Ethan Walker
St. Simon, also known as Simon the Zealot, is believed to be one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. While he is mentioned in the Bible, very little is known about his life. Simon is commonly identified with the Jewish sect known as the Zealots, who were seeking a Messiah to violently overthrow Rome. However, it is unclear if he was a part of this group, and some believe that he was simply zealous in his following of Jewish law or Jesus' teachings. There are many theories about how Simon died, with some saying he was crucified, sawn in half, or died of old age.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Simon the Zealot, St. Simon |
| Title | The Zealot, The Apostle, The Cananite, The Cananean, The Canaanite |
| Identity | One of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ |
| Mention in Bible | Four times in the New Testament (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13) |
| Death | Crucified in Samaria, Sawed in half at Suanir in Persia, Died in Abkhazia, Died peacefully at Edessa, Crucified in 61 AD in Britain, Martyred in the Kingdom of Iberia, Martyred in Persia in 65 AD |
| Cause of Death | Killed for refusing to sacrifice to the sun god |
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What You'll Learn
Simon the Zealot's death by sawing
St. Simon, also known as Simon the Zealot or Simon the Apostle, is one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. However, he remains one of the most obscure apostles, with his name only being mentioned a handful of times throughout the gospels.
Simon the Zealot is believed to have been martyred in Persia at a city called Suanir, where he was sawn in half with a saw. This is why he is often pictured with a saw in iconographic imagery. The Martyrologies of St. Jerome, Bede, Ado, and Usuard support this claim. Another tradition inspired by his title "the Zealot" states that he was involved in the First Jewish-Roman War (66-73 AD).
The New Testament lists all twelve apostles four times, and Simon is listed in all of them. He was one of the people closest to Jesus and spent about three years living with him, witnessing his miracles, and hearing his teachings. However, he played no particular role in the gospels, and his moniker "the Zealot" remains ambiguous. Some writings identified Simon as a member of the Jewish sect known as the Zealots, a group zealous for Jewish independence and overthrowing Roman rule. Others imply that he was simply zealous for the Mosaic Law or Jesus' teachings.
There are many other accounts of Simon the Zealot's death. Christian Ethiopians claim that he was crucified in Samaria, while Moses of Chorene writes that he was martyred at Weriosphora in Caucasian Iberia. Tradition also claims he died peacefully of old age at Edessa. Another tradition says he visited Roman Britain and was crucified there in 60 AD.
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Crucified in Samaria
There are several theories about the death of Simon the Zealot, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ. Simon is believed to have been a passionate believer in the Jewish law, and later, in Jesus' teachings.
One theory, supported by Christian Ethiopians, states that Simon was crucified in Samaria. Another similar theory suggests that Simon was crucified in Britain in 61 AD. According to Caesar Baronius and Hippolytus of Rome, Simon first arrived in Britain in 44 AD during the Roman conquest.
The New Testament and other early church records provide little information about Simon's life and death. He is only mentioned by name in lists of the apostles, and his moniker, "the Zealot", remains ambiguous. Some believe that Simon was a member of the Jewish sect known as the Zealots, a group of fanatical Jewish nationalists with a fervent hatred for the Romans. However, others suggest that he was simply zealous in his following of the Jewish law or Jesus' teachings.
Other theories about Simon's death include martyrdom in Persia, where he was allegedly sawn in half, or a peaceful death in Edessa, Greece.
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Died in Abkhazia
Simon the Zealot, also known as Simon the Apostle, was one of the twelve main disciples of Jesus Christ. He is commonly identified as a member of the Jewish sect known as the Zealots, a group zealous for Jewish independence and overthrowing Roman rule. However, some scholars argue that the term “Zealot” is a mistranslation, and Simon was simply zealous for the Mosaic Law or Jesus' teachings.
Regarding his death, there are several conflicting accounts. One tradition states that Simon travelled to Georgia on a missionary trip, died in Abkhazia, and was buried in Nicopsia, a site on the Black Sea coast that has not yet been identified. His remains were later transferred to Anakopia in present-day Abkhazia. Another tradition claims he died peacefully at Edessa of old age.
