Simon Of Cyrene

Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry his cross. Station of the Cross in Mnster

According to the Gospel of St. Mark , of Matthew and Luke , Simon of Cyrene was compelled by the Roman soldiers led Jesus to Calvary to be crucified, to assist him to carry his cross;

"On leaving, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, and required to carry his cross. "(Matthew )

"As they led him away, they seized upon one Simon of Cyrene, who came from the field, and made him shoulder the cross and carry it behind Jesus. "(Luke )

As his hometown of Cyrene in Libya , was located in North Africa , the legend of Simon of Cyrene was the first Christian saint black. Tradition has it that his son, Alexander and Rufus , have become missionaries. Their appearance in the Gospel of Mark implies in any case they had to be part of the first Christian community.

The fifth station of the Stations of the Cross commemorates this episode in the Passion of Christ.

There is a story that God would have swapped the appearances of Jesus and Simon while the latter helped him to lift his cross, so that Jesus could dissolve into the crowd and then be raised by God to him, while Simon Cyrene was crucified and killed on the cross .

References

• Christianity portal

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