and Theodoret of Cyrus. They wrote saying that they considered St. Simeon and St. Jacob as heretics. - St. Simeon and his teacher condemned the Council of Chalcedon and called it the “anathematized council.” - St. Simeon spoke of St. Barsauma – who was famous for his strong opposition against the Council of Chalcedon - witnessing to the sanctity of his life. - Jacob of Sarug, in the beginning of his metrical homily concerning the holy St. Simeon the Stylite, wrote: Grant to me, O Lord, that I may depict an imagewhich is full of grace, of Simeon the chosen one,whose graces are more exalted than (human)speech. Through You I will speak of his exploitswhile I am lost in wonder…I am Your flute,breathe on me Your spirit, O Son of God, That Imay give out wondrous sounds concerning theexcellent one; May Your strength stir me up, asthe Spirit stirs up the pen, and speaks through itsweet music with a sublime voice.