Tonsured a monk at the age of fifteen at Philotheou Monastery on Mount Athos, he led a life of strict asceticism, going barefoot in his labors.
Our Venerable Father Simeon of Philotheou, the Bare-Foot
Simeon of Philotheou, known by the epithet "the Bare-Foot" (Bosoi), was a post-Byzantine ascetic and abbot associated with Philotheou Monastery on Mount Athos. The son of a priest, he was tonsured a monk at the age of fifteen and pursued a life of strict asceticism, going barefoot in his labors.
After serving as head of Philotheou Monastery, he withdrew to a hermitage on Mount Pelion and later traveled as a preacher through the Greek lands. He died at Constantinople and was buried there, and his memory is kept on April 19.
By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile,
and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance.
By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe!
O our holy father Simeon, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).
According to his life, while preaching in the city of Euripa, Simeon was slandered before the city-governor, Ayan, who accused him of having led a Turk to accept Christianity, and he was sentenced to public burning.
Brought before the governor in shackles, barefoot, and in an old robe, he answered so wisely that the death sentence could not be carried out, and he was set free.
His life relates that two years after his burial at Chalke his grave was opened, an ineffable fragrance came forth, and healings were reported. Monks from the Phlamourion monastery are said to have opened the grave to transfer his remains.
The Vita and the Service to Simeon were published at Smyrna in 1646.