Today is the feast of Symeon the Fool, and his friend John. Their paths began together but later diverged. Both men joined the monastary of St. Gerasimos in Palestine. After thirty years together in the same monastary, Symeon moved to Emesa in Syria, where he “simulated folly” hiding his saintly character with foolishness, but leading people closer to God all the while.

Symeon died in AD 570, and it was only after his death that people began to realise that he was not as crazy as he appeared. His friend John, died shortly thereafter.

Holiness, saintliness does not always “appear” as we expect it. It does not take shape according to our preconcieved, or pre-conditioned ideas of what makes a saint, or what makes a faithful practitioner of our faith. Symeon is but one example of the “fools for Christ”. These men and women were sometimes appreciated during their lives as saints, and sometimes only later. What is interesting about this “category” of saints however, is that it is a conscious recognition in our tradition that diversity of expression and devotional activity is something to be valued – that not everyone finds their way to communion with God through the same means.