Simon of Cyrene: Difference between revisions

Saint

Simon of Cyrene
Saint; Simon of Cyrene
	Simon of Cyrene depicted in a stained glass window at St. Peter's Church in Limours, France
Venerated in	Eastern Orthodox Church ; Oriental Orthodox Church; Church of the East ; Eastern Catholic Churches
Canonized	Pre-Congregation
Major shrine	Chapel of Simon of Cyrene, Jerusalem
Feast	27 February; 1 December
Attributes	Carrying Jesus’ Cross before His Crucifixion

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Simon of Cyrene (Hebrew: שמעון‎, Standard Hebrew Šimʿon, Tiberian Hebrew Šimʿôn; Greek: Σίμων Κυρηναῖος, Simōn Kyrēnaios) was the man compelled by the Romans to carry the cross of Jesus of Nazareth as Jesus was taken to his crucifixion, according to all three Synoptic Gospels:^[3]^[4]

And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
— Matthew 27:32, KJV

He was also the father of the disciples Rufus and Alexander.

Simon is not mentioned in the Gospel of John.

Background

Cyrene was a Greek city in the province of Cyrenaica, in eastern Libya, in northern Africa. It had a Jewish community, where 100,000 Judean Jews settled during the reign of Ptolemy Soter (323–285 BC), and was an early center of Christianity.

The Cyrenian Jews had a synagogue in Jerusalem, where many went for annual feasts.^[5]

Biblical accounts

Simon's act of carrying the cross, patibulum (crossbeam in Latin), for Jesus is the fifth station of the Stations of the Cross.^[6] Some interpret the passage as indicating that Simon was chosen because he may have shown sympathy with Jesus.^[5] Others point out that the text itself says nothing, that he had no choice, and that there is no basis to consider the carrying of the cross an act of sympathetic generosity.^[7]

Mark 15:21 identifies Simon as "the father of Alexander and Rufus". Tradition states that they became missionaries; the inclusion of their names may suggest that they were of some standing in the Early Christian community at Rome. Mark's Gospel, which was written for a Roman audience, seems to suggest that the audience knew who these men were. It has also been suggested that the Rufus (in Greek: Ῥοῦφον or Rhouphon) mentioned by Paul in Romans 16:13 is the son of Simon of Cyrene.^[8] Some also link Simon himself with the "men of Cyrene" who preached the Gospel to the Hellenized Jews (Greek: Ελληνιστάς)^[9] in Acts 11:20.^[5] On the other hand, Simon's name alone does not prove he was Jewish, and Alexander and Rufus were both common names and may have referred to others.^[7]

A burial cave in the Kidron Valley discovered in 1941 by E. L. Sukenik, belonging to Cyrenian Jews and dating before AD 70, was found to have an ossuary inscribed twice in Greek "Alexander son of Simon". It cannot, however, be certain that this refers to the same person.^[10].^[11]

Gnostic and Islamic views

Gnostic

According to some Gnostic traditions, Simon of Cyrene, by mistaken identity, suffered the events leading up to the crucifixion. This is the story presented in the Second Treatise of the Great Seth, although it is unclear whether Simon or another actually died on the cross.^[12] This is part of a belief held by some Gnostics that Jesus was not of flesh, but only took on the appearance of flesh (see also Basilides, and Swoon hypothesis).

Basilides, in his gospel of Basilides, is reported by Irenaeus as having taught a docetic doctrine of Christ's passion. He states the teaching that Christ, in Jesus, as a wholly divine being, could not suffer bodily pain and did not die on the cross; but that the person crucified was, in fact, Simon of Cyrene.^[13]^[14] Irenaeus quotes Basiledes:

He appeared on earth as a man and performed miracles. Thus he himself did not suffer. Rather, a certain Simon of Cyrene was compelled to carry his cross for him. It was he who was ignorantly and erroneously crucified, being transfigured by him, so that he might be thought to be Jesus. Moreover, Jesus assumed the form of Simon, and stood by laughing at them.^[15] — Irenaeus, Against Heresies^[16]

Islamic

Orthodox Muslim theology teaches Jesus ascended to Heaven without dying on the cross.

In popular culture

According to the visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich, Simon was a pagan. The Romans recognized he was not a Jew by his clothes and then chose him to oblige him to help Jesus carry the cross.^[17]

Poet Ridgely Torrence wrote a play about him titled Simon the Cyrenian. A 1920 YWCA production of this play was directed by Dora Cole, sister of composer Bob Cole, and starred Paul Robeson.^[18]

Sidney Poitier was cast as Simon of Cyrene in The Greatest Story Ever Told that was directed by George Stevens and released in 1965.^[19]

In the 1979 comedy film Monty Python's Life of Brian is a vignette alluding to Simon of Cyrene. A seemingly pious and generous man offers to one of the condemned carrying a cross, "Brother, let me shoulder your burden." Upon doing so, the condemned man runs off, leaving the generous man stuck with the cross and future crucifixion.

