Simon, Apostle and Martyr

Perhaps the least known of the Apostles, Simon is only mentioned in the lists contained in the Gospels. Matthew, Mark and Luke all refer to this saint as “Simon the Zealot.” Since he received no mention in the Acts of the Apostles which largely concentrated on the activities of the Apostles around Jerusalem and the eastern Mediterranean, Simon may have begun his missionary work among the Jews of Egypt. He may then have worked his way westward through Libya and into present-day Tunisia. There is some evidence that Simon then took the Word to Britain where Christianity seems to have been introduced before the Romans established the island as a colony in the year 43.

Simon was ardent in his preaching the Word of God. This passion carried him from almost one end of the known world to the other. While we are not asked to travel to the ends of the earth preaching the Word of God, we can set an example of Christian living for all of those with whom we come in contact.