Affiliated Seminarist in the Maronite diocese of Jounieh, he began his studies of theology at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) in Lebanon and crowned them in July 1989 by a degree. During this period, Simon was especially marked by his professor's example, priest Boutros Azzi, and by his fervid and insistent leitmotif: “ Love the church! Love the church!” These words will remain engraved forever in the memory of the Lord’s new man.

During his academic years in USEK, the young Simon was ordained sub deacon on December 4, 1988 in the chapel of the patriarchal seminary of Ghazir (Lebanon) with about twenty friends from his promotion, then deacon on August 13, 1989 in St. - Georges Church in Kfour (Lebanon) with Robert Daccache and Antoine Bechaalani. One month later there came the big day of his life: the one of his sacerdotal ordination on September 14, 1989, in the patriarchal seminary of Ghazir, by Mgr Choukralla Harb, bishop of Jounieh.