SKU: 41339545895

St. Simon the Myrrh-gusher icon

Sale price$18.00 Regular price$20.00
Save 10%

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 12 - Jul 17

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

St. Simon the Myrrh-gusher iconOrthodox icon of Saint. Simon the Myrrh streamer, or Myrrh gusher, the founder of Simonopetra Monastery. Contemporary icon Commemorated on December 28 "On December 28, shortly after the Feast of the Nativity, the Church celebrates the memory of St. Simon the Myrrh gusher through whom the Lord wrought great wonders. A star, like that which led the Magi to Bethlehem, miraculously revealed to the saint the site upon which, by divine command, he was to

Orthodox icon of  Saint. Simon the Myrrh-streamer, or Myrrh-gusher, the founder of Simonopetra Monastery. Contemporary icon

Commemorated on December 28

"On December 28, shortly after the Feast of the Nativity, the Church celebrates the memory of St. Simon the Myrrh-gusher through whom the Lord wrought great wonders. A star, like that which led the Magi to Bethlehem, miraculously revealed to the saint the site upon which, by divine command, he was to found a monastery. The monastery was appropriately dedicated to the Feast of the Nativity and was named New Bethlehem. Today, seven centuries later, it is still one of the flourishing monasteries on Mt. Athos.

The life of the venerable Simon was arrayed with mighty ascetic feats and miracles not only during his lifetime, but even after his repose when there gushed forth from his relics are abundant fount of myrrh in a manner similar to that of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica. Where he came from, who his parents were, and where he began his monastic labors, no one knows. Some time in the 13th century, he arrived on the Holy Mountaim Recalling the saying of the Fathers that without obedience one cannot be saved, the venerable Simon sought before all else to find a spiritual elder, one to whom he could entrust his soul without reserve, an elder who would be not only a faithful guide unto salvation and a radiant model of ascetic perfection, but also strict in bodily discipline.

After looking all over the Holy Mountain, he finally chose out of the multitude of monks leading virtuous lives, an unknown elder, perfect in all respects in the ascetic life. He labored in complete submission to his elder, fulfilling all his obediences with love and zeal and soon attained to such great spiritual heights that he became known all over the Holy Mountain for his irreproachable life. Finally. the time came when the elder was convinced that his period of trial was over. Casting aside his paternal kindness towards the venerable Simon, he decided to dwell with him. as with a brother and on several occasions he even asked for his advice and counsel.

But instead of rejoicing over the benevolence and honor bestowed upon him by his elder, Simon was utterly grieved. He decided to leave, seeking for himself total reclusion. Expressing his intention to his elder, he asked his blessing amidst a shower of tears, desiring with heartfelt sorrow that the elder would grant his consent. In this way, he took leave of his dear elder for whom he had already become not so much a disciple as another mighty co-struggler in the angelic life.

For a long time St. Simon searched all over the Holy Mountain for a secluded hermitage where no one would know of his existence and no one would find him. Finally, with God's help, he found a deserted mountainside with caves on the southern part of the Holy Mountain. Knowing that before him lay the relentless struggle of unseen warfare, the saint clothed himself with spiritual armor with the help of the Holy Spirit, taking the cross, prayer, faith, patience, fasting, and everything that could crush the wily schemes of the demons and raise a man to angelic purity and childlike simplicity. It is difficult to recount the fierce s c h e m e s and hidden traps with which satan tormented and tried to catch unawares Saint Simon. The holy ascetic, however, boldly trampled upon the brazen arrogance of his adversary and crushed all his plans. For many years St. Simon remained secluded within his cave where he manfully endured the constant battle with the unseen enemies of his soul. He lived in sorrows and utter deprivation, lacking even the assurance of his own salvation. 

Meanwhile, hearing of the severity of his life and in particular of his spiritual discernment and insight, many monks on the Holy Mountain began to come to him and to receive great spiritual benefit from his soul-profiting counsel, thus fulfilling the word of God: "A city that is set on a hill cannot he hid" (Matt. 5:14). Together with those who came to him, Simon was accounted worthy to receive from the Lord the gift of foreknowledge. However, through his humility he grew weary of such earthly honor, and he sought refuge from the disturbance created by all those who came to him. He was burdened by the stream of visitors which, it seemed to him, only served as a hindrance to his desire for a life of seclusion. He yearned, therefore, to abandon his dwelling for a yet more isolated one. But God, desiring the well-being and salvation of each and every one, prevented the. realization of his desire in the following way: 

