Symeon the New Theologian
The Holy Symeon the New Theologian (* end 949 of Galatia, † March 12, 1022 in Asia Minor ), also known as Symeon the Younger or Symeon the Theologian, was a Doctor of the Church, mystics and poets.
Life
Symeon probably came from Galatea, in Paphlagonia, on the Black Sea. He came to Constantinople in 960 Opel, where he was introduced by his uncle Basil in the service of the court. 977 he entered as a novice at the local studio monastery. When Simeon the Elder, he learned the Jesus Prayer, which characterized his whole spiritual life. Less than a year later, he moved to the neighboring monastery of St. Mamas, where he was ordained a priest in 980 and 980-998 whose abbot was. Simeon was attacked by his brothers because of his strict lifestyle and theological statements and had to resign after a revolt in 1005. He then lived as a hermit near the monastery.
According to Symeon's account, he saw for about 970 so-called Tabor light. He attributed this show, which basically each is possible to immediately grace to God. This he differed from the later representatives of Hesychasm, which began as a means for promoting the concentration special techniques. His visions he wrote down in 58 hymns.
Work and significance
Symeon the New Theologian is considered an important spiritual teacher of the Orthodox Church. He is so far only the third party, according to the Evangelist John, and Gregory of Nazianzus, who was nicknamed " the theologian ." From him 34 catechesis and 225 aphorisms are obtained. Well-known works are his catechesis and divini amores.
Liturgical commemoration
Symeon the New Theologian applies both in the Catholic Church as well as in Orthodoxy as a saint. His feast day in the Roman Catholic liturgy as in the orthodoxy of March 12. However, he is little known in the Catholic world and is therefore hardly revered. In the Orthodox Churches Symeon the New Theologian, however, is a very well known saint.
Writings (selection )
- Light from Light. Hymns. German Kilian Kirchhoff. 2nd edition. Kösel, Munich 1951.
- Hymns ( = Supplementa Byzantina. Vol. 3). Prolegomena, critical text, indices concerned by Athanasios Kambylis. de Gruyter, Berlin and others 1976, ISBN 3-11-004888-4 ( At the same time: Hamburg, University, habilitation font, 1969).
- From the love songs to God ( = print edition Tiessen. 55). Transmission of Martin Buber. Edition Tiessen, Neu-Isenburg, 1988, ISBN 3-920947-84-3.
- Visions of light. Hymns about the mystical vision of the divine light ( = literature - Media - Religion Vol 18. ). From the Greek transmitted by Lothar Heiser. Lit, Berlin et al 2006, ISBN 3-8258-9286-7.