St. Simeon Stylites Memorial Day: important prayers for humility and repentance

On September 14, the Orthodox Church commemorates St. Simeon Stylites, Archimandrite of Antioch, one of the most famous Christian ascetics of the fourth century. His life and exploits serve as an example of deep humility, repentance and striving for spiritual purification. On this day, believers turn to prayers that help strengthen the spirit and get closer to God. For more information, see the Izvestia article.

The Life and feat of Saint Simeon Stylites

Saint Simeon was born in Antioch in Syria in the middle of the fourth century from poor parents. In his youth, he tended his father's sheep. One day, when he came to the temple, he heard the singing of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12), and a thirst for a righteous life arose in him.

Having decided to become a monk, Saint Simeon left his parents' home and became a monk in a neighboring monastery. Here he spent some time in monastic feats of prayer, fasting and obedience, and then for even greater feats he retired to the Syrian desert. Here Saint Simeon laid the foundation for a new kind of asceticism: stylites.

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Seeing his extraordinary strength of spirit and listening to his inspired instructions, many pagans became convinced of the truth of the Christian faith and were baptized. Saint Simeon was granted the gift of healing mental and physical illnesses and foresaw the future. Emperor Theodosius II the Younger greatly respected St. Simeon and often followed his advice. The new emperor Marcian, dressed as a commoner, secretly visited the monk and consulted with him. On the advice of St. Simeon, Marcian convened the Fourth Ecumenical Council in Chalcedon in 451, which condemned Monophysite false teaching.

Saint Simeon lived for over a hundred years and died while praying. In the divine service dedicated to Saint Simeon, the Orthodox Church calls him "a heavenly man, an earthly Angel and a lamp of the universe."

Prayers for humility and repentance

On St. Simeon Stylites Memorial Day, believers turn to prayers that help strengthen the spirit and draw closer to God. Special attention is paid to prayers for humility and repentance, which are the basis of spiritual purification.

One of these prayers is the Prayer for the Gift of Humility.: "Lord, You are Merciful; tell me, what must I do to humble my soul? Lord, grant us the gift of Your holy humility. Lord, grant us Your Holy spirit of humility, as You have come to save people and lift them up to heaven so that they may see Your glory."

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Also on this day, the publican's prayer is read, which is an example of penitential prayer.: "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" This short but deep prayer expresses sincere repentance and recognition of one's sinfulness before God.

Psalm 50, also known as "Have Mercy on me, O God," is one of the most commonly used penitential psalms in the Orthodox tradition. It was written by King David when he repented of having killed the pious husband of Uriah the Hittite and taken his wife Bathsheba. This psalm expresses deep contrition for the sin committed and fervent prayer for mercy.