Simon of Cyrene is a peripheral figure in Christianity, who is mentioned in Mark 15:21 and its parallels in the other two Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 27:32 and Luke 23:26). In those passages, from the Passion narrative, Simon is a bystander who is called upon by the Roman guards to carry the cross of Jesus. Mark:"A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross." Matthew: "As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross."