The Holy Apostle Simon the Zealot, the Canaanite (1st c.)

The holy Apostle Simon the Zealot, the Canaanite (1st c.), lived in Cana of Galilee. He was a son of Saint Joseph the Betrothed by his first marriage, and one of the twelve apostles. The Saviour’s first wonder — the turning of water into wine — took place in Simon’s house. During the feast the wine ran short at the table. At the request of the All-holy Theotokos the Saviour turned water into wine. Filled with wonder at this sign, Simon believed with all his soul and heart in Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah, left his family and his newly wedded wife, and followed the Saviour. On the day of Pentecost the grace of the Holy Spirit came down upon Simon together with the other apostles. The holy apostle preached the teaching of Christ in Judea, Egypt, Cyrene and Britain.

Together with Andrew the First-called the saint preached in western Georgia. Saint Andrew afterwards went on to the land of the Scythians, while Simon remained in Abkhazia to convert the pagans.

The pagans stoned Saint Simon to death. He is buried at Anakopia, near Sukhumi. Later a monastery was raised over the grave of Simon the Canaanite, on the mountain of New Athos. The cave where the holy apostle lived in ascetic struggle survives to this day.