Venerable Symeon the Fool-for-Christ and John His Companion — July 21 / August 3 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, July 21 according to the Julian Calendar (August 3 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Venerable Symeon the Fool-for-Christ and his companion John, who lived in Syria in the sixth century.

The Venerable Symeon, the Fool-for-Christ, and his fellow faster John were Syrians who lived in the city of Edessa in the sixth century. From their youth they had dedicated themselves sincerely to God. After a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, they withdrew to the desert near the Dead Sea, to the monastic community of the Abbot Nikon, and there spent twenty-nine years in profound ascetic struggle.

After many years of desert life, Symeon felt called by God to undertake a distinctive spiritual path: to feign madness in the world in order to hide his holiness, to bear the mockery and contempt of people for the sake of Christ, and secretly to perform deeds of mercy and lead souls to salvation. He said to John: “What profit is there for us in this desert? Come, let us go and save the souls of others.” When John asked how they could do this, Symeon replied: “I will make myself a fool.”

Symeon returned to the city of Emesa in Phoenicia and began to act as a madman — dragging a dead dog through the streets, eating meat openly during Lent, consorting with the lowly, and enduring the insults and beatings of those who did not understand his holy intention. Yet secretly he performed many miracles: he healed the sick, opened the eyes of the blind, and guided sinners to repentance. He concealed his gifts with great humility, enduring all as a fool for Christ.

John remained in the desert, living in solitude and unceasing prayer, and in this way the two companions — one hidden in the world, one hidden in the wilderness — both labored for the salvation of souls until they departed to the Lord.