The film The Passion of the Christ portrays Simon (Jarreth Merz) as a Jew who, having been forced by the Romans to carry the cross, is initially unwilling but comes to show compassion to Jesus and helps him.

French singer-poet Georges Brassens mentioned Simon in one of the verses of his famous song-poem La prière (The prayer): "Comme la croix du fils sur Simon de Cyrène" (Like the son's cross on Simon of Cyrene). The song is based on an original poem called Rosaire by French poet Francis Jammes that also contains this verse.

Movements

Both the Simon Community, and the Cyrenian movement (which provides services to homeless and other disadvantaged groups in the UK)^[20] take their name from Simon of Cyrene.

References

^ Gresham, John R. Jr. (2017-10-31). "St. Simon's Day: Calendar and Common Ground". The Modern Monastic Order of Saint Simon of Cyrene. Archived from the original on 2021-04-11. Retrieved 2022-03-27. This commemoration is found only in the Lectionary Paris BN gr. 282 (9th cent.).
^ "What happened to Simon of Cyrene after the crucifixion?". Aleteia. 2022-12-04. Retrieved 2023-09-09.
^ Mark 15:21–22
^ Luke 23:26
^ ^a ^b ^c Bryant, T.A., ed. (1982). Today's Dictionary of the Bible. Minneapolis: Bethany House. p. 580. ISBN 9780871235695. LCCN 82012980. OCLC 8669410.
^ Marie, John Anthony (ed.). "Stations of the Cross - Fifth Station". Traditional Catholic. Archived from the original on 2017-05-17. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
^ ^a ^b ^c Carson, D. A. (1984). "Matthew". In Gaebelein, Frank E. (ed.). The Expositor's Bible Commentary. Vol. 8. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. p. 575. ISBN 0340418583. OCLC 499569314. OL 21315951M.
^ Wessel, Walter W. (1984). "Mark". In Gaebelein, Frank E. (ed.). The Expositor's Bible Commentary. Vol. 8. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. p. 778. ISBN 0340418583. OCLC 499569314. OL 21315951M.
^ B. B. Warfield (December 1883). "The Readings "Ελληνας and 'Ελληνιστάς, Acts xi. 20". Journal of the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis. 3 (2): 113–127. doi:10.2307/3268765. JSTOR 3268765.
^ Avigad, N. (1962). "A Depository of Inscribed Ossuaries in the Kidron Valley". Israel Exploration Journal. 12 (1): 1–12. ISSN 0021-2059. JSTOR 27924877. LCCN 53036113. OL 32001168M. Retrieved 2022-03-27.^[7]
^ Evans, Craig A. (2006). "Excavating Caiaphas, Pilate, and Simon of Cyrene". In Charlesworth, James H. (ed.). Jesus and Archaeology. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. p. 338. ISBN 0-8028-4880-X. OCLC 1302072225. OL 7904215M. Retrieved 2022-03-27 – via Internet Archive.
^ Barnstone, Willis; Meyer, Marvin, eds. (2003). The Gnostic Bible (1st ed.). Boston: Shambhala. pp. 465, 469–470. ISBN 1570622426. LCCN 2003007148. OCLC 51984869. OL 15549334M. Retrieved 2022-03-28 – via Internet Archive.
^ Cross, Frank Leslie; Livingstone, Elizabeth A., eds. (1997). "Basilides". The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. Oxford University Press. p. 168. ISBN 9780192116550. LCCN 97165294. OL 767012M. Retrieved 2022-03-28 – via Internet Archive.
^ Ehrman, Bart (2005-07-27). Lost Christianities: The Battles for Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew. Oxford University Press. p. 188. ISBN 9780195182491. OCLC 851818509. OL 7391542M.
^ Kelhoffer, James A. (2014). Conceptions of "Gospel" and Legitimacy in Early Christianity. Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament. Vol. 324. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck. p. 80. ISBN 978-3-16-152636-7. ISSN 0512-1604. LCCN 2014436189. OCLC 880553332. OL 28411459M. Retrieved 2022-03-28 – via Google Books.
^ Irenaeus (1857). Harvey, Wigan (ed.). Libros quinque adversus Haereses (in Greek and Latin). Typis academicis. Book 1, Chapter 19 – via HathiTrust. Et gentibus ipsorum autem apparuisse eum in terra hominem, et virtutes perfecisse. Quapropter neque passsum eum, sed Simonem quendam Cyrenæum angariatum portasse crucem ejus pro eo: et hunc secundum ignorantiam et errorem crucifixum, transfiguratum ab eo, uti putaretur ipse esse Jesus: et ipsum autem Jesum Simonis accepisse formam, et stantem irrisisse eos.
^ Emmerich, Anne Catherine. "The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ". Archived from the original on 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2017-05-01.
^ Boyle, Sheila Tully; Bunie, Andrew (2001). Paul Robeson: The Years of Promise and Achievement. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press. p. 89. ISBN 9781558491496. LCCN 2001017155. OL 3940756M – via Internet Archive.
^ Goudsouzian, Aram (2004). Sidney Poitier: Man, Actor, Icon. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. p. 232. ISBN 9780807828434. OCLC 899204579. OL 9318050M. Retrieved 2022-03-28 – via Internet Archive.
^ "Cyrenians – About us". Cyrenians. Archived from the original on 2022-01-30. Retrieved 2021-04-03.

