St. Simon’s feast day is October 28. In 2026 it falls on Wednesday. Simon the Zealot once may have dreamed of a violent liberator; instead he followed Jesus the suffering King. Paired with Jude in the Roman Canon, he evangelized Egypt and Mesopotamia. Legend says he died sawn in two, patron of woodcutters.
If you searched St. Simon feast day, St. Simon, St. Simon Oct 28, this is the 2026 feast-day guide: the life, the doctrine this memorial is for, the liturgy, and what Catholics actually do today. St. Simon is remembered as zealot apostle, missionary partner of St. Jude, preached in Egypt and Persia, martyred by sawing. Patronage listed here: Woodcutters, Sawyers, Curriers, Tanners, Leather Workers, Missionaries. Apostle called the Zealot, martyred by sawing in Persia. The standing biography remains at St. Simon — that URL is unchanged.
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When Is St. Simon’s Feast Day?
October 28 every year. In 2026 that is Wednesday, October 28. Liturgical rank on this guide: Feast. It is not a holy day of obligation in the United States. If the date is a Sunday, the Sunday celebration normally takes precedence at Mass; keep the saint in the Liturgy of the Hours, in a votive Mass where allowed, or in family prayer.
People mix this date with other observances. Keep them straight:
| What you searched | The date | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| St. Simon feast day | October 28 (Wednesday in 2026) | Feast — this guide |
| St. Jude | October 28 | Feast — St. Jude feast guide |
A collect you can use today asks that we follow St. Simon as apostle called the Zealot, martyred by sawing in Persia — not as a slogan, as a life.
Who Was St. Simon?
Simon appears in Gospel lists as Simon the Cananaean or Zealot, possibly linked to Jewish resistance movements before discipleship. After Pentecost he is said to have preached with Jude in Egypt, Persia, and Mesopotamia. The Golden Legend and Eastern tradition describe martyrdom by saw at Edessa or Persia.
Western art pairs him with Jude on October 28. His emblem is the saw, honoring manual laborers who handle blades.
When Jesus called Simon to be one of His apostles, He transformed Simon's zeal from a political and nationalistic cause to a spiritual mission. Simon's passionate nature was redirected toward spreading the Gospel and building the Kingdom of God. This transformation demonstrates how Christ can take our natural gifts and redirect them for His purposes.
St. Simon appears in the lists of apostles in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, always mentioned together with St. Jude (Thaddeus). This pairing suggests that they worked together as missionary partners, a common practice among the apostles as they spread the Gospel to different regions.
On October 28 the Church is not archiving a celebrity. She is putting St. Simon in front of you as apostle called the Zealot, martyred by sawing in Persia. Read the dates. Then pray. The standing biography remains at St. Simon — life, legacy, and feast. That URL is unchanged.
The Zealot Whose Fire Became Mission
St. Simon is remembered as Apostle called the Zealot, martyred by sawing in Persia. Zeal for God's kingdom must be purified by the Sermon on the Mount.
Simon the Zealot once may have dreamed of a violent liberator; instead he followed Jesus the suffering King. Paired with Jude in the Roman Canon, he evangelized Egypt and Mesopotamia. Legend says he died sawn in two, patron of woodcutters.
Simon shows political fervor redirected into missionary endurance. This is not a private hobby of specialists. It is why the calendar still names October 28.
On this feast the Church is not only telling a story; she is keeping a school. St. Simon's most distinctive legacy is his transformation from a political zealot to an apostle of Christ. His story demonstrates how Jesus can take our natural passions and redirect them for His purposes. Simon's zeal for Jewish independence was transformed into zeal for the Kingdom of God, showing that God can use even our most intense emotions and commitments when we surrender them to Him.
Why Jude and Simon Share One Feast
Patronage listed on this site: Woodcutters, Sawyers, Curriers, Tanners, Leather Workers, Missionaries. Patronage is a relationship of prayer, not a charm. Ask St. Simon, then do the next just thing.
St. Simon is remembered as zealot apostle, missionary partner of St. Jude, preached in Egypt and Persia, martyred by sawing. Category on our saints index: Apostle Saints. That label is a door, not a cage — martyrs teach the baptized, doctors teach the simple, virgins teach the married.
St. Simon's partnership with St. Jude in missionary work demonstrates the importance of collaboration in spreading the Gospel. Their working together shows that the apostolic mission is not a solo endeavor but requires cooperation and mutual support. Simon's example teaches us the value of working with others in our Christian mission and the strength that comes from partnership in faith.
St. Simon's passionate nature, evident from his background as a Zealot, was channeled into his apostolic mission. His commitment to Christ was as intense as his previous commitment to Jewish nationalism. This teaches us that God wants us to be passionate about our faith and to commit ourselves wholeheartedly to His service, using our natural enthusiasm for His glory.
If you only have five minutes, skip the folklore and keep the sentence: St. Simon, pray for us. Then open Matthew 5 and read until you hit a line you can obey today.
