Simeon Stylites: Ascetic, Mystic, and Radical Witness

What can the life of a bizarre fifth-century monk teach us about prayer, attention, and the way we live in the modern world?

Simeon Stylites was a fifth-century Syrian Christian ascetic who became famous for an extraordinary act of devotion: he spent 37 years standing atop a pillar, turning his unusual life of prayer into a public witness that drew the attention of people from across the ancient world.

In this Artist Profile, Stephen Roach explores the life, ascetic practices, spiritual vision, and cultural influence of Simeon Stylites. What might seem at first like the bizarre life of an extreme monk begins to raise surprisingly contemporary questions about attention, devotion, influence, and the platforms we build our lives upon.

Simeon's pillar became a kind of ancient platform; a place from which people came to seek his wisdom, counsel, and prayer. In an age of digital platforms, social media, and constant visibility, what might Simeon's life have to teach us about the difference between being seen and being present, influence and attention, performance and prayer?

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