The Venerable Simeon Stylites (Simeon Stolpnik) is considered the first pillar saint by church historians. He was born in the Cappadocian village of Sis in 356 A.D. At the age of 18, he took monastic vows and started living a life of extreme self-deprivation and unceasing prayer.

Simeon got accustomed to sleep deprivation and continuous all-night vigils. He would stand on top of a round tree where he had to keep his balance and would fall down when starting to fall asleep. In this way, he prepared himself for living atop a pillar. However, his extravagant ascetic practices were too extreme for the rest of the brethren, and Simeon was asked to leave the monastery.

After that Simeon lived at the bottom of a dried-up well, in a stone cave, where he also lived a life of asceticism. Before living atop a pillar, Simeon saw three identical visions of a fiery-looking heavenly man in military armor praying on top of a rock. He took this as a sign from above and also stood on a rock for three months and after that began standing on top of a pillar.

The first pillar that Simeon occupied was four meters high and had a small cell on top. Day and night, Simeon stood like a candle and prayed constantly, thinking about God. He was believed to have been granted the gifts of miracle-working and healing. People started coming in flocks, hoping to be healed and seeking Christian advice.

The saint had to endure many temptations. He gradually increased the height of the pillar to 16 meters. According to the hagiography, while standing atop his pillar, Simeon was tempted by the devil who appeared to him in the form of an angel in a fiery chariot and said that for his feats Simeon would be taken alive up to heaven just like the prophet Elijah. Simeon was about to set one foot on the chariot when he made the sign of the cross and the vision disappeared.

Throughout the following year, the saint stood on the one leg which he had tried to set on the chariot. Overall, the monk dedicated 80 years to a life of extreme austerity and spent 37 of those years standing atop a pillar. In this way, he was able to serve God as a true apostle in such unusual conditions.

The icon depicts the saint waist-length, wearing a monastic cowl, and holding a rolled-up scroll in his left hand. His right hand is placed on his chest. Simeon stands atop a pillar shaped like a green tower with an entrance and stairs. It is surrounded by pink clouds and has a well at its foot.