TROPARION (Tone 1)
“O Simeon, righteous father, thou didst become a pillar of patience, and excel like the forefathers: Job in his sufferings, Joseph in temptation, and in the flesh wert like the bodiless ones. Intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls.”

For the second time and after 6 years (since 2002), Archimandrite Pendalemeon (of Hamatoura Monastery) brought the Relics of our Patron Saint Simeon to Fih on 26th August 2008, so parishioners can be blessed and feel our Saint’s presence in the village.

Along with Father Pendalemeon and monks from Hamatoura, the Very Reverends Fathers celebrated the Vespers: Semaan Haidar (Fih), Hanania Katrib (Beitroumine), George Esber (Deddeh), and Michael ElAchkar (Kfar Kahel). After Vespers, the relics toured the whole village carried by the Fathers and hymns were chanted by the choir.
Note that in a similar event that occurred in 2002, a VHS tape was made and distributed in the United States and Canada.
About Saint Simeon Stylite:
Holy Father Simeon was the first to take up this particular form of ascesis: that of standing day and night on a pillar in unceasing prayer. His parents were common folk and he fled from them when he was 18 to become a monk. He fasted at times for 40 days. He grew in holiness and wisdom with great gifts of discernment, healing and prophecy. It is said that he started to stand on the pillar, because it was the only way for him to be alone in prayer with God, because of all the people that were constantly coming to him. His pillar was at first about ten feet tall, then twenty, then 35 feet; finally over 60 feet tall. On his pillar, he did warfare with the demons, overcoming them through his prayers. All classes of people came to his pillar. He healed many sick by his prayers. He gave comfort and instruction to some. Others he denounced for their heresies. The Empress Eudocia was brought back to Orthodoxy from the Eutychian heresy by one such rebuke. Twice, his mother, Martha, came to see him, but he would not come down from his pillar to greet her; saying: "Don't disturb me now, Mother dear, if we are to be worthy to meet in the next world." St. Simeon lived for 70 years and reposed in the Lord on September 1, 459.
This icon is by the hand of Nicholas Papas. This icon is one of the "cloud of witnesses" at St. Philip's Antiochian Orthodox Church, Souderton, Pennsylvania.