St. Simeon, Bishop of Seleucia and Martyr

St. Simeon, also known as Symeon, was the Bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon in Persia (modern-day Iraq) during the 4th century AD. He was martyred for his Christian faith under the Persian king Shapur II in 341 AD. As bishop, Simeon led the church in Persia and defended the faith during a period of intense persecution. He was arrested, imprisoned, and eventually beheaded for refusing to worship the sun and renounce his Christian beliefs. St. Simeon is venerated as a martyr and patron saint of Persia (Iran).