Simon Boetos, the High Priest
This character is not precisely named, although he appears at several stages of Mary's life. His identity is deduced from the historical context.
He is the High Priest who, in the year 18 BCE, presented the young Mary at the Temple, then aged three.[1]
He is the one who marries her, twelve years later, to Joseph, a descendant, like his wife, of David.[2] It is this ancestry that justifies the High Priest officiating himself.
Character and Appearance
A solemn old man, dressed in very fine linen and over this first garment a shorter tunic, also of linen, and over that again a kind of chasuble, something intermediate between the chasuble and the deacons' garment, multicolored: purple and gold, violet and white alternate and shine like gems in the sun; two genuine gems, above all this, shine even more brightly at the height of the shoulders. They may be earrings with their precious settings. On the chest, a wide plaque all sparkling with gems held by a gold chain. Pendants and other ornaments shine at the bottom of the short tunic and gold bursts on the forehead at the upper part of a headdress that recalls to me that of Orthodox priests, their mitre rounded instead of pointed like that of Catholics.[3]
Apostolic Path
This historical figure appears to have been of great piety and great goodness. He is seen taking care of Mary, whose exceptional spiritual nature he recognizes.[4] He is the one who, recommending to God the choice of Mary's spouse, proposes to the suitors of the Davidic line the test of the blossoming rod.[5] According to the visions of Anne-Catherine Emmerich, this came to him while reading these verses from Isaiah:"A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit."[6]
His Name
Simeon, like Simon (Chimon- Shim'ôn), means "he who hears." Historical reference: the second son of Jacob who was held hostage by his brother Joseph, who had become the Pharaoh's steward.
Where is he mentioned in the work?
EMV 8 EMV 11 EMV 12 EMV 13
Learn more about this character
Dismissed in the year –4 by Herod the Great, who mistrusted him.