Among the figures of the apostolic college, some emerge with brilliance, carried by dialogues, gestures, and detailed episodes. Others remain wrapped in evangelical modesty, as if their role consisted less in appearing than in accompanying in silence. Saint Simon the Apostle belongs to this second category. The Gospels do not grant him a single word, a single individual act, not even a fragment of personal history. Yet his name invariably appears in the lists of the Twelve. He is there at decisive moments, fully integrated into the circle of Christ’s companions. This discreet presence, far from relegating him to the background, gives Simon a particular depth: he is the image of silent faithfulness, of transfigured zeal, of ardor that dedicates itself entirely to God without demanding the slightest recognition.
Simon’s surname and its implications
The term “Cananaean” in the language of the Gospels
In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, Simon appears under the name “Simon the Cananaean.” The expression might seem to indicate a geographical origin, as if the Apostle came from Canaan or from a territory formerly associated with that name. This is not the case. “Cananaean” is the Greek transcription of an Aramaic word that means “zealous.” Its meaning is therefore not geographical at all: it is moral, spiritual, interior. Simon is not defined by a place, but by a character trait. By calling him in this way, the evangelists immediately highlight the strength of a passionate personality.
“Zealot”: a Lucan precision
Luke, in his Gospel as well as in Acts, chooses the explicit Greek translation: “Simon the Zealot.” This term can designate a man of strict observance, filled with a deep love for the Law. It can also, in a later sense, evoke a militant belonging to a Jewish nationalist movement. Although nothing proves that Simon belonged to an armed group, the use of this surname clearly shows that his temperament was distinguished by an unusual intensity.
The Gospel therefore offers us a kind of negative portrait: Simon is not a faded character, but a man whose fervor was so perceptible that it became his identity. By calling him among his disciples, Jesus transformed this ardor into an instrument of charity and mission.
Simon in the Gospels: a presence without brilliance
Evangelical discretion
The Gospels do not mention a single word attributed to Simon. No episode is his own, no dialogue places him at the center. Yet this absence must not be understood as insignificance. He is one of the Twelve, personally chosen by Jesus, a witness of his preaching, his miracles, his passion and his resurrection. Simon’s spiritual strength lies precisely in this silent availability. He is one of those men whose greatness is expressed not through speeches, but through faithfulness.
An essential role in the founding acts
In the Acts of the Apostles, Simon is mentioned in the upper room after the Ascension. He is part of that small group which perseveres in prayer while awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit. His presence alongside Mary, Peter, John and the other Apostles shows that he is fully integrated into the foundation of the Church. His silence is not absence, but recollection. He represents those believers who say nothing yet sustain everything, those disciples whose inner word is more powerful than any outward expression.
Ancient traditions: reconstructing Simon’s mission
The possible paths of evangelization
After Pentecost, the Gospels no longer concern themselves with the individual destiny of each Apostle. It is the ancient traditions, apocryphal accounts, Eastern chronicles and local legends that allow us to sketch the apostolic journeys. The sources are diverse, sometimes contradictory, yet they all bear witness to one conviction: Simon went far to proclaim the Gospel. Some traditions place him in Egypt, in contact with an important Jewish diaspora; others evoke Cyrenaica, the region of present-day Libya; others again send him as far as Persia, often in the company of Jude Thaddeus, with whom he also shares a common feast in the Latin tradition. This lasting association between the two Apostles suggests that they were companions in mission, walking side by side through distant lands.
None of these traditions can be held as historically certain. Yet they reveal the powerful idea of a mission lived in ardor and perseverance, faithful to his temperament as a zealous man.
Simon’s martyrdom: an end that bears witness to zeal
All traditions agree on one essential point: Simon died a martyr. Concerning the precise circumstances, however, the accounts diverge. Persian traditions speak of an execution by pagan priests; certain Syriac sources mention a violent death because of numerous conversions; other narratives claim that Simon and Jude died together. These variations show that the ancient Church saw in him not only an Apostle, but a heroic witness, a man who carried his dedication to Christ to the very end.
The diversity of the martyrdom accounts is not a historical weakness; it shows the depth of a spiritual memory. The first Christian communities, aware of what an Apostle represented, sought to honor Simon by emphasizing the constancy of his devotion right up to the threshold of death.
Simon’s spiritual personality
Zeal: from human ardor to transfigured fervor
Simon’s surname compels us to reflect on the meaning of zeal in the Christian tradition. Zeal can be understood as a striving toward the good, an inner intensity that drives one to act, a fire that is difficult to contain. Before his encounter with Jesus, Simon may have been animated by human ardor, perhaps even by religious intransigence. After his calling, this zeal became an instrument of love. Christ never extinguishes a disciple’s personality; he directs it, purifies it and unfolds it. Simon thus represents the image of a man whose inner strength is not crushed but transfigured.
