Born in the village of Bratsk, Kostroma province. From his youthful years, leaving his parental home, he went into the dense forests near the village of Elnati and took upon himself the feat of foolishness for Christ's sake. When the Elnati villagers, finding him in the forest, brought him to the village, the saint began to visit the houses of the inhabitants, helping them in the most difficult work, but did not take payment. In winter and summer, the saint walked barefoot, in only a linen shirt, so that his skin turned black and dried up from fasting. Foolish people often beat him, but the blessed one meekly endured all the insults and ridicule. Having lived in Elnati for 15 years, the saint moved to the city of Yuryevets Povolzhsky. Here his favorite place of stay was church porches, where he offered fervent prayers to the Lord. For the feat of self-denial, blessed Simon received from the Lord the gifts of foresight and miracles. So, through his prayers, a strong fire in the city died down, the priest Olympius was healed, a certain city dweller Joseph escaped from drowning in the Volga. Before his death, the blessed one came to the house of the governor Theodore Petelin, who, not knowing the exploits of the saint, in a fit of anger, ordered to beat him. Here St. Simon fell seriously ill. Having communed before the death of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, the blessed one peacefully reposed on November 4, 1584.
Share:
