Holy Apostle Simeon

Life

One of the Seventy Apostles. He was the son of Cleopas, and Cleopas in turn was the brother of Joseph, the betrothed of the Most Holy Theotokos. Having beheld the miracles of the Lord and Savior our Jesus Christ, Simeon believed and was numbered among the Seventy Apostles. With great zeal and courage he preached the Gospel of Christ throughout all Judea. And when the malicious Jews slew James, the Brother of the Lord and first bishop of the Church of Jerusalem, casting him down from the height of the Temple and striking him on the head with a club, then this Simeon, a kinsman of James, was appointed bishop in Jerusalem. And he, as the second bishop in the Holy City, governed the Church of God with wisdom and power until extreme old age. He was over one hundred years old when he suffered. And his suffering was thus: in the time of Emperor Trajan a twofold persecution was raised in Palestine, against the descendants of David and against Christians. Malicious men accused Simeon of being both the one and the other. Saint Simeon endured great torments and at last was crucified on a cross, even as his Lord, Whom he had faithfully served on earth.

From the Hymn of Praise

### THE HOLY APOSTLE SIMEON