The value of silence in apostolic life
Most Apostles known for their zeal are also known for their words: Peter speaks more than he acts; John writes; Paul discourses with incomparable power. Simon, for his part, does not speak. He is an Apostle of silence, a witness whom one senses more than hears. This silence is not passivity, but self-mastery. It marks a man whose mind is focused on what is essential. For a Christian tradition often tempted to confuse mission with constant activity, Simon is a reminder that depth can express itself in other ways than through words.
An Apostle of reconciliation
His surname “Zealot,” placed alongside the presence of Matthew the tax collector in the same apostolic college, reveals the strength of Jesus’ call. On one side, a man attached to the Law, perhaps suspicious of the Romans; on the other, a tax collector in the service of the Empire. Their peaceful coexistence within the apostolic group is a silent proclamation of the unity made possible in Christ. Simon thus becomes a figure of reconciliation, a model for those who seek to overcome social, political or cultural antagonisms.
Simon in art and liturgical tradition
The iconography of a discreet Apostle
Medieval and modern Christian art has given Simon a particular place, often recognizable by his attributes. These vary according to the martyrdom traditions: some artists depict him with a saw, others with a lance or a cross. These symbols do not claim to tell the exact story, but to express visually the destiny of this Apostle who remained faithful up to the ultimate sacrifice. He sometimes appears at the side of Jude, especially in Gothic cathedrals and illuminated manuscripts.
The shared feast of 28 October
In the Western liturgical calendar, Simon is celebrated on 28 October together with Jude Thaddeus. This association goes back to very ancient traditions that describe them as evangelizing together. Their shared feast symbolizes the complementarity of two temperaments: hope in Jude, zeal in Simon. In the Eastern Churches, Simon sometimes has a distinct feast day, but remains deeply honored.
Heritage and contemporary relevance of Saint Simon
A model for ardent souls
The figure of Simon particularly touches those who recognize themselves in a passionate inner life. His example shows that zeal, when it allows itself to be transformed by Christ, becomes a source of charity and not of division. He is the image of an ardor that does not exhaust itself in agitation, but is renewed in prayer.
The spiritual fruitfulness of silence
In a world saturated with words and opinions, Simon recalls the power of evangelical silence. This silence is neither indifference nor absence, but spiritual maturity. A burning soul does not have to be loud. Through his evangelical anonymity, his humility and his discretion, Simon shows that one can transform the world without ever attracting attention to oneself.
A saint for our time
The contemporary era knows forms of misdirected ardor, radical attitudes that turn against the human person. Simon, the Zealot who became a disciple, shows that true transformation does not come about through violence or systematic opposition, but through an encounter, a conversion, a deep attachment to a truth that surpasses every ideology.
Saint Simon the Apostle, whose life seems at first difficult to grasp, reveals a personality of great inner depth. He is the passionate man whom Christ channels, the silent Apostle who nevertheless bears an immense mission, the witness who gives his life to the very end, the brother capable of living in peace with those who once stood as his opposites. In him, the Church contemplates the power of purified zeal, the nobility of silent faithfulness and the beauty of the transformation that God works in the human heart.
His story, made of silence, fervor and mission, continues to inspire those who seek to live a deep, rooted and generous faith. And even if the details of his earthly existence have been lost in the mists of time, his figure remains like a discreet beacon: a man whose ardor, given entirely to God, continues to illuminate the centuries.
The relics of Saint Simon
The relics of Saint Simon have been venerated by the faithful of the Catholic Church for centuries. However, it is difficult to determine the authenticity of the relics of Saint Simon. As with many other relics, the question of whether the remains of Saint Simon are genuine has long been debated by scholars and historians.
The earliest evidence for the existence of the remains of Saint Simon dates back to the 4th century. The writings of Saint Cyril of Jerusalem refer to the relics of Saint Simon. Over the centuries, the relics were moved several times, and their exact location became uncertain.
However, in 1968, Pope Paul VI authorized an investigation into the presumed remains of Saint Simon, which were kept in a church in Toulouse, France. Experts examined the remains and concluded that they were authentic, although some bones had been lost or displaced over time.
The relics of Saint Simon include bones, notably parts of his skull, his teeth and his fingers, as well as precious reliquaries in which the remains are kept. The faithful come from all over the world to venerate the relics of Saint Simon and to pray for his protection and intercession.
The feast of Saint Simon is celebrated on October 28 in the Catholic Church. His life and example continue to inspire believers in their faith and their commitment to justice and peace. Although the authenticity of the relics of Saint Simon has been discussed, their spiritual and symbolic importance cannot be denied for the faithful of the Catholic Church and for Christians throughout the world.
- Bauduin, J. (2009). The Apostles and Their Relics. Paris: Éditions Saint-Augustin.
- Harris, M. (2012). Saint Cyril of Jerusalem and His Writings. Rome: Vatican Press.
- Lemoine, P. (1971). The Relics of the Saints in the Catholic Church. Toulouse: Éditions du Sud.
- Rossi, F. (2015). Spiritual Journey to the Holy Places. Milan: Éditions Spiritus.
- Ferrari, G. (2018). The Veneration of the Saints and Its Meanings. Florence: Éditions Fede.