One night, while persevering in prayer, the righteous one saw outside his cave, as if before his very eyes, the effulgence of a divine light; an ineffable fragrance spread all around him and he heard a loud voice: "Simon, Simon, thou faithful friend and servant of my Son! Do not go away from here. I shall glorify this place; you shall be its guiding light, and your name shall be glorified.'' Out of caution, Simon chose at first not to believe this vision, not desiring to fall into the nets of the evil one; for he knew, according to the word of the Apostle, that satan could transform himself into an angel of light. Neyertheless, he continued to ponder upon the actual source of the voice. This took place shortly before the Feast of the Nativity of Christ. Then, one night, walking outside his cave, he saw a strange apparition: a star descended from the heavens and came to rest just above the rocky cliffs where later the holy monastery was to be situated. This same vision repeated itself on the following evenings; but the venerable Simon was still fearful. Wasit possible that this was solely one of the consequences of his intense spiritual warfare? And he continued to distrust the vision.

When the Eve of the Nativity of Christ arrived, he saw in a dream a brilliant star and heard a divine voice: "Simon! you must build a monastic dwelling here. I myself shall help you. Cast aside your doubts, or you shall be punished for your unbelief." The same voice spoke to him three times. At that time (as he later related to his disciples) it seemed to him that he was in Bethlehem of Judea, in the very place where the shepherds were tending their flocks, and he heard the sweet sound of angelic singing: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men: fear not, for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people" (Luke2:l4, 10). After this, said the saint, all fear and uneasiness were dispelled from my soul and I rejoiced in spirit, and secretly beheld the scene in Bethlehem; there, before the manger, the Sovereign Lady stood before the Divine Child, lying in swaddling clothes. 

Several days after the Feast of the Nativity, three rich men, brothers after the flesh, came to the venerable one. They confessed all their sins and began persuasively to entreat him to permit them to live in obedience under his direction. After a brief period of trial and testing, St. Simon revealed unto them, as to his own sons according to the spirit, the divine vision. More than once he related to them the v i s i o n concerning the building of a monastery on the neighboring cliffs, asking them not to speak of this to any, one while he was still alive until the proper time. Hearing all this, the brothers with love offered to the saintly elder all of their earthly wealth for the construction of the monastery, and in accordance with the saint's wish and blessing, they offered immediately to prepare everything necessary for such an important and God-pleasing labor. 

All necessary preparations were made. They had yet to learn, however, of the exact site for the foundation upon which the monastery was to be built. When St. Simon directed the brothers to the location where the church and other buildings were to be constructed they w e r e horrified, seeing t h e sheer cliffs which, according to his orders, were to serve as the monastery's foundation. "Are you trying to fool us, Abba?" they asked the saint, 'or are you speaking the truth? How can this be the site, when that cliff might be quite dangerous for the workers and even more so for those that will dwell here. If this is your desire, we shall surely oppose you !"

The matter was left undecided. In the meantime, seeing that he could not convince them to proceed with the work, St. Simon ordered the trapeza meal to be served. While they were eating, one of the saint's disciples who was bringing wine to the table, lost his , balance ,through the prompting of a demon, and fell off the cliff into a great abyss; still holding in one hand a pitcher and in the other several glasses of wine. Stricken with horror at this sudden tragedy, the spokesman of the brothers strongly rebuked the venerable one: "Behold, Abba, what has already been wrought by these deadly crags before you have even begun your undertaking. How many similar incidents of such a frightful death will occur if we should agree to build the monastery here." The saint did not answer but secretly prayed to the Sovereign Lady Theotokos that he would not be put to shame in placing his trust in her intercession. "Who can tell of all thy miracles, O Sovereign Lady, and who can praise thy majesty?' What happened next was entirely unexpected: the brother who had fallen over the precipice suddenly appeared before them. Through the intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos he was not only perfectly whole and unscathed, but he even held the glasses and pitcher from which not a drop of wine had spilled! Such a miracle brought fear and trembling upon the laborers. They fell to their knees before the saint and beseeching forgiveness said: "Now we know, O father, that you are truly a man of God." With heartfelt sincerity they were all grateful to be numbered among the saint's disciples and were soon accounted worthy of the angelic habit. Then, under the immediate supervision of the venerable Simon himself, his disciples, formerly simple laborers, proceeded with the construction of the Monastery. 

The situation, however, was such that before anything else it was necessary to lay the foundation. According to the instruction of the saint, they were to use a nearby stone of enormous size. The elder ordered them to move it, but they, forgetting about the miracle of the unspilled wine, were of the firm opinion that not only was it impossible for them with their combined efforts to move that massive weight, but that it could not even be budged. They stood there bewildered, not having the slightest idea what to do. Seeing this, the saint approached them and, making the sign of the life-giving Cross on the stone, he single-handedly lifted it upon his shoulder and carried it to the designated site. In this way he demonstrated in actual fact the truth of the word which the Lord spoke unto the Apostles: "Verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove" (Matt. 17120).

That such a man, whose body was weakened by fasting and ascetic labor, should lift such a weight far exceeding human strength, can only serve as a testimony of God's almighty power and His readiness to help those who turn to Him with faith. 

Having established the monastery which he named New Bethlehem, and having spent his life in God-pleasing labors, St. Simon reposed on the 28th of December, 1287. On the morning of the next day, in the presence of the entire brotherhood, the face of the righteous one shone with a wondrous light. After his soul had ascended unto the choirs of the righteous, a fragrant myrrh issued forth from his holy relics through which St. Simon worked many miracles to the glory of God, for kings, monks, and laymen. 

Many years after the saint's earthly departure, a pious Serbian king helped to greatly enlarge and rebuild the monastery in honor of its founder. Since that time it has been known as Simonopetra, or the "Rock of Simon". Today it is perhaps one of the most awe-inspiring architectural monuments in the world, a standing testimony to the power of faith and God's good will toward men."

Reference:http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2009/12/st-simon-myrrh-streamer-and-founder-of.html

Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 41339545895

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.6 ★★★★★
Based on 2478 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
J
Verified Purchase
Johanna J
Houston, US
★★★★★ 3
I don’t mind a cliffhanger,
Format: Kindle
but I dropped at least one star because of the obnoxious gloating of the author after the cliffhanger. Seriously - I don’t understand making your readers angry because you’re smug and expecting them to keep reading your books. I was very definitely enjoying the series. Now I have a bad taste in my mouth and mixed feelings about continuing the series.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2025
S
Verified Purchase
Stephen Wiggs
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 4
The series as a whole so far 5/25
Format: Kindle
I read reviews before going into this book and I don't agree with one of the more harsh ones on the main trigger she had. It is stated clearly in the forward and it wasn't as blase as it was made out to be. It definitely is touched on more and hasn't just been brushed off as the series goes I definitely would recommend reading it. It's a good series just be for-warned I like the series as a whole. The characters are awesome I adore the fmc shes cute and adorable but also a badass. Though there are a bunch of holes for her that I feel like just got left out. The guys are interesting and shout out to yall for not making Gage a dragon. I'm tired of the broody ones who don't wanna talk aboit what they are being Dragons. Ki is my favorite You can definitely tell if is written by 2 different people though because the phrasing just doesn't match up and wouldn't be something people that age says. And it flip flops between them. I feel like there's substance without substance. We are 4 books in and we don't really know much back story on literally anyone more than right under surface deep. There are definitely favorite MMCs which is kind of disappointing since some get shoved to the wayside. Specifically both of the best friends. They're basically useless and it's made obvious as the books go on. As well as all the men are ungodly self deprecating. I enjoy the plot line for the most part like I said I enjoy the series its different and refreshing. I do feel like the series is being dragged out though unfortunately. And the latest cliff hanger was just meh. So hopefully the next book is the last one.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2025
O
Verified Purchase
Oohlala857
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 5
Wow!
Format: Kindle
This book was awesome! Seraphina and her family have moved to a new town. Her family is a bit... odd. She grew up learning how to protect herself from people who might hurt her. Bloodshed is a daily occurrence with her brothers and parents during their practice sessions, and it’s all fun and games unless you need to hide a body. Sera’s family is very close, and she’s been homeschooled most of her life. But in this new town she is going to start regular school as a senior at the local high school. Unfortunately, things at her school aren’t all they seem to be. Or perhaps more than they seem to be. Sera has her own demons to deal with, and she’s terrified her new friends will learn about her weird family and other issues and drop her like a rock. It turns out they have their own secrets as well. This story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to read the next one! This book is well written and well edited. The heroine is spunky and has a great heart and wicked sense of humor.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2021
E
Verified Purchase
Erinarkin20
Draper, US
★★★★★ 5
Great New Fantasy Series!
Format: Hardcover
I came across The Road of Bones by Demi Winters as I was scanning NetGalley and when I read the summary I was intrigued. I'm always interested in a good Fantasy but when you throw Vikings into the mix, I'm on board. Now, I did have this book on my TBR shelf, but I'm going to tell you, thankfully when I cracked this book open I happened to be on vacation because I couldn't put it down and I've been telling everyone I know who will listen that they need to read it. Not only because it is good but because I NEED someone to talk to about it. Winters starts this book out with a bang and pulled me in from the start...Silla Nordvig is our fmc and she is on the run. We find out very quickly that she and her father have been moving from village to village but we don't truly know why and unfortunately as they are headed on their way out of their most recent village, Silla's father is killed and Silla is on her own trying to survive. What she doesn't understand is why the queen of Iseldur has sent warriors to bring her back to Sunnavik and based on her father's last words to her, Silla is determined to travel the Road of Bones and get to Kopa and the safety of a shield house. After barely surviving her first stretch of travel, Silla overhears a group discuss their travels and she sneaks into their supply wagon. What she didn't count on was that the wagon belonged to the notorious Bloodaxe Crew. To make it to Kopa, she has to win over Axe Eyes, the crew leader, while not falling for the Wolf's handsome face. As she finds herself getting closer to the whole crew (and slowly winning them over), the queen's hunter is on her tail and is determined to bring her back to Sunnavik no matter what it takes. Like I said, I couldn't put this book down. There is non-stop action in this book. Whether it is the danger of traveling the Road of Bones and coming across the various monsters there or trying to escape the queen's assassin, the Bloodaxe Crew and Silla are always facing some sort of danger along their travels. As for the characters, I love a book that has me feeling all the things for all the characters and this book did this for me. First, there is Silla. I won't say a lot about her backstory as I don't want to ruin anything here but she is put through the ringer here. That said, she doesn't ever give up and I love that about her. Don't get me wrong, she has her moments where she questions everything and doubts herself just like anyone who has gone through what she is going through would but she always tends to sit in it for a moment and then pull herself back together. And despite all this, Axe Eyes still refers to her as "Sunshine" which compared to him is probably fair. Wolf/Jonas - He values family and loyalty so that is a plus but I have a lot of feelings here and I can't say anything for fear that I will give anything away and sway someone's thoughts. That said, I had high hopes for him and I will talk about him more in my review for book 2. Axe Eyes/Rey - As grumpy as he likes to come across, he truly is a protector and while he likes to pretend he doesn't like Silla around, he also doesn't truly want her gone and when things go wrong, he is the one who tends to come through for everyone. Again I won't say a lot here as he has some secrets that are revealed and feed into the next book. Rest of the Bloodaxe Crew - The rest of the crew are a great supporting cast and help to move the story forward. Ultimately, this book was one that did a great job of combining the character's stories with the overall plot and there is an underlying story here. It's not just about Silla trying to get to Kopa. The queen of Iseldur is up to something and while we only get snippets of what the queen wants Silla for through her assassin/hunter, there is definitely something bigger at play. Admittedly, it wasn't a surprise to me as to what Silla's background was but I also couldn't help from feeling all the feelings for Silla as she starts to realize what she is up against and what that means for her. Also, it's a harsh world that these characters live in and Winters did a fantastic job of putting it down on paper and getting me absorbed into it. If you're looking for an adult fantasy to pick up, consider grabbing this one. It has a great story, strong writing, solid world-building, and well-developed characters. Plus...then we can talk about all the things. The next book, Kingdom of Claw, comes out early in 2025 so you won't have too long to wait to see what happens with these characters. I'll definitely be picking up the next books in the series to see what happens for these characters as this book/series has me in a chokehold.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2024
C
Verified Purchase
Cara Barbardo
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 4
4.5 ⭐️ for this epic Viking Romantasy!
Format: Kindle
I slept on this book for far too long! I understand the hype now, and it is most definitely well deserved. While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it did start a bit slow for me. I was a bit confused by the magic system as we never really got a good picture of how it works. But alas, it did pick up mid way through and I devoured the remainder of the book. There are so many things to love about this book - the found family, the characters, the perilously danger filled journey and the plot twists. There were enough Easter eggs that I was easily able to figure out the twists before they were revealed. The romance also comes with a bit of a twist and I knew it wasn’t right. It felt a little forced and was slightly uncomfortable to witness knowing he wasn’t the right love interest. By the end of the book, I was giddy with glee and look forward to seeing if what I hope will transpire comes to light in the next book. As this is a Viking setting, it comes with a lot of violence and gore, so make sure you take that to heart if you pick up this book.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2025

recommand products