External links

Media related to Simon of Cyrene at Wikimedia Commons

[Gresham-1] Gresham, John R. Jr. (2017-10-31). "St. Simon's Day: Calendar and Common Ground". The Modern Monastic Order of Saint Simon of Cyrene. Archived from the original on 2021-04-11. Retrieved 2022-03-27. This commemoration is found only in the Lectionary Paris BN gr. 282 (9th cent.).

[2] "What happened to Simon of Cyrene after the crucifixion?". Aleteia. 2022-12-04. Retrieved 2023-09-09.

[3] Mark 15:21–22

[4] Luke 23:26

[Today-5] Bryant, T.A., ed. (1982). Today's Dictionary of the Bible. Minneapolis: Bethany House. p. 580. ISBN 9780871235695. LCCN 82012980. OCLC 8669410.

[6] Marie, John Anthony (ed.). "Stations of the Cross - Fifth Station". Traditional Catholic. Archived from the original on 2017-05-17. Retrieved 2022-03-27.

[Matthew-7] Carson, D. A. (1984). "Matthew". In Gaebelein, Frank E. (ed.). The Expositor's Bible Commentary. Vol. 8. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. p. 575. ISBN 0340418583. OCLC 499569314. OL 21315951M.

[8] Wessel, Walter W. (1984). "Mark". In Gaebelein, Frank E. (ed.). The Expositor's Bible Commentary. Vol. 8. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. p. 778. ISBN 0340418583. OCLC 499569314. OL 21315951M.

[9] B. B. Warfield (December 1883). "The Readings "Ελληνας and 'Ελληνιστάς, Acts xi. 20". Journal of the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis. 3 (2): 113–127. doi:10.2307/3268765. JSTOR 3268765.

[10] Avigad, N. (1962). "A Depository of Inscribed Ossuaries in the Kidron Valley". Israel Exploration Journal. 12 (1): 1–12. ISSN 0021-2059. JSTOR 27924877. LCCN 53036113. OL 32001168M. Retrieved 2022-03-27.^[7]

[11] Evans, Craig A. (2006). "Excavating Caiaphas, Pilate, and Simon of Cyrene". In Charlesworth, James H. (ed.). Jesus and Archaeology. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. p. 338. ISBN 0-8028-4880-X. OCLC 1302072225. OL 7904215M. Retrieved 2022-03-27 – via Internet Archive.

[12] Barnstone, Willis; Meyer, Marvin, eds. (2003). The Gnostic Bible (1st ed.). Boston: Shambhala. pp. 465, 469–470. ISBN 1570622426. LCCN 2003007148. OCLC 51984869. OL 15549334M. Retrieved 2022-03-28 – via Internet Archive.

[13] Cross, Frank Leslie; Livingstone, Elizabeth A., eds. (1997). "Basilides". The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. Oxford University Press. p. 168. ISBN 9780192116550. LCCN 97165294. OL 767012M. Retrieved 2022-03-28 – via Internet Archive.

[14] Ehrman, Bart (2005-07-27). Lost Christianities: The Battles for Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew. Oxford University Press. p. 188. ISBN 9780195182491. OCLC 851818509. OL 7391542M.

[15] Kelhoffer, James A. (2014). Conceptions of "Gospel" and Legitimacy in Early Christianity. Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament. Vol. 324. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck. p. 80. ISBN 978-3-16-152636-7. ISSN 0512-1604. LCCN 2014436189. OCLC 880553332. OL 28411459M. Retrieved 2022-03-28 – via Google Books.

[16] Irenaeus (1857). Harvey, Wigan (ed.). Libros quinque adversus Haereses (in Greek and Latin). Typis academicis. Book 1, Chapter 19 – via HathiTrust. Et gentibus ipsorum autem apparuisse eum in terra hominem, et virtutes perfecisse. Quapropter neque passsum eum, sed Simonem quendam Cyrenæum angariatum portasse crucem ejus pro eo: et hunc secundum ignorantiam et errorem crucifixum, transfiguratum ab eo, uti putaretur ipse esse Jesus: et ipsum autem Jesum Simonis accepisse formam, et stantem irrisisse eos.

[17] Emmerich, Anne Catherine. "The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ". Archived from the original on 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2017-05-01.

