Saint Simon the Apostle, the Zealot

Saint Simon, called the Zealot or the Canaanite, is one of the twelve apostles chosen by Christ. The New Testament says nothing of his mission after Pentecost. Late and differing traditions have him preaching in Egypt and North Africa, then in Persia with Saint Jude, where he is said to have died a martyr; others place him in Jerusalem. None credits him with founding a Church in Egypt: if he passed through, it was as a travelling preacher, without establishing a community. The Church of Alexandria recognises Saint Mark the Evangelist, its first bishop, as its founder. The icon shows him as a white-bearded elder, blessing with the cross and pointing to his stole bearing his name.

References: Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13.