Venerable (Monastic)13th century

Venerable Simon the Myrrh-gusher of Mount Athos

13th century – 1287

Also known as Simon, founder of Simonopetra

An Athonite ascetic who founded the New Bethlehem monastery, later Simonopetra, venerated for miracles and myrrh-streaming relics.

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Commemorated as

Our Venerable Father Simon the Myrrh-gusher, Founder of Simonopetra

Life

Simon the Myrrh-gusher was a thirteenth-century ascetic of Mount Athos and the founder of the monastery he named New Bethlehem, known ever since as Simonopetra, the 'Rock of Simon.' Little is recorded of his origins; the sources relate that he came to the Holy Mountain, placed himself under the direction of an experienced elder, and after a period of training withdrew into greater seclusion as a hermit.

He is remembered above all for the foundation of his monastery on a sheer cliff high above the sea, an undertaking that tradition connects to a vision of a star resting over the rock on the eve of the Nativity. After his repose in 1287, his relics were reported to exude a fragrant myrrh, which gave rise to his titles Myrrh-bearer and Myrrh-gusher. He is commemorated on December 28.

Troparion1 hymnReadHide

TroparionTone 8

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 Simon, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline4 momentsReadHide

13th centuryComes to Mount AthosSimon arrives on the Holy Mountain and trains under an experienced elder before withdrawing as a recluse.
Eve of the NativityVision of the starA star comes to rest over a high rock and a voice directs Simon to lay the foundations of his monastery.
13th centuryFounding of New BethlehemSimon builds his monastery on the cliff and names it New Bethlehem, later called Simonopetra.
December 28, 1287ReposeSimon reposes; his relics are afterward reported to exude fragrant myrrh.

Contributions & Legacy

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Ascetic Life on Mount Athos

The synaxarion preserves little about Simon's birth or early years. According to the accounts, he arrived on Mount Athos in the thirteenth century and sought out an experienced elder, learning under him that obedience is essential to the monastic life. After this period of training he withdrew in search of greater solitude and lived as a recluse in a cave. The sources relate that while he was praying near this cave he heard a voice address him, 'Simon, Simon, thou faithful friend and servant of my Son! Do not go away from here. I shall glorify this place,' and that he was thereby kept from abandoning the site.

The Star and the Founding of New Bethlehem

Tradition holds that Simon saw a star of extraordinary brightness, which he came to identify with the Star of Bethlehem. Watching it over several nights, he at first feared it might be a demonic temptation, but on the eve of the Lord's Nativity the star came to rest over a high rock, and he heard a voice say, 'Here, O Simon, you must lay the foundations of your monastery for the salvation of souls.' The accounts add that he beheld a vision of Bethlehem, in which the Mother of God stood before the Divine Child lying in swaddling clothes. He built the monastery on that rock and named it New Bethlehem; from his own name it later came to be called Simonopetra, the 'Rock of Simon.' The monastery is built atop a single great rock, hanging from a cliff roughly 330 metres above the sea, and remains dedicated to the Nativity of Christ.

Miracles of the Construction

The narratives connect the building of the monastery to several wonders. The sources relate that three wealthy brothers came to Simon after Christmas, confessed their sins, asked to live under his direction, and offered all their wealth for the work; they at first resisted building on so dangerous a cliff. During a meal, a disciple is said to have fallen from the precipice into the abyss while carrying wine and glasses, yet to have appeared again before the brotherhood whole and unharmed, without a drop of wine spilled — a sign that, according to the accounts, persuaded the workers of divine approval. The same tradition relates that Simon, making the sign of the Cross over a great foundation stone, lifted it single-handedly onto his shoulder and carried it to the appointed place.

Repose and Myrrh-streaming Relics

The sources record that Simon reposed on the 28th of December in the year 1287. After his death, a fragrant myrrh is reported to have issued from his holy relics, through which, according to tradition, many miracles were worked; from this his titles Myrrh-bearer and Myrrh-gusher derive. He is commemorated by the Church on December 28.

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Synaxis of All Saints of Mount Athos

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints