What can the life of a bizarre fifth-century monk teach us about prayer, attention, and the way we live in the modern world? Simeon Stylites was a fifth-century Syrian Christian ascetic who became famous for an extraordinary act of devotion: he spent 37 years standing atop a pillar, turning his unusual life of prayer into a public witness that drew the attention of people from across the ancient world. In this Artist Profile, Stephen Roach explores the life, ascetic practices, spiritual visio...