Simon the Zealot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SaintSimon the Zealot |
|
|---|---|
St. Simon, by Peter Paul Rubens (around 1611)
|
|
| Apostle, Preacher, Martyr | |
| Born | c. 5 AD Cana, Galilee, Judaea, Roman Empire |
| Died | ~65 (aged 59–60) Many stories exist, including Britain |
| Venerated in | All Christian denominations that honor saints |
| Major shrine | relics claimed by many places, including Toulouse; Saint Peter's Basilica |
| Feast | October 28 (Western Christianity) May 10 (Byzantine Christianity) Pashons 15 (Coptic Christianity) |
| Attributes | boat; cross and saw; fish; lance; man being sawn in two; oar |
| Patronage | curriers (leather workers); sawyers; tanners |
Simon the Zealot was one of the twelve special followers, called apostles, of Jesus. He is mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible. To tell him apart from Simon Peter, he was given the nickname "the Zealot" or "the Canaanite."
Contents
Who Was Simon the Zealot?
What the Gospels Say
The name Simon appears in all the Bible lists of Jesus's apostles. He is always mentioned without many extra details. Here is one example from the Bible:
Simon, (whom he also named Peter), and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
To make sure people knew which Simon was being talked about, he was given a special name. In the books of Luke and Acts, he is called "Zelotes" (which means "Zealot"). This might mean he was once part of a group called the Zealots. This group was known for being very passionate about their Jewish faith and wanting to be free from Roman rule.
In the books of Matthew and Mark, he is called "Kananites" or "Kananaios." These words also come from a Hebrew word meaning "zealous" or "passionate." So, most experts think both names mean he was a very enthusiastic person. Some people, like Jerome, thought "Kananaios" meant he was from a town called Cana in Galilee.
Other Ideas About Simon
Some people have wondered if Simon the Zealot was the same person as Simon, one of Jesus's brothers. The Bible mentions Jesus having brothers, including one named Simon.
"Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?"
Another idea is that Simon the Zealot might be Simeon of Jerusalem. Simeon was an early leader of the church in Jerusalem after Jesus's time. However, there is no clear proof that these Simons are all the same person.
Later Stories and Traditions
Over time, many stories and traditions about Simon the Zealot appeared. Some old writings, not part of the Bible, mention him. For example, the Epistle of the Apostles calls him Judas Zelotes. This has led some to wonder if he might be the same as "Judas not Iscariot" mentioned in the Bible.
One old story, the Arabic Infancy Gospel, says that Jesus healed a boy named Simon who was bitten by a snake. Jesus then told the boy, "you shall be my disciple." This story ends by saying, "this is Simon the Cananite, of whom mention is made in the Gospel."
In later Christian tradition, Simon is often linked with Jude the Apostle. They are seen as a team who traveled together to spread the Christian message. In Western Christianity, they even share the same special day, October 28.
Many traditions say that Simon and Jude traveled to places like Egypt, Persia, and Armenia. They are believed to have died as martyrs (meaning they died for their faith) around the year 65. One popular story says Simon was crucified.
Other traditions say he traveled to the Middle East and Africa. Some Christians in Ethiopia believe he was crucified in Samaria. Another story says he was cut in half with a saw in Persia. There's also a tradition that he died peacefully in a city called Edessa.
One interesting tradition says that Simon visited Roman Britain (modern-day England) around the year 60 AD. This story claims he was crucified there in 61 AD.
Simon as a Saint
Simon, like the other apostles, is considered a saint by many Christian churches. This includes the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Churches, Lutheran Church, and churches of the Anglican Communion. In the Church of England, his special day (with Jude) is October 28.
Simon in Art
In Christian art, you can often spot Simon because he is shown with a saw. This is because, according to one tradition, he was killed by being cut in half with a saw. This tool became his special symbol.
Gallery
-
Simon the Zealot by Caravaggio
-
Statue of Saint Simon (1708-09) by Francesco Moratti
-
Simon Zelotes, 16th-century fresco in Leihgestern
-
Statue of Simon the Zealot by Hermann Schievelbein at the Helsinki Cathedral
-
The Apostle Simon the Zealot by Georg Gsell
-
Saint Simon by James Tissot, Brooklyn Museum
Simon in Islam
In Islam, Simon is also mentioned as one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. Muslim traditions say that Simon was sent to preach about God to the Berber people in North Africa.
See also
In Spanish: Simón (apóstol) para niños
