Images Views of the site of Saint Simeon

An international network was created around the figure of Saint Simeon. People would come from England or Brittany to meet him. The pilgrims did not actually come to Saint Simeon as representatives of their nations but as individual groups of followers. Even the Emperor Theodosius and the Empress Eudocia greatly respected the saint and listened to his counsels, while the Emperor Leo paid respectful attention to a letter he sent in favour of the Council of Chalcedon. Simeon became so influential that a church delegation was sent to him to demand that he descend from his pillar as a sign of submission. When, however, he showed himself willing to comply, the request was withdrawn. Once when he was ill, Theodosius sent three bishops to beg him to come down and allow himself to be attended by physicians, but Simeon preferred to leave his health in the hands of God, and before long he recovered.