Simeon of Jerusalem, son of Cleophas was the leader of the Christianized Jews at Jerusalem. From the Roman Catholic point-of-view, he was the second bishop of Jerusalem.

Eusebius, bishop of Caesarea Palestina gives the list of these bishops (Hist. Eccl., IV, v). According to a universal tradition the first was the Apostle St. James the Less, the "brother of the Lord". His predominant place and residence in the city are implied by Galatians 1.19. Eusebius says he was appointed bishop by Peter, James (whom Eusebius identifies with James the Greater rather than James the Just who was in charge of the Christian community at Jerusalem), and John (II, i). When James was thrown from a rock, then stoned to death by the Jews about the year 63, according to Eusebius and Josephus, (Jewish Antiquities XX, ix, 1), the community at Jerusalem chose Simeon, son of Cleophas, who was also called the brother of Jesus (Matthew 13.55), to succeed him. Simeon was one of the desposyni.

Simeon was bishop at the time of the destruction of the Second Temple in AD 70 and may have gone with most of the Christians to Pella. About the year 106 or 107 he was crucified under Trajan (Eusebius, Hist. Eccl. III, xxxii).

The name of Simon occurs in all the lists of the Apostles given in the Gospels and Acts, and to distinguish him from Simon Peter he is called Simon the Zealot In the Chronicon paschale and elsewhere he is identified with "Simon Clopas" or Simeon of Jerusalem (Catholic Encyclopedia.

External links

• Catholic Encyclopewdia 1908-10: "Jerusalem"