Saint Symeon the Stylite and the Horror of Palmyra
Saint Symeon the Stylite (commemorated 1 September) is believed to have never descended from his pillar until the end of his days. In fact he descended from his pillar once, in secret, if we are to believe a curious text collected in Sosthenes the Monk's 12th century Gnomologion, from a now-lost Secret Works of Our Father Saint Symeon the Stylite: There came a night when an evil wind wafted all over Syria, and Symeon, watching the stars, called his disciple Anthony to him, and said, "Brother, hasten and bring me a ladder, and let no man observe it." When Anthony brought the ladder, Symeon said to him, "I will descend now, and you must take my place tonight, that my absence should go unnoticed. God willing, I will return before the morning." Anthony said, "Abba, why do you hasten from the pillar, where you have struggled these many years?" To which the blessed ascetic replied, "I have read a warning in the stars, that in the old city of Pal
