Synaxarion of Saint Symeon of the Wondrous Mountain

St. Symeon the New Stylite of the Wondrous Mountain (Feast Day - May 24)

Verses

Beforehand Symeon you inhabited the land of Wondrous Mountain,
Now you dwell on the all-wondrous mountain in the heavens.
On the twenty-fourth Symeon you entered where noetic beings are all around.

The Venerable and Wonderworking Symeon, lived during the reign of Emperor Justin II (565-574). He was born in Antioch of Syria, whose father was named John and was from Edessa, and mother was named Martha who was raised in Antioch. All that is written of him is wondrous, and higher than the boundaries of human nature, both those things which took place through him with the help of God, and those things he himself did. He was conceived through prayer, and before he was conceived the great Forerunner and Baptist John testified of him regarding his future virtue, and he foretold the perfection to his mother that her son was to receive. Having been born, he never breastfed from the left breast of his mother. By this she considered her child would be eager towards good impulse, and that he would not participate in the wicked works of the left. When he was six years old, although not of a mature age, he did not care for childish things, and was not easily led towards that which is vulgar, therefore this divinely-wise child turned away from all these earthly things of leisure, and he went to the mountain, where he immediately undertook such a harsh life and dwelling, which only by forcing himself was he able to acquire after many years a habit towards, this even by aged men. Thus through such eagerness and life, he beheld many divine and angelic appearances and visions, which taught him all that he was to do, namely to always honor that which is good and virtuous, and to flee and hate wickedness and sin.