Bio

 

    Simon is sometimes known as the "mystery apostle" because very little is known about him. He is mentioned each time in the lists of the 12 apostles, with the term "Kananaois" meaning "zealous", to distinguish him from Simon Peter. This could mean that he was either deeply devoted to his Jewish faith, or that he was part of the Zealots, which were a Jewish revolutionary group aiming to overthrow their Roman oppressors. As with several other apostles, it is also unclear whether or not Simon was related to Jesus by blood because of the commonality of the name.

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Nothing else is written of him in the New Testament books, and we have no references to know what he did or where he went after Jesus' Ascension. Some suggest that he was bishop of Jerusalem and was martyred there or in Rome. Almost all other plausible places have been suggested as the lands to which he went to preach. It is also unknown where he died, whether or not he was martyred (and how, if so), and where he was buried. In the Golden Legend, he and St. Jude were traveling partners and were killed in Lebanon or Persia around the year 65. He is often pictured holding a saw because it states he was martyred there by being sawed in half.