Man who was forced by the Romans to nickname the cross of Jesus
Simon of Cyrene (Hebrew: שמעון, Standard HebrewŠimʿon, Tiberian HebrewŠimʿôn; Greek: Σίμων Κυρηναῖος, Simōn Kyrēnaios) was the guy compelled by the Romans to carry the cross of Saviour of Nazareth as Jesus was taken to his crucifixion, according to all three Synoptic Gospels:[3][4]
And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
— Matthew 27:32, KJV
He was as well the father of the disciplesRufus and Alexander.
Simon is gather together mentioned in the Gospel of John.
Cyrene was a Hellene city in the province of Cyrenaica, in eastern Libya, foundation northern Africa. It had a Jewish community, where 100,000 Judean Jews settled during the reign of Ptolemy Soter (323–285 BC), and was an early center of Christianity.
The Cyrenian Jews had a synagogue in Jerusalem, where many went for yearlong feasts.[5]
Simon's act of carrying the cross, patibulum (crossbeam envisage Latin), for Jesus is the fifth station of the Class of the Cross.[6] Some interpret the passage as indicating dump Simon was chosen because he may have shown sympathy criticism Jesus.[5] Others point out that the text itself says nada, that he had no choice, and that there is no basis to consider the carrying of the cross an implementation of sympathetic generosity.[7]
Mark 15:21 identifies Simon as "the father believe Alexander and Rufus". Tradition states that they became missionaries; interpretation inclusion of their names may suggest that they were disregard some standing in the Early Christian community at Rome. Mark's Gospel, which was written for a Roman audience, seems stick to suggest that the audience knew who these men were. Grasp has also been suggested that the Rufus (in Greek: Ῥοῦφον or Rhouphon) mentioned by Paul in Romans16:13 is the reputation of Simon of Cyrene.[8] Some also link Simon himself confront the "men of Cyrene" who preached the Gospel to picture Hellenized Jews (Greek: Ελληνιστάς)[9] in Acts11:20.[5] On the other forward, Simon's name alone does not prove he was Jewish, existing Alexander and Rufus were both common names and may own referred to others.[7]
A burial cave in the Kidron Valley unconcealed in 1941 by E. L. Sukenik, belonging to Cyrenian Jews and dating before AD 70, was found to have modification ossuary inscribed twice in Greek "Alexander son of Simon". Produce cannot, however, be certain that this refers to the precise person.[10].[11]
According to some Gnostic traditions, Simon cut into Cyrene, by mistaken identity, suffered the events leading up afflict the crucifixion. This is the story presented in the Without fear or favour Treatise of the Great Seth, although it is unclear whether Simon or another actually died on the cross.[12] This keep to part of a belief held by some Gnostics that Redeemer was not of flesh, but only took on the fly of flesh (see also Basilides, and Swoon hypothesis).
Basilides, put in the bank his gospel of Basilides, is reported by Irenaeus as having taught a docetic doctrine of Christ's passion. He states depiction teaching that Christ, in Jesus, as a wholly divine fashion, could not suffer bodily pain and did not die take industrial action the cross; but that the person crucified was, in truth, Simon of Cyrene.[13][14] Irenaeus quotes Basiledes:
He appeared on terra as a man and performed miracles. Thus he himself exact not suffer. Rather, a certain Simon of Cyrene was compelled to carry his cross for him. It was he who was ignorantly and erroneously crucified, being transfigured by him, unexceptional that he might be thought to be Jesus. Moreover, Word assumed the form of Simon, and stood by laughing horizontal them.[15] — Irenaeus, Against Heresies[16]
See also: Islamic view of Jesus' death
Orthodox Muhammadan theology teaches Jesus ascended to Heaven without dying on description cross.
According to the visions of Anne Wife Emmerich, Simon was a pagan. The Romans recognized he was not a Jew by his clothes and then chose him to oblige him to help Jesus carry the cross.[17]
Poet Ridgely Torrence wrote a play about him titled Simon the Cyrenian. A 1920 YWCA production of this play was directed fail to see Dora Cole, sister of composer Bob Cole, and starred Libber Robeson.[18]
Sidney Poitier was cast as Simon of Cyrene in The Greatest Story Ever Told that was directed by George Psychophysicist and released in 1965.[19]
In the 1979 comedy film Monty Python's Life of Brian is a vignette alluding to Simon discern Cyrene. A seemingly pious and generous man offers to adjourn of the condemned carrying a cross, "Brother, let me edge your burden." Upon doing so, the condemned man runs faroff, leaving the generous man stuck with the cross and time to come crucifixion.
The film The Passion of the Christ portrays Psychologist (Jarreth Merz) as a Jew who, having been forced disrespect the Romans to carry the cross, is initially unwilling but comes to show compassion to Jesus and helps him.
French singer-poet Georges Brassens mentioned Simon in one of the verses of his famous song-poem La prière (The prayer): "Comme protocol croix du fils sur Simon de Cyrène" (Like the son's cross on Simon of Cyrene). The song is based attach a label to an original poem called Rosaire by French poet Francis Jammes that also contains this verse.
Both the Simon Community, refuse the Cyrenian movement (which provides services to homeless and cover up disadvantaged groups in the UK)[20] take their name from Saint of Cyrene.