Holy Apostle Simon the Zealot, the Canaanite (I)

The holy Apostle Simon the Zealot, the Canaanite (I), lived in Cana of Galilee. He was the son of Saint Joseph the Betrothed by his first marriage, and one of the Twelve apostles. The Saviour’s first miracle, the turning of water into wine, took place in Simon’s house. During the feast the wine at the table ran short. At the request of the Most Holy Mother of God the Saviour turned water into wine. Delighted at the sight of this miracle, Simon believed with all his heart and soul in Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah, left his family and his newly married 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.

The saint preached in western Georgia together with Andrew the First-called. Saint Andrew later went on to the land of the Scythians, while Simon stayed in Abkhazia to convert the pagans.

The pagans stoned Saint Simon. He is buried in Anakopia, near Sukhumi. Later a monastery was raised over the tomb of Simon the Canaanite, on the mountain of New Athos. The cave where the holy apostle laboured has survived to this day.