[18] Boyle, Sheila Tully; Bunie, Andrew (2001). Paul Robeson: The Years of Promise and Achievement. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press. p. 89. ISBN 9781558491496. LCCN 2001017155. OL 3940756M – via Internet Archive.

[19] Goudsouzian, Aram (2004). Sidney Poitier: Man, Actor, Icon. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. p. 232. ISBN 9780807828434. OCLC 899204579. OL 9318050M. Retrieved 2022-03-28 – via Internet Archive.

[20] "Cyrenians – About us". Cyrenians. Archived from the original on 2022-01-30. Retrieved 2021-04-03.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Man who was forced by the Romans to carry the cross of Jesus}}
-[[Image:StationV.JPG|thumbnail|right|250px|The fifth Station of the Cross, showing Simon of Cyrene helping Christ carry his cross. This particular station is located within [[St. Raphael's Cathedral (Dubuque)|St. Raphael's Cathedral]], [[Dubuque, Iowa|Dubuque]], [[Iowa]].]]
+{{Infobox saint
-[[File:RubensSimonCyreneCarriesCross.jpg|thumb|200px|Painting by [[Rubens]] depicting scene from Luke 23:26-28: "And as they led him away they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus. And there followed him a great company of people and of women which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said "Daughters of Jerusalem weep not for me but weep for yourselves and for your children". (King James Version). Alte Pinakothek, Munich]]
+| honorific_prefix = [[Saint]]
-'''Simon of Cyrene''' ('''שמעון''' "Hearkening; listening", [[Standard Hebrew]] '''Šimʿon''', [[Tiberian Hebrew]] '''Šimʿôn''') was the man compelled by the [[Roman Empire|Romans]] to carry the [[Christian cross|cross]] of [[Jesus]] as Jesus was taken to his [[crucifixion]], according to all three [[Synoptic Gospels]].<ref>{{bibleverse||Mark|15:21-22|}}</ref><ref name="bibleverse||Matthew|27:32">{{bibleverse||Matthew|27:32|}}</ref><ref>{{bibleverse||Luke|23:26|}}</ref>
+| name = Simon of Cyrene
-: And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.<ref name="bibleverse||Matthew|27:32"/>
+| honorific_suffix =
+| image = Limours Saint-Pierre 303.JPG
+| alt =
+| caption = Simon of Cyrene depicted in a stained glass window at St. Peter's Church in [[Limours]], [[France]]
+| titles =
+| birth_name =
+| birth_date =
+| birth_place =
+| home_town =
+| residence =
+| death_date =
+| death_place =
+| venerated_in = [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] <br>[[Oriental Orthodox Church]]<br>[[Church of the East]] <br>[[Eastern Catholic Churches]]
+| beatified_date =
+| beatified_place =
+| beatified_by =
+| canonized_date = [[Pre-Congregation]]
+| canonized_place =
+| canonized_by =
+| major_shrine = [[Chapel of Simon of Cyrene]], [[Old City of Jerusalem|Jerusalem]]
+| feast_day = 27 February<ref name="Gresham">{{Cite web |last=Gresham |first=John R. Jr. |date=2017-10-31 |title=St. Simon's Day: Calendar and Common Ground |url=https://stsimonsorder.org/2017/10/31/st-simons-day-calendar-common-ground/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411123746/https://stsimonsorder.org/2017/10/31/st-simons-day-calendar-common-ground/ |archive-date=2021-04-11 |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=The Modern Monastic Order of Saint Simon of Cyrene |language=en |quote=This commemoration is found only in the Lectionary Paris BN gr. 282 (9th cent.).}}</ref><br />1 December<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://aleteia.org/2022/04/12/what-happened-to-simon-of-cyrene-after-the-crucifixion/ |title=What happened to Simon of Cyrene after the crucifixion? |website= Aleteia| date= 2022-12-04 |access-date= 2023-09-09}}</ref>
+| attributes = Carrying Jesus’ Cross before His Crucifixion
+| patronage =
+| issues =
+| suppressed_date =
+| suppressed_by =
+| influences =
+| influenced =
+| tradition =
+| major_works =
+| module =
+}}
+'''Simon of Cyrene''' ({{Langx|he|{{Script|Hebrew|שמעון}}}}, [[Standard Hebrew]] ''Šimʿon'', [[Tiberian Hebrew]] ''Šimʿôn''; {{Langx|el|{{Script|Greek|Σίμων Κυρηναῖος}}}}, ''Simōn Kyrēnaios'') was the man compelled by the [[Roman Empire|Romans]] to carry the [[Christian cross|cross]] of [[Jesus of Nazareth]] as Jesus was taken to his [[Crucifixion of Jesus|crucifixion]], according to all three [[Synoptic Gospels]]:<ref>{{bibleverse||Mark|15:21-22|KJV}}</ref><ref>{{bibleverse||Luke|23:26|KJV}}</ref>{{blockquote|And as they came out, they found a man of [[Cyrene, Libya|Cyrene]], Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.|source={{Bibleverse|Matthew|27:32|9}}, [[King James Version|KJV]]}} He was also the father of the [[Disciple (Christianity)|disciples]] [[Rufus (biblical figure)|Rufus]] and Alexander.
