4 / 27: Simeon, the Kinsman of the Lord

HOLY DISCIPLE AND PRIESTMARTYR SIMEON, BISHOP OF JERUSALEM, KINSMAN OF THE LORD BY BIRTH (+ 107).
MONK STEPHAN, HEGUMEN OF PECHERSK, BISHOP OF VLADIMIR-VOLYNSK (+ 1094).
MARTYRS POPLIONUS AND LOLLIONUS THE NEW.
RIGHTEOUS EULOGIOS THE HOSPITABLE-TO-STRANGERS, OF THEBAID (IV).
THE MONK SIMEON THE NEW STYLITE OF CILICEA, AND HIS BROTHER SAINT GEORGE (VI).
MONK JOHN, HEGUMEN OF KATHAROI MONASTERY (+ C. 832-839).

The Holy Disciple and PriestMartyr Simeon, Kinsman of the Lord, was the son of Cleopas, younger brother of Saint Joseph the Betrothed. In his adolescent years he beheld the miracles of the Lord Jesus Christ, believed in Him and became one of the 70 Disciples. Saint Simeon preached the teachings of Christ, exhorted the truths of holy faith and denounced idol-worship. After the killing of the holy Apostle James, the first bishop of Jerusalem (+ 63, Comm. 23 October) -- in his place the Christians chose the holy Disciple Simeon. During the reign of emperor Trajan (98-117) it was reported to the Roman governor Atticus that Saint Simeon was descended from the lineage of King David (the Romans exterminated all the descendants of King David) and was confessing the Christian faith. The pagans seized hold of Saint Simeon, who at that time was already an hundred year old man, and after lengthy torture they crucified him on a cross.

The Monk Stephan, Hegumen of Pechersk, Bishop of Vladimir-Volynsk, pursued asceticism in his youthful years at the Kievo-Pechersk monastery under the guidance of the Monk Theodosii (+ 1074, Comm. 3 May) and was his favourite student. The Monk Theodosii sometimes entrusted him in his place to exhort the brethren with words of edification. Before the death of the Monk Theodosii the monks petitioned him to appoint as hegumen Saint Stephan, who was the domesticus (chief arranger for the choir). "He grew up under thy hand, -- they said, -- and he served thee; give him to us". And the Monk Theodosii transferred the guidance of the monastery to the Monk Stephan. During his hegumenate was built the foundation of a spacious temple in honour of the Uspenie (Repose) of the MostHoly Mother of God begun under the Monk Theodosii. The cells of the brethren were moved near the new church, and at the front of the place were left several cells for monks, who were entrusted with burying the dead and to make daily Divine Liturgy with commemoration for the dead.
In 1078 the Monk Stephan was compelled to forsake the monastery. On another hill -- not far from his native monastery, he founded a new monastery in honour of the MostHoly Mother of God (in memory of the Placing of Her Robe at Blakhernae) which was called Klovsk. The monastery was founded in thanksgiving for the blessed actions of the Mother of God towards the Pechersk monastery. The Monk Stephan beheld how master stone-workers were come from Greece with the icon of the Mother of God and they told him of the appearance of the Heavenly Queen at Blakhernae. And because of this, Saint Stephan also made at Klovsk a church in honour of the Mother of God.
In 1091 Saint Stephan was made bishop at Vladimir-Volynsk and he participated in the transfer of the relics of the Monk Theodosii from the cave to the monastery (Comm. 14 August). He laboured much at converting the inhabitants of Volynsk to Christianity. Sainted Stephan died on 27 April 1094 during the 6th hour of the night.

About the Holy Martyrs Poplionus and Lollionus the New is known only that the first was beheaded with a sword, and the second accepted a martyr's death by being dragged along the ground. Accounts about the time and place of their acts have not been preserved.

Righteous Eulogios the Hospitable-to-Strangers lived during the IV Century in the Thebaid. He bore the ascetic deed of service to wanderers.

The Account about the Monk Simeon the New Stylite of Cilicia is located in the 56th Chapter of the "Spiritual Meadow" of the Monk John Moskhos.

The Monk John, Hegumen of the Katharoi Monastery, was born at Eirenopolis in the year 778. He was a monk at Constantinople, and afterwards at Dalmatia monastery. Under emperor Nicephoras I (802-811), he became hegumen of the monastery of the Katharoi (chistikh or pure), -- which had been founded under the emperor Justin (518-527) near Nicea. The monk underwent persecution for venerating holy icons under the emperor Leo the Armenian (813-820), and was banished to the island of Athusia, where he died in about the years 832-839.