Simon of the Desert

An ascetic monk who has spent years perched on a pillar in the Syrian desert, living through prayer and self-denial. He refuses institutional holiness, insisting he is an unworthy sinner and choosing solitary penance over worldly status. Throughout, he confronts temptations from Satan and wrestles with the balance between miracles and true faith.

A tempter who appears to Simón in various disguises: first as a temptress in a future-era woman, later as a divine impostor. She challenges his belief with promises of earthly pleasures and ultimate power. Her presence forces him to decide whether faith can survive seduction.

An alternate disguise of the Devil, appearing as an old witch who embodies fear and superstition. This form tests the monk's detachment from fear and mortal temptation as he navigates the temptations that come from despair and doubt.

An aging mother who longs to be near her son even from death; she is allowed to stay close while he continues his solitary vigil. Her presence underscores the human costs of extreme devotion and the pull of familial love.

A young monk who interrupts Simón with news of food and water, exposing the fragility of discipline under mundane desire. He becomes entangled in suspicion but is exorcised by Simón, illustrating the fragility of communal faith under temptation.

One of the monks who attempts to bestow holy orders on Simón, challenging him to accept his vocation while respecting his ascetic stance. He participates in the spiritual debates and prayers that shape the community's fate.

Another priest who engages with Simón in the monastic cycle of prayer and admonition, echoing the tension between institutional religion and personal devotion. He contributes to the moral atmosphere of the community.

A dwarf goatherd who moves through the desert scene, interacting with the monk and the surrounding crowd. His presence adds a touch of the everyday world to the austere setting.

A figure in the modern nightclub where Simón finds himself transported, illustrating the contrast between ancient asceticism and late-20th-century nightlife. He interacts with the crowd during the 'Radioactive Flesh' dance moment.

A symbolic figure encountered in the desert, representing suffering and the corporeal costs of extremity. This presence mirrors the monk's own struggle with physical and spiritual limits.

A member of the desert crowd who witnesses the monk's miracles and prayers, reflecting the communal aspect of faith and the crowd's varied responses to miraculous events.