-Because his home town, [[Cyrene, Libya]], was located in northern [[Africa]], a connection arose making Simon of Cyrene the first  saintly [[Christian]]. Cyrene, a [[Greek colony]], also had a Jewish community where 100,000 [[Kingdom of Judah|Judean]] Jews had settled during the reign of [[Ptolemy Soter]] (323-285 BC) and was an [[Early centers of Christianity#Cyrene|early center of Christianity]]. The ''Cyrenian Jews'' had a [[synagogue]] in [[Jerusalem]], where many went for annual feasts.<ref name="Today">T.A. Bryant, compiler. ''Today's Dictionary of the Bible''. Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1982. Page 580.</ref> Tradition states his sons Rufus and Alexander became [[missionary|missionaries]]; the inclusion of their names in ''Mark 15:21'' may suggest that they were of some standing in the [[Early centers of Christianity#Rome|Early Christian community at Rome]]. It has also been suggested that the Rufus mentioned by Paul in [[Epistle to the Romans|Romans]] 16:13 is the son of Simon of Cyrene.<ref>Walter W. Wessel. "Mark." In ''The Expositor's Bible Commentary'', [[Frank E. Gaebelein]], ed. Vol. 8. Grand Rapids: Regency (Zondervan), 1984. Page 778.</ref> Some also link Simon himself with the "men of Cyrene" who preached the Gospel to the Greeks in [[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]] 11:20.<ref name="Today"/> On the other hand, Simon's name does not prove he was Jewish, and Alexander and Rufus were both common names and may have referred to others.<ref name="Matthew">D. A. Carson, "Matthew". In ''The Expositor's Bible Commentary'', [[Frank E. Gaebelein]], ed. Vol. 8. Grand Rapids: Regency (Zondervan), 1984. Page 575.</ref>
+Simon is not mentioned in the [[Gospel of John]].
-Simon's act of carrying the cross for Jesus is the fifth or seventh of the [[Stations of the Cross]].<ref>[http://www.catholic.org/prayers/station.php?id=5 The liturgy for the fifth Station of the Cross] at catholic.org</ref> Some analyze the passage that Simon was chosen because he may have shown sympathy with Jesus,<ref name="Today"/> but others point out that the text itself says nothing, that he had no choice, and there is no basis to consider the carrying of the cross an act of sympathetic generosity.<ref name="Matthew"/> ''[[The Passion of the Christ]]'' film portrays him as a Jew being forced by the Romans to carry the cross, and at first he is unwilling, but as the journey to [[Mount Calvary]] continues he shows compassion to Jesus and helps him make it to the top.
+==Background==
-According to some [[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] traditions, Simon of Cyrene, by mistaken identity, suffered the events leading up to the crucifixion, and died on the cross instead of Jesus. This is the story presented in the [[Second Treatise of the Great Seth]], although it is unclear whether Simon or another actually died on the cross.<ref>Willis Barnstone and Marvin Meyer, eds. ''The Gnostic Bible''. Bostom: Shambhala, 2002. Pages 465, 469-470.</ref> This is part of a belief held by some Gnostics that Jesus was not of flesh, but only took on the appearance of flesh (see also [[Basilides]] and [[Irenaeus]] and [[Swoon hypothesis]]). In the Islamic religion, believe that s [[Jesus]] died not run but that was "caught" by [[Allah]] and [[Judas Iscariot]] or Simon of Cyrene died in his place, eluding the Jews.
+[[Cyrene, Libya|Cyrene]] was a Greek city in the province of [[Cyrenaica]], in eastern [[Libya]], in northern Africa. It had a Jewish community, where 100,000 [[Judean]] Jews settled during the reign of [[Ptolemy Soter]] (323–285 BC), and was an [[Early centers of Christianity#Cyrene|early center of Christianity]].
+The Cyrenian Jews had a [[synagogue]] in [[Jerusalem]], where many went for annual feasts.<ref name="Today">{{Cite book |title=Today's Dictionary of the Bible |date=1982 |publisher=[[Bethany House]] |isbn=9780871235695 |editor-last=Bryant |editor-first=T.A. |location=[[Minneapolis]] |page=580 |language=en |lccn=82012980 |oclc=8669410}}</ref>
-A burial cave in [[Kidron Valley]] discovered in 1941 by [[Eleazar Sukenik|E. L. Sukenik]], belonging to Cyrenian Jews and dating before AD 70, was found to have an ossuary inscribed twice in Greek "Alexander Son of Simon." It cannot, however, be certain that this refers to the same person.<ref>[[N. Avigad]], "A Depository of Inscribed Ossuaries in the Kidron Valley," ''Israel Exploration Journal'' 12 [1962]: 1-12; cited in D. A. Carson, "Matthew". In ''The Expositor's Bible Commentary'', [[Frank E. Gaebelein]], ed. Vol. 8. Grand Rapids: Regency (Zondervan), 1984. Page 575.</ref><ref>[[James H. Charlesworth]] (editor), ''Jesus and Archaeology'', page 338 (Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2006). ISBN 0-8028-4880-X</ref>
+==Biblical accounts==
