Stylite
As stylite or Stylit was (from the Greek stylos, column '), first in the Eastern Church from the 4th / 5th Century called a monk who spent his life as a sign of special asceticism on the capital of a column.
Christian Stylites
The demigod was followed by three ascetic principles: the stay in one place ( stabilitas loci ), the homelessness and standing.
The columns were of different heights ( three meters and much more ) on the capital, a plate was mounted so that the ascetic was able to stretch out in peace. Before the crash protected railings, protection from rain and sun was rejected. Some went with the " standing " to the extent that they long time did not lie down. Food and Eucharist were the pillars of the Holy ladders. From the 6th century various Stylites were ordained to the priesthood or increased only after ordination to their columns. Some left the columns ever again, others only from important occasions of persecution or because they had been elected Bishop.
The first pillar saint was Simeon Stylites the Elder.
Possible non-Christian precursor
According to Lucian of Samosata ( De Dea Syria 28-29) also cultivated the worshipers of Dionysus standing on pillars. This happened either, to be closer to the gods, or in memory of the Deucalion flood. They stood in Hierapolis Bambyke twice a year for seven days on a phallic column.
Reception
The Stylite and the motif of the "sit on the column " were read several times. However, the background here was not always religious, partly critical of religion motivated.
- A number of important authors attacked the subject of the Stylites in their works on, such as Mark Twain (A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur 's Court ), Umberto Eco ( Baudolino ) and Terry Pratchett ( Small Gods ).
- In the 20th century a non-religious competition was organized under the name pole-sitting, in which it was about as long as possible sitting on a pile unbearable.
- The Mexican church-critical satire Simón del desierto by Luis Buñuel (1965 ) based on the life of Simeon Stylites the Elder.
- At his Vertigo project, the American artist David Blaine was almost for two days on a column in New York.
Known Stylites
- Symeon Stylites the Elder ( 389-459 )
- Symeon Stylites the Younger ( 521-592 )
- Daniel Stylites, (around 409-493 )
- Wulfilaich ( 6th century )
- Alypius ( 7th century ), saint of the Greek Church
- Seraphim of Sarov (19th century), Russia