Other accounts of his death include crucifixion in Samaria, crucifixion in Britain in 61 AD, and being sawn in half at Suanir, Persia, or Weriosphora in Caucasian Iberia. The latter method of martyrdom is depicted in iconographic imagery, where Simon is often pictured with a saw.
Despite these various accounts, little is known about Simon the Zealot's life and death, as he is only mentioned by name in lists of the apostles in the Bible.
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Martyred in Persia
St. Simon, also known as Simon the Zealot, is believed to have been one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. However, beyond being listed among the apostles, Simon is not mentioned in the Bible, and very little is known about his life.
The moniker "the Zealot" is thought to indicate that Simon was a member of the Zealots, a Jewish sect seeking to violently overthrow Rome and establish a Mosaic theocracy. However, others suggest that the term simply indicates his zealous following of Jewish law or Jesus' teachings.
According to tradition, Simon was martyred in Persia, where he had joined the apostle St. Jude Thaddeus. It is said that he was martyred in the city of Suanir, in the country of Suani, Colchis, or Sarmatia, which was then allied with the Parthians in Persia.
There are various accounts of how Simon died. One tradition states that he was crucified in Samaria, while another claims that he passed away peacefully of old age in Edessa. The most famous account, however, is that Simon was martyred by being sawn in half, which is why he is often depicted with a saw in iconographic imagery. This tradition was recorded by Justus Lipsius, who wrote that Simon was sawn in half at Suanir, Persia.
The details of Simon the Zealot's life and death remain largely speculative, with centuries of conjecture surrounding this enigmatic biblical figure.
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Died peacefully in Edessa
St. Simon, also known as Simon the Zealot, is one of the lesser-known apostles of Jesus Christ. The New Testament lists all twelve apostles four times, and Simon is listed in all of them. However, he is never mentioned in the Gospel of John, and the gospels provide little detail about his life.
The moniker "the Zealot" is ambiguous, and its exact meaning is unconfirmed. Some suggest that Simon was a member of the Jewish sect known as the Zealots, a nationalistic party bent on revolution and seeking a Messiah to violently overthrow Rome. Others argue that he was simply zealous for the Mosaic Law or Jesus' teachings. The term may have also been used to distinguish him from Simon Peter.
There are various accounts of Simon's death, with some traditions claiming martyrdom. According to one tradition, Simon was martyred in the Kingdom of Iberia, as written by Moses of Chorene in the fifth century. The Golden Legend states he was martyred in Persia in 65 AD. Ethiopian Christians and some other sources claim he was crucified in Samaria. Another account says he was crucified in 61 AD in Britain. Justus Lipsius, writing in the sixteenth century, claimed that Simon was sawed in half, a method of martyrdom also mentioned by other sources.
However, one tradition claims that Simon the Zealot died peacefully of old age in Edessa, Greece. This view is supported by Eastern tradition. Simon's death in Edessa remains one of the many details of his life that is subject to speculation, with little concrete evidence to confirm or deny the various accounts.
Despite the ambiguity surrounding his life and death, Simon the Zealot is regarded as a saint by the Catholic Church, including the Eastern Catholic Churches, as well as by the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, Lutheran Church, and the churches of the Anglican Communion.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several theories about how St. Simon the Zealot died. One tradition states that he was martyred in Persia, sawn in half. Another tradition claims he died peacefully of old age in Edessa. Other accounts suggest he was crucified in Samaria, or in Britain.
St. Simon the Zealot was one of the 12 main disciples of Jesus Christ. He is mentioned by name in lists of the apostles, but he plays no particular role in the gospels.
The meaning of "Zealot" is ambiguous. Some believe that St. Simon was a member of the Jewish sect known as the Zealots, who were seeking a Messiah to violently overthrow Rome. Others believe he was simply zealous in his following of Jewish law or Jesus' teachings.
