Simeon Stylites: Ascetic, Mystic, and Radical Witness

What can the life of a bizarre fifth-century monk teach us about prayer, attention, and the way we live in the modern world?

Simeon Stylites was a fifth-century Syrian Christian ascetic who became famous for an extraordinary act of devotion: he spent 37 years standing atop a pillar, turning his unusual life of prayer into a public witness that drew the attention of people from across the ancient world.

In this Artist Profile, Stephen Roach explores the life, ascetic practices, spiritual vision, and cultural influence of Simeon Stylites. What might seem at...