(On the Death of Saint Simeon1)
After this, having lived but a little while longer in his monastery called Hilandar, our venerable father Simeon reached that measure of perfection desired by all who love God. Simeon the wondrous, Simeon the gentle—Simeon in deed as in name—excellent, God-bearing, and divinely wise, who proved himself good in all things. He showed himself marvelous in courage in earthly warfare; adorned with justice and faith; beautified by almsgiving and generosity toward the poor. Among rulers he was as an apostle, for he taught his people in the apostolic way and enlightened them with faith. He cast down temples of demons and raised up churches to God; he expelled heresies and established priests. He uprooted the thorns of impiety and planted the vine of true devotion. He despised kingdom and worldly glory as mere trifles, and, bearing the Cross, followed Christ without turning back. Through obedience to God, he became a stranger among his own and a foreigner in a distant land. He became a disciple and servant to his own son, and in the wilderness his fellow ascetic. With prayers and sighs, in silence and tears, he brought his life to its end, leaving behind a good remembrance for those who seek life.
To recount all the virtues of this man in full is not possible here, lest the account grow too long. Therefore, like the Apostle, I shall speak with apostolic words: “He fought the good fight, he finished the course, he kept the faith; and the time of his departure to God had come – to pass over into the endless and blessed life, and to receive the crown of righteousness prepared for him for his labors, and for those whom he saved, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to him on that Day, and not only to him but to all who love His appearing.”2
Then he called his beloved son and said to him:
“The time draws near for me to be called away, my child. As you have laboured much for the good of my soul, now is the time to help me even more. For I know that whatever you ask of God will be granted to you.”
His son came forward with tears, embraced him, and said:
“Rather I, who belong to you, pray this of you, my lord and father: as during your life I was protected by your warm prayers to Christ and preserved from all evil, so now, as you depart to Him, may you obtain by your prayers – pleasing to Him – protection for my life to the end. Do not cease to remember us in your holy prayers: your children in the Lord and in the flesh, our land, and the Church for which you labored.”
The venerable elder, shedding many tears, replied:
“I know nothing of my own state until I behold God; but if I am granted freedom, I will not forget you.”
Placing his holy hands upon his beloved son, he blessed him. After offering many prayers to God for him, he embraced him with tears and gave him a final kiss. He instructed him to complete many unfinished works for the Serbian churches and spoke also of his holy relics:
“When God, in His will, grants it after some time, gather the bones of my poor and sinful body and carry them to the land of my people. Lay them in the church I built, in the place called Studenica, in the monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos.”
The wise Sava promised to fulfill all that his father had commanded.
Then the venerable one summoned the assembly of monks – his bretherhood and children in the Lord – and called each by name, blessing them. He exhorted them joyfully to pray for him, entrusting them to God and to His most pure Mother, and, through their help, also to his son Sava. He dismissed them to their cells, instructing that no one should come to him until morning, for it was already night.
Suddenly, though in extreme old age, he rose from his bed as if renewed in youth, as though awaiting noble and beloved guests – radiant and exalted – from the Emperor. With a joyful soul, adorned in the bright and holy angelic habit, he received the holy, pure, immortal, life-giving, and awe-inspiring Mysteries, saying:
“Glory to God for all things!”
Soon after, he was seized as by the fire of natural death. His beloved son labored fervently in his final service, shedding many tears, reciting the entire Psalter over him through the night, allowing no one to enter but remaining alone with him, instructing and exhorting him to offer thanksgiving to God.
At dawn, he was carried into the church vestibule. A moving sight of deepest humility could be seen: he who once lay upon golden and soft beds now lay upon a simple mat, like one of the poorest men, breathing his last. The brotherhood gathered around him, mourning the loss of their father. The venerable one, barely able, raised his hand, signaling for silence.
His face grew bright, and he gazed joyfully toward the icon of Christ and His most pure Mother. It seemed as though he sang with unseen companions, though none could understand the words. Reaching the end of the psalm, he clearly spoke:
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!”3
And all understood that even at the end of his life he had joined the angels in their hymn, and that after such a song, no other need be sung.
Gazing serenely upon the icon of Christ, he seemed to place his soul into His hands. And behold, a fragrance like precious incense filled the air, so that all present marveled at the wondrous and inexpressible sweetness.
the holy elder fell asleep peacefully in the Lord, entrusting his soul to Christ God, whom he loved above all.
His beloved son fell upon his honoured face, washing it not with water but with burning tears; likewise he washed his venerable hands with many tears. Placing them upon his head and eyes, he kissed them, and arranging them in the form of a cross, laid them upon his chest.
Together with all the brethren, he lit many candles and lamps, and rendered honour to the holy body of the venerable father with fitting funeral hymns and abundant tears. Within the church of the Most Holy Theotokos stood a marble-adorned tomb, and there they laid him to rest in the monastery called Hilandar, glorifying the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit for the repose of the blessed and holy father.
- Tran. note: Stefan Nemanja in lay life, the father of St. Sava. ↩︎
- Tran. note: Second Epistle to Timothy 4:6–8. ↩︎
- Tran. note: Psalms 150:6. ↩︎
Translated by Books of Jeremiah
