SIMEON OF POLIRONE, ST.

Hermit, later a Benedictine; d. Polirone, near Mantua, Italy, July 26, 1016. According to a legendary vita, published soon after his death, Simeon was originally from Armenia (hence he is sometimes called Simeon the Armenian). Abandoning his wife and family, he became a Basilian monk and hermit. He undertook many arduous pilgrimages throughout Palestine, France, and Spain, and came to Rome (c. 983), where he was charged with being a heretic. By order of Benedict VII he was examined and found to be orthodox. He was renowned for his piety and heroic charity, and for numerous miracles performed during life and after death. His cult was approved by Benedict VIII (1024) and Leo IX (1049). In 1913 his relics were solemnly exposed.

Feast: July 26.

Bibliography: p. jaffÉ, Regesta pontificum romanorum ab condita ecclesia ad annum post Christum natum 1198, ed. s. lÖwenfeld et al., 2 v. (2d ed. Leipzig 1881–88; repr. Graz 1956) 1:4055, 4310, 4729. Acta Sanctorum July 6:319–337. g. d. gordini, Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche, ed. j. hofer and k. rahner, 10 v. (2d, new ed. Freiburg 1957–65); suppl., Das Zweite Vatikanische Konzil: Dokumente und Kommentare, ed. h. s. brechter et al., pt. 1 (1966) 9:762. a. butler, The Lives of the Saints, rev. ed. h. thurston and d. attwater, 4v. (New York 1956) 3:190. a. m. zimmermann, Kalendarium Benedictinum: Die Heiligen und Seligen des Benediktinerorderns und seiner Zwiege, 4. (Metten 1933–38) 2:500–501.

[f. d. lazenby]