(END OF 4TH CENT.)
[Greek Menaea. Authority, Theodoret, in his Philotheus, c. 6.]
Simeon the Old dwelt a life of solitude in a cave, feeding on
vegetables. One day some travellers arrived at his cell, having lost
their way and asked the old hermit to direct them to a certain fort for
which they were bound. The hermit called two lions from the desert, and
gave them to the travellers as guides. This incident was related to
Theodoret by one who was present on the occasion. When a large number of
disciples assembled under his direction, the aged Simeon went away to
mount Amanus, near Antioch, and there built a monastery. But afterwards,
being desirous of ending his days on Sinai, he went into the desert of
that mountain. And there he saw one day two hands raised from the mouth
of a cave. Thinking it might be a snare of the devil, he approached with
caution. At the sound of his footsteps the supplicating hands were drawn
in, and he saw no man; then he cried to the dweller of the cave to come
forth, and there issued out of it an old hermit dressed in palm leaves,
who said that he and a brother hermit had come to establish themselves
on Sinai, and they had promised each other never to separate. Now before
they reached the holy mount the brother hermit died; so the survivor
buried his corpse, and, faithful to his promise, tarried by his grave
till the Lord should call him; and every day a lion brought him a bunch
of dates. Now when Simeon had partaken of his dates, and they had sung
together the matin office, he went on, and reaching Sinai with his
monks, established on the mountain two monasteries, one at the summit,
and the other at the foot.