Images The basilica of Saint Simeon The basililca (interior): the pillar of Saint Simeon

Even if Christianity was far from being the only religion of the region and the pagan community was very strong, Syria was a very fertile terrain for monotheist religions. The population did not become Christian overnight. There were also many spiritual experiences, like the anchorite, which developed mainly in Syria in the first centuries after Christ and certainly took inspiration from the pagan culture. Of all types of ascetics, anyway, the most popular were undoubtedly the Stylites, men who lived for years on the tops of a high column, from which they exhorted and instructed the populace. Simeon was the "head" of this branch and was followed by a lot of disciples.