Simeon of Mantua

Saint Simeon of Mantua
Born	10th century Armenia
Died	AD 1016 Mantua
Venerated in	Catholic Church
Canonized	1016 by Pope Benedict VIII
Feast	July 26

Simeon of Mantua (9??–1016) was a Benedictine monk of Armenian origin who was canonized as a saint in the late 11th century.

Little is known of Simeon's early life, but at some time he left his homeland and spent some years living as a hermit in Palestine. After this, he is known to have visited Rome, where his exoticism led to his harassment by a Roman mob. Papal intervention calmed this situation. In the following period Simeon traveled across Italy, France, and Spain before returning to northern Italy, joining a Benedictine monastery at Mantua, where he became known for his kindness and generosity. He died in Mantua in 1016.

His tomb was a reported cite of numerous miracles, which contributed to his canonization in the latter 11th century. A local noble, Marchese Bonifacio III of Montferrat (not to be confused with either Pope Boniface III or the famous Boniface of Montferrat), later rebuilt a local church and dedicated it in Simeon's honor.

References

• Southern, R.W.. The Making of the Middle Ages. Yale University Press, 1953, p. 70.
• Benedictine Monks of st Augustines Abbey Ramsgate. Book of the Saints. A & C Black Publishers Ltd, 2003, p. 245
• Visual Italy: San Benedetto Po, Abbazia di Polirone, http://www.visual-italy.it/EN/lombardia/mantova/san-benedetto-po/abbazia-polirone/