Simon of Cyrene

Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross

Market gardener from the surroundings of Jerusalem. Originally from this region of Libya where a strong Jewish colony thrived in this Greek city. On the Friday of the Passion, he is transporting vegetables with his two sons.

Longinus, the centurion, worried about the health condition of the condemned Jesus, notices him and requisitions him to help carry the cross. It was indeed mandatory that the condemned to death carry his cross, to arrive alive at the execution:

"Do you see this man? (...) He can no longer advance laden like this. You are strong. Take his cross and carry it in his place to the top."

Then, once Jesus arrived at Calvary:

"The centurion orders the Cyrenean to leave and he leaves grudgingly this time and I would not say out of sadism, but out of love, since he stops near the Galileans sharing with them the insults that the crowd lavishes on the small number of faithful to Christ."

Character and appearance

A robust man about forty-five years old.

Apostolic journey

It is likely that he, or at least his two sons, became disciples and figures of the nascent Church.

His name

Simon, like Simeon (Chimon - Shim'ôn), means "who hears". Historical reference: the second son of Jacob who was held hostage by his brother Joseph, who became the steward of the Pharaoh.

Where is he mentioned in the work?

GRM 608 GRM 631

Learn more about this character

Cyrene, the ancient Greek city (in present-day Libya), is the oldest and most important of the five Greek colonies in the region and gives its name to Cyrenaica, which is still used today.

Notes and references

Note: Quotations from the work of Maria Valtorta on this page currently use machine-translated text and will gradually be replaced by the official English translation. Until then, the official translation may be consulted through the reference link provided with each quotation.