Western art pairs him with Jude on October 28. His emblem is the saw, honoring manual laborers who handle blades. You do not have to travel to keep October 28. The calendar brings the shrine to the parish and the parish to the table.
What This Feast Is Not
Simon the Zealot is not a permission slip for rage in the name of God. His zeal was baptized into mission, and he shares the feast with Jude. Political fervor that will not go to Persia with the Gospel is not his.
If you searched St. Simon today, keep apostle called the Zealot, martyred by sawing in Persia. Skip the souvenir version. The 2026 work is still Mass if you can, Scripture, and one mercy that costs you.
Scripture for October 28
These chapters are not random captions. They are the Bible this witness still opens. Read in the Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible. One chapter prayed is enough; three is a feast.
- Matthew 5 — The Beatitudes name the kind of life St. Simon actually lived. Zeal for God's kingdom must be purified by the Sermon on the Mount.
- Acts 1 — The Acts of the Apostles show the Church learning to suffer and to preach. St. Simon belongs in that story. Zeal for God's kingdom must be purified by the Sermon on the Mount.
- 2 Timothy 2 — Read this chapter as the Scripture the memorial is for, not as a caption. Zeal for God's kingdom must be purified by the Sermon on the Mount.
How to Celebrate October 28, 2026
- Go to Mass — Go to Mass if your parish keeps the feast of St. Simon. This is a feast, not a holy day of obligation in the United States. If the parish uses another Mass, add a private collect.
- Read the biography at St. Simon so this page does not replace the vita.
- Offer a prayer for missionaries working in pairs in dangerous regions.
- Channel political passion into concrete charity instead of contempt.
- Pray one chapter of Matthew 5 in the Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible.
- Say the invocation. Out loud: St. Simon, pray for us. Once is enough if you mean it.
If you cannot do six things, do the invocation and one merciful act. St. Simon’s whole spirituality can fit in a kitchen before midnight.
Readings and the Prayer of the Church
When this feast is kept, the Missal ordinarily allows the Common of Apostles. At home, pray the chapters listed above — especially Matthew 5 — then this collect. At Mass, use the official texts, not a blog’s paraphrase.
Collect. O God, who gave your Church St. Simon as Apostle called the Zealot, martyred by sawing in Persia, grant that we may learn from this feast how zeal for God's kingdom must be purified by the Sermon on the Mount. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The English collect of a memorial, when the Missal provides one, will be more exact than this home prayer. Use both if you need them. Trust and charity in act — not a slogan.
A Prayer You Can Use Today
"O St. Simon, Zealot apostle of Christ who was transformed from a political revolutionary to a passionate missionary for the Gospel, intercede for us before the throne of God. You who worked in partnership with St. Jude to spread the Good News in distant lands, help us to understand the importance of collaboration in our Christian mission. Teach us to work together with others in spreading the Gospel and building the Kingdom of God. You who gave your life as a martyr for Christ, help us to be passionate about our faith and to commit ourselves wholeheartedly to God's service. Show us how to redirect our natural gifts and enthusiasms for the glory of God.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is St. Simon’s feast day in 2026?
Wednesday, October 28, 2026. The calendar date is fixed; the weekday changes each year.
Is this a holy day of obligation?
No. In the United States this feast does not bind like Christmas or the Immaculate Conception. Come to Mass if you can. Do not invent a precept the bishops have not given.
Does anyone else share October 28?
Yes. On many calendars St. Jude is also kept on October 28. Parishes choose according to rank and local custom. You may honor both in private prayer.
What is St. Simon the patron of?
Woodcutters, Sawyers, Curriers, Tanners, Leather Workers, Missionaries. Patronage is a relationship of prayer, not a charm and not a substitute for the sacraments. Ask, then act.
How do you pray on this feast day?
Mass if you can, one chapter of Scripture, one concrete mercy, and the words St. Simon, pray for us. Details are in the list above.
Why does the Church keep St. Simon at all?
Because apostle called the Zealot, martyred by sawing in Persia is still medicine. Zeal for God's kingdom must be purified by the Sermon on the Mount. The calendar is a school, not a museum.
What should I avoid treating this feast as?
Simon the Zealot is not a permission slip for rage in the name of God. His zeal was baptized into mission, and he shares the feast with Jude. Political fervor that will not go to Persia with the Gospel is not his.
What is the difference between this guide and the saint page?
This page is the 2026 feast-day article — date, liturgy, how to keep today, FAQ. /saints/st-simon/ is the standing biography. Neither URL has been renamed.
Related pages on Catholic Bible Online
- St. Simon — life and legacy
- St. Jude
- St. Simon
- Saints directory · Saint of the Day
- Catholic calendar · Catholic Bible (Douay-Rheims)
- Prayers · Daily Bible verse
Keep the Day
The Church names October 28 so that St. Simon can still teach. Pray. Read. Do one merciful act before midnight. Trust is a decision, not a mood.
St. Simon, pray for us.
Read: biography · Matthew 5 · more saints