-The Cyrenian or Simon movement, centered in the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], takes its name from Simon of Cyrene. It has as its guiding principle 'sharing the burden' which it uses to explain its approach to providing services to homeless and other disadvantaged groups in society, often using volunteers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyrenians.org.uk/about/historyanddevelopment.html|title=Edinburgh Cyrenians History and Development|accessdate=2007-03-14}}</ref>
+Simon's act of carrying the cross, ''[[Crucifixion#Details|patibulum]]'' (crossbeam in Latin), for Jesus is the fifth station of the [[Stations of the Cross]].<ref>{{Cite web |editor-last=Marie |editor-first=John Anthony |title=Stations of the Cross - Fifth Station |url=http://www.traditionalcatholic.net/Tradition/Prayer/Stations_of_the_Cross/Fifth_Station.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517133209/http://www.traditionalcatholic.net/Tradition/Prayer/Stations_of_the_Cross/fourth_Station.html |archive-date=2017-05-17 |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=Traditional Catholic |language=en}}</ref> Some interpret the passage as indicating that Simon was chosen because he may have shown sympathy with Jesus.<ref name="Today" /> Others point out that the text itself says nothing, that he had no choice, and that there is no basis to consider the carrying of the cross an act of sympathetic generosity.<ref name="Matthew">{{Cite book |last=Carson |first=D. A. |title=The Expositor's Bible Commentary |date=1984 |publisher=[[Zondervan]] |isbn=0340418583 |editor-last=Gaebelein |editor-first=Frank E. |editor-link=Frank E. Gaebelein |volume=8 |location=[[Grand Rapids]] |page=575 |language=en |chapter=Matthew |oclc=499569314 |ol=21315951M}}</ref>
+[[Mark 15:21]] identifies Simon as "the father of Alexander and Rufus". Tradition states that they became [[missionary|missionaries]]; the inclusion of their names may suggest that they were of some standing in the [[Early centers of Christianity#Rome|Early Christian community at Rome]]. Mark's Gospel, which was written for a Roman audience, seems to suggest that the audience knew who these men were. It has also been suggested that the Rufus (in Greek: Ῥοῦφον or ''Rhouphon'') mentioned by Paul in [[Epistle to the Romans|Romans]] {{bibleverse-nb|Romans|16:13|KJV}} is the son of Simon of Cyrene.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wessel |first=Walter W. |title=The Expositor's Bible Commentary |date=1984 |publisher=[[Zondervan]] |isbn=0340418583 |editor-last=Gaebelein |editor-first=Frank E. |editor-link=Frank E. Gaebelein |volume=8 |location=[[Grand Rapids]] |page=778 |language=en |chapter=Mark |oclc=499569314 |ol=21315951M}}</ref> Some also link Simon himself with the "men of Cyrene" who preached the Gospel to the [[Hellenized Jews]] ([[Greek language|Greek]]: [[wiktionary:ελληνιστής|Ελληνιστάς]])<ref>{{cite journal |author=B. B. Warfield |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3268765 |title=The Readings "Ελληνας and 'Ελληνιστάς, Acts xi. 20 |volume=3 |issue=2 |date=December 1883 |journal=Journal of the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis |pages=113–127|doi=10.2307/3268765 |jstor=3268765 }}</ref> in [[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]] {{bibleverse-nb|Acts|11:20|KJV}}.<ref name="Today" /> On the other hand, Simon's name alone does not prove he was Jewish, and Alexander and Rufus were both common names and may have referred to others.<ref name="Matthew" />
-Characters playing Simon of Cyrene appear in the silent ''[[The King of Kings (1927 film)|The King of Kings]]'' (1927, played by [[William Boyd (actor)|William Boyd]]) ''[[King of Kings (1961 film)|King of Kings]]'' (1961, played by [[Rafael Luis Calvo]]) ''[[The Greatest Story Ever Told]]'' (1965, played by [[Sidney Poitier]]) and ''[[The Passion of the Christ]]'' (2004, played by Jarreth J. Merz).<ref>Credits given on [[IMDb]]: [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0101955/ William Boyd], [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0130984/ Rafael Luis Calvo], [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001627/ Sidney Poitier], and [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0581711/ Jarreth J. Merz]</ref> Also there is a play about Simon by the poet [[Ridgely Torrence]] titled ''Simon the Cyrenian''. Among the actors performing Simon of Cyrene in productions of this play is [[Paul Robeson]] (in a 1920 YWCA production directed by [[Bob Cole (composer)|Bob Cole's]] sister Dora).<ref>Sheila Tully Boyle and Andrew Bunie. ''Paul Robeson: The Years of Promise and Achievement.'' Amherst: [[University of Massachusetts Press]], 2001, p.89.</ref> Christian singer [[Ray Boltz]]'s song "Watch the Lamb" is about Simon of Cyrene's role in Christ's crucifixion.
