Emphasis Preaching Journal

Symeon "Stylites" who died in A.D. 460 was the first of the so-called pillar saints. He had fled the world in order to devote himself to the monastic life. He lived with other monks for a while and then spent time in the desert alone. Finally, he reached the conclusion that he should isolate himself further from the world by living as a solitary figure on top of a pillar. The first pillar was only nine feet high. Later, he would live on top of a pillar no less than 54 feet high. He wished to be alone with God, far from the applause of the crowd.