Saint Simon or Simeon was the first and most famous of the pillar hermits.
3 major early biographies of his life exist.
He developed a real zeal for Christianity at the age of 13. He entered a monastery before he was 16. His practise of austerity was so severe that the brothers judged him unsuitable for the community and asked him to leave.
He then spent 18 months in a hut. In Lent he neither eat or drank anything - hailed a miracle.
To get away from the ever increasing number of people who came to him for prayers and advice he discovered a pillar which had survived among the ruins in nearby Telanissa ( Taladah in Syria) and formed a small platform on top. His first pillar was 3 metres from the ground. He third and last pillar 15 metres.
Boys from the village would climb the pillar to deliver food parcels.
Even on the highest pillar /column he was not withdrawn from the world. Pilgrims and sightseers, including three emperors, came to see and hear him preach. With use of a ladder they could get to a speaking distance.
He spent between 35-42 years on his pillar.
Simon died on 2nd September 459. A disciple found his body stooped in prayer.
The Patriarch of Antioch, Martyruis, performed the funeral before a huge crowd. He was buried not far from the pillar.
Simon inspired many imitators. For the next century Christian ascetics living on pillars was a common sight.
Sources
Wikipedia
The Encyclopedia of Saints by Howard Loxton
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