+A burial cave in the [[Kidron Valley]] discovered in 1941 by [[Eleazar Sukenik|E. L. Sukenik]], belonging to Cyrenian Jews and dating before AD 70, was found to have an ossuary inscribed twice in Greek "Alexander son of Simon". It cannot, however, be certain that this refers to the same person.{{refn|{{Cite journal |last=Avigad |first=N. |author-link=Nahman Avigad |date=1962 |title=A Depository of Inscribed Ossuaries in the Kidron Valley |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/27924877 |journal=[[Israel Exploration Journal]] |language=en |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=1–12 |issn=0021-2059 |jstor=27924877 |lccn=53036113 |ol=32001168M |access-date=2022-03-27}}<ref name="Matthew" />}}.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Evans |first=Craig A. |url=https://archive.org/details/jesusarchaeology0000unse |title=Jesus and Archaeology |date=2006 |publisher=[[William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company]] |isbn=0-8028-4880-X |editor-last=Charlesworth |editor-first=James H. |editor-link=James H. Charlesworth |page=338 |language=en |chapter=Excavating Caiaphas, Pilate, and Simon of Cyrene |oclc=1302072225 |ol=7904215M |author-link=Craig A. Evans |access-date=2022-03-27 |url-access=registration |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>
+==Gnostic and Islamic views==
+=== Gnostic ===
+According to some [[Gnostic]] traditions, Simon of Cyrene, by mistaken identity, suffered the events leading up to the crucifixion. This is the story presented in the [[Second Treatise of the Great Seth]], although it is unclear whether Simon or another actually died on the cross.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/gnosticbible00barn |title=The Gnostic Bible |date=2003 |publisher=Shambhala |isbn=1570622426 |editor-last=Barnstone |editor-first=Willis |edition=1st |location=[[Boston]] |pages=465, 469–470 |language=en |lccn=2003007148 |oclc=51984869 |ol=15549334M |access-date=2022-03-28 |editor-last2=Meyer |editor-first2=Marvin |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> This is part of a belief held by some Gnostics that Jesus was not of flesh, but only took on the appearance of flesh (see also [[Basilides]], and [[Swoon hypothesis]]).
+[[Basilides]], in his [[gospel of Basilides]], is reported by [[Irenaeus]] as having taught a [[docetic]] doctrine of Christ's passion. He states the teaching that Christ, in Jesus, as a wholly divine being, could not suffer bodily pain and did not die on the cross; but that the person crucified was, in fact, Simon of Cyrene.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/oxforddictionary00late |title=The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church |date=1997 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=9780192116550 |editor-last=Cross |editor-first=Frank Leslie |editor-link=F. L. Cross |page=168 |language=en |chapter=Basilides |lccn=97165294 |ol=767012M |access-date=2022-03-28 |editor-last2=Livingstone |editor-first2=Elizabeth A. |editor-link2=Elizabeth Livingstone |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ehrman |first=Bart |title=Lost Christianities: The Battles for Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew |date=2005-07-27 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=9780195182491 |page=188 |oclc=851818509 |ol=7391542M |author-link=Bart D. Ehrman}}</ref> Irenaeus quotes Basiledes:
+<blockquote>He appeared on earth as a man and performed miracles. Thus he himself did not suffer. Rather, a certain Simon of Cyrene was compelled to carry his cross for him. It was he who was ignorantly and erroneously crucified, being transfigured by him, so that he might be thought to be Jesus.  Moreover, Jesus assumed the form of Simon, and stood by laughing at them.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kelhoffer |first=James A. |url={{GBurl|id=pN5gqU5A9noC|p=80}} |title=Conceptions of "Gospel" and Legitimacy in Early Christianity |publisher=[[Mohr Siebeck]] |year=2014 |isbn=978-3-16-152636-7 |series={{lang|de|Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament}} |volume=324 |location=[[Tübingen]] |page=80 |language=en |issn=0512-1604 |lccn=2014436189 |oclc=880553332 |ol=28411459M |access-date=2022-03-28 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>{{thinsp|{{mdash}}}}Irenaeus, [[On the Detection and Overthrow of the So-Called Gnosis|''Against Heresies'']]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Irenaeus |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101074938950;view=1up;seq=406 |title=Libros quinque adversus Haereses |year = 1857|publisher = Typis academicis|editor-last=Harvey |editor-first=Wigan |at=Book 1, Chapter 19 |language=el,la |quote={{lang|la|Et gentibus ipsorum autem apparuisse eum in terra hominem, et virtutes perfecisse. Quapropter neque passsum eum, sed Simonem quendam Cyrenæum angariatum portasse crucem ejus pro eo: et hunc secundum ignorantiam et errorem crucifixum, transfiguratum ab eo, uti putaretur ipse esse Jesus: et ipsum autem Jesum Simonis accepisse formam, et stantem irrisisse eos.}} |author-link=Irenaeus |via=[[HathiTrust]]}}</ref></blockquote>
