Apostle Simon the Zealot.

Simon was born in Cana of Galilee and was one of the Twelve Great Apostles. Saint Simon was from Cana in Galilee, and was known to the Lord and His Mother. Eastern Orthodox tradition holds that he was the bridegroom at the wedding feast where Christ changed the water into wine (John 2:1-11). Because of that miracle, St. Simon left his home, parents and bride to follow Christ.

Saint Simon was one of the twelve Apostles, and received the Holy Spirit with the others on Pentecost. After receiving the Holy Spirit, he preached the Gospel in Mauritania in Africa. St. Simon the Apostle supposedly preached the Gospel in Egypt and later joined St. Jude (Thaddaeus) in Persia.

The meaning of his epithet "Zealot" has been subject to scholarly discussion. Both Kananaios and Kananites derive from the Hebrew word קנאי qanai, meaning zealous, so most scholars today generally translate the two words to mean "Zealot". For this reason, he is known as Saint Simon the Zealot.

He traveled to many places from Britain to the Black Sea, proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. He ended his missionary work in Georgia. St. Simon was tortured and crucified by the pagans in Abkhazia.

Regarding his final martyrdom, traditions vary. According to the apocryphal Passion of Simon and Jude, St. Simon th Apostle was martyred in Persia by being cut in half with a saw. However, St. Basil the Great claimed he died peacefully at Edessa. After winning many pagans to the Lord, Saint Simon suffered martyrdom by crucifixion.

In later tradition, Simon is often associated with Jude the Apostle as an evangelizing team; in Western Christianity, they share their feast day on 28 October. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, he is commemorated separately on May 10. St. Simon the Apostle is the patron saint of saw workers, tanners, and woodworkers. His patronage is linked to traditional accounts of his martyrdom, which state that he was sawed in half for his faith.

The apostle Simon stands as a powerful witness to transformation through faith in Christ. His journey from earthly zealotry to apostolic witness, and his willingness to suffer martyrdom in distant lands, have made him a revered figure throughout the Orthodox Christian tradition. Churches, monasteries, and faithful Orthodox Christians continue to invoke his intercession and honor his memory.

Apostle Simon the Zealot was one of the twelve Apostles, and received the Holy Spirit with the others on Pentecost. Simon was born in Cana of Galilee and was one of the Twelve Great Apostles.

According to Eastern Orthodox tradition, he was the bridegroom at the wedding feast where Christ changed the water into wine (John 2:1-11). Tradition says that he was the bridegroom at the wedding where the Savior performed His first miracle. After witnessing the miracle of the water which had been turned into wine, he became a zealous follower of Christ. For this reason, he is known as Saint Simon the Zealot.

The epithet "Zealot" has ancient roots. Both Kananaios and Kananites derive from the Hebrew word קנאי qanai, meaning zealous, so most scholars today generally translate the two words to mean "Zealot". Saint Demetrius of Rostov says that this Saint Simon is to be distinguished from the Apostle Simon Peter, and from the Lord's relative Simon (Mt.13:55), who was the second Bishop of Jerusalem.

He traveled to many places from Britain to the Black Sea, proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. According to tradition, after evangelizing in Egypt, Simon joined Jude in Persia and Armenia or Beirut in today's Lebanon, where both were martyred in 65. After winning many pagans to the Lord, Saint Simon suffered martyrdom by crucifixion.