AGE:
Infants and Juniors (especially Juniors) |
THEME:
St Simon Stylites and the Dragon |
PREPARATION: |
You will need:
- 6 readers/actors: narrator, three readers, Simon, dragon
- 'Platform' for Simon
- a dragon mask (optional)
If you would like to know more about dragons, a brief general introduction (with pictures) can be found at www.draconian.com
If you would like to know more about Komodo dragons, there are numerous useful links at www.isidore-of-seville.com/komodo/1.html
St Simon (or Simeon) lived from c390-459 CE. The story of St Simon Stylites and the Dragon can be found in Helen Waddell's book Beasts and Saints although this is, unfortunately, out of print. In her version, the dragon eventually retires to a monastery to follow a life of prayer.
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DEVELOPMENT: |
| LEADER |
This morning we are going to meet some dragons. Do any of you know anything about dragons?... Well, here is some useful information about them, which might come in handy for you one day...
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| READER 1 |
Indian mountain dragons are brownish-yellow with a line of prickles along their backs. Their eyes are precious stones, which glitter like fire and are useful for curing diseases.
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| READER 2 |
A dragon that has wings, but no arms, is called a Wyvern. Lots of these dragons live in Arabia, where they guard frankincense trees. The people there are said to drive them away with smoke, so that they can gather the frankincense.
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| READER 3 |
Dragons can be ferocious and they have many animal enemies. Eagles, swans and vultures all attack dragons. The dragon's biggest enemy is the elephant. Groups of dragons hunt elephants by hanging on to tree trunks, tangling their tails together to form a rope - and then tripping elephants up as they walk along jungle paths.
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| NARRATOR |
Once upon a time there was a very, very holy man called Simon Stylites. (Enter Simon with a Bible)
He was so holy that he spent every hour of every day reading the Bible and praying. (Simon kneels down and prays)
Unfortunately, because he was so holy, people kept on pestering him for help and advice. (People come on and surround Simon).
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| SIMON |
STOP! I can't get a moment's peace! How am I supposed to read the Bible and pray with all this hurly-burly going on?
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| NARRATOR |
Suddenly he had a bright idea. He built himself a platform on top of a pillar - some say it was 60 feet high - and climbed up there to pray. (Simon climbs onto the platform). At last - peace and quiet! He lived on top of this platform for 30 years, never once going down. But he didn't mind. He was happy, reading his Bible and praying.
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| SIMON |
The Bible's a really interesting book - I never get tired of it - lots of interesting stories. Let's see what it says today: 'If someone wants to take your shirt... then give him your coat as well... Give to those who ask you, do not turn away from those who ask for help,' Hmmm... very interesting. And now it's time to pray...
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| DRAGON |
(Comes roaring on and starts to climb up the platform) I want to come up - I am coming up!
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| SIMON |
Help!!! O dear - what am I going to do??? HELP!!!
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| NARRATOR |
Dragons just love the taste of human flesh - we forgot to tell you that earlier! Now what do you think he should do?
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| READER 1 |
Dragons don't like the colour red. If he waves a red cloth in its face it will go all cross-eyed and fall off the pillar.
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| READER 2 |
Dragons can't stand singing. If he sings a hymn it'll put its claws over its ears, lose its grip and fall off.
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| READER 3 |
Or... he could hit it on the snout with his Bible.
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| LEADER |
What do you think he should do? (Take suggestions from the children.)
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| SIMON |
What did the Bible say? 'If someone wants something then give it to them' - or words to that effect... OK OK OK. You can come up if you want. You can have a cup of tea and a piece of cake. You can share my platform if you want (helps dragon onto platform). Hello, hello, hello, why are you crying? What's the matter?
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| DRAGON |
I was out hunting elephants and I got a thorn stuck in my eye. No-one will help me - they're all too frightened. But I thought you might. Would you take it out? Please!
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| NARRATOR |
And that's exactly what Simon Stylites did. And from that day on the dragon lived with him on his platform, and became a good Christian dragon, and was almost as holy as Simon himself.
What do you think the moral of that story is? (Ask for suggestions). It's got something to do with kindness and generosity and sharing. Simon (or Simeon) was a real person, and he really did live on top of a 60 foot pillar - for 36 years! The remains of the pillar can still be seen in St Simeon's monastery in Syria.
As for dragons, well, most of what was said earlier is (probably) not true, but dragons do exist. On a few small islands of Indonesia there exist creatures called Komodo dragons. They don't have jewels for eyes and they don't breathe fire, but they are definitely real. They grow up to 10 feet long and they can be very fierce. They are not vegetarians - in fact, they have been known to kill and eat humans (it's true, so don't go too close!). There are probably about 5,000 of them left alive. Unfortunately, their numbers are decreasing, mainly because people want to chop down their forest home for timber, or to live on.
In the story we've just heard, Simon Stylites decided to share his platform with the dragon. Maybe that's what we really need to learn from his story - not just to be kind to other human beings but to be kind to other creatures and to learn to share our world with them. Simon Stylites platform was only about 4 metres square - but it was big enough for both him and the dragon. Isn't the world a big enough place for all the different sorts of creatures that are born into it?
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PRAYER: |
Thank you, Lord, for the world which you have given us to live in, and all its wonders.
Help us to share it with all creatures -
Elephants and eagles,
Bats and rats and cats,
Badgers and butterflies,
Worms and whales
And even, perhaps, dragons.
Amen.
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