+=== Islamic ===
+{{see also|Islamic view of Jesus' death}}Orthodox Muslim theology teaches Jesus [[Entering heaven alive|ascended to Heaven]] without dying on the cross.
+==In popular culture==
+According to the visions of [[Anne Catherine Emmerich]], Simon was a [[Paganism|pagan]]. The Romans recognized he was not a Jew by his clothes and then chose him to oblige him to help Jesus carry the cross.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Emmerich |first=Anne Catherine |author-link=Anne Catherine Emmerich |title=The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ |url=http://www.jesus-passion.com/THE_PASSION_3.5.htm#CHAPTER%20XXXIII |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126015351/http://www.jesus-passion.com/THE_PASSION_3.5.htm |archive-date=2022-01-26 |access-date=2017-05-01 |language=en}}</ref>
+Poet [[Ridgely Torrence]] wrote a play about him titled ''Simon the Cyrenian''. A 1920 [[YWCA]] production of this play was directed by Dora Cole, sister of composer [[Bob Cole (composer)|Bob Cole]], and starred [[Paul Robeson]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Boyle |first1=Sheila Tully |url=https://archive.org/details/paulrobesonyears00boyl |title=Paul Robeson: The Years of Promise and Achievement |last2=Bunie |first2=Andrew |publisher=[[University of Massachusetts Press]] |year=2001 |isbn=9781558491496 |location=[[Amherst, Massachusetts|Amherst]] |page=89 |language=en |lccn=2001017155 |ol=3940756M |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>
+[[Sidney Poitier]] was cast as Simon of Cyrene in ''[[The Greatest Story Ever Told]]'' that was directed by [[George Stevens]] and released in 1965.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Goudsouzian |first=Aram |url=https://archive.org/details/sidneypoitierman00goud |title=Sidney Poitier: Man, Actor, Icon |publisher=[[University of North Carolina Press]] |year=2004 |isbn=9780807828434 |location=[[Chapel Hill, North Carolina|Chapel Hill]] |page=232 |language=en |oclc=899204579 |ol=9318050M |access-date=2022-03-28 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>
+In the 1979 comedy film ''[[Monty Python's Life of Brian]]'' is a vignette alluding to Simon of Cyrene. A seemingly pious and generous man offers to one of the condemned carrying a cross, "Brother, let me shoulder your burden." Upon doing so, the condemned man runs off, leaving the generous man stuck with the cross and future crucifixion.
+The film ''[[The Passion of the Christ]]'' portrays Simon ([[Jarreth Merz]]) as a Jew who, having been forced by the Romans to carry the cross, is initially unwilling but comes to show compassion to Jesus and helps him.
+French singer-poet [[Georges Brassens]] mentioned Simon in one of the verses of his famous song-poem [[:fr:La Prière|''La prière'']] (The prayer): "''Comme la croix du fils sur Simon de Cyrène''" (Like the son's cross on Simon of Cyrene). The song is based on an original poem called ''Rosaire'' by French poet [[Francis Jammes]] that also contains this verse.
+==Movements==
+Both the [[Simon Community]], and the Cyrenian movement (which provides services to homeless and other disadvantaged groups in the UK)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cyrenians – About us |url=http://www.cyrenians.scot/about-us |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130060725/https://cyrenians.scot/about-us |archive-date=2022-01-30 |access-date=2021-04-03 |website=Cyrenians |language=en}}</ref> take their name from Simon of Cyrene.
+== See also ==
+* [[Chapel of Simon of Cyrene]]
+* [[Islamic views on Jesus' death]]
 ==References==
-{{Reflist|2}}
+{{Reflist}}
+==External links==
+* {{Commons category-inline}}
-{{Commons category|Simon of Cyrene}}
 {{New Testament people}}
+{{Authority control}}
+[[Category:Ancient Libyans]]
+[[Category:Christian saints from the New Testament]]
+[[Category:Libyan saints]]
+[[Category:People in the canonical gospels]]
 [[Category:Saints from the Holy Land]]
-[[Category:Libyan Roman Catholic saints]]
-[[Category:New Testament people]]
-[[Category:1st-century Christian saints]]
 [[Category:Saints of Roman Cyrenaica]]
+[[Category:Stations of the Cross]]

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