| 8th
December, 2003
TONY
TOWNSEND
There seems to be no limits when it comes to people undertaking
extreme forms of behaviour.
Take the recent example of American illusionist, David Blaine,
who was suspended by a crane in a glass box above the Thames
River in London. Living only on water he hung there for a
44 days capturing the attention of the world media and a bemused
London audience.
Consider for a moment, however, pole sitter Simeon Stylites
(meaning pillar) of Syria. Born around AD 388 at Sisan near
the Northern border of Syria, Simeon entered a monastery during
his teenage years.
His
fellow monks considered his ascetic (denying oneself of the
basics of life for religious purposes) way of life so extreme
that he was forced to leave the monastery. This only seemed
to motivate him more to undertake more radical forms of spiritual
discipline. He became famous in the latter half of his life
for spending 36 years on top of a pillar. The original pillar
was a little more than nine feet high with a small platform
on top. It was replaced by a succession of other pillars,
the last being supposedly over 50 feet high.
His pillar sitting drew much attention. People from other
nations, including emperors, bishops and pilgrims would come
to consult him. He was accessible by means of a ladder which
visitors would climb to meet with him. He would speak to those
gathered below him, pray and write letters, some of which
are in existence today.
His life did leave a profound effect on many. According to
information sourced from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library
Calvin College “…large numbers of Arabians, Armenians
and other pagans were converted by him”. Simeon died
in AD 459. His act began a movement of pole sitters among
European hermits. A large church was built over the scene
of the famous pole site. The base of the pillar is still visible
today in Syria.
Sources:
A Lion Handbook, The History of Christianity, Lion Press 1996
Simeon Stylites the Elder - www.newadvent.org
Simeon Stylites - www.ccel.org
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