Biography of Simeon the New Theologian

Symeon the New Theologian – teacher, writer, born in the village of Galata Paphlagonian of rich and noble parents, education received at the court of Constantinople, and was approximate emperors Basil and Constantine. Twenty years S. has left the yard and entered the Studion monastery and gave himself up to the strict contribution made under the leadership of the elder of the monastery, S. reverent. On the advice of the latter moved to the monastery of S. St. Mammoth, where, after the death of the abbot, was elected abbot and ordained elder. S. annually celebrated the memory of his mentor S. reverently, made in honor of his words of praise, songs and canons, written and an icon of him. Patriarch Hammer and heard about this, endorsed the S., but Stephen, Metropolitan of Nicomedia, and with it some of Hierarchs parish and lay people rebelled against this tradition, finding it contrary to the orders of the church and tempting. To soothe their minds and meet with the patriarch Stephen Synod decided to remove S. Constantinople. S. settled in the area, owned by his disciple and admirer, Patricia Christopher Fagwr. Here C gave the monastery, lived there 13 years and died peacefully in 1032 Memory C. March 12 and October 12. S. notable chiefly as a theologian, preacher hallmark of his theologizing – theoretical application of Christian teachings to the Christian life. From the works of S. in Slavonic and Russian languages were published very few. In the "Philokalia" printed: "heads up and theological" (number 152 in the Russian translation published in "Christ. Reading", 1823, under zaglav.: "One hundred fifty-two active and theological head"), "Word of faith" (Russian translate into "Christ. Reading, 1821) and" The Tale of the three images of prayer. " In 1852 in Moscow, published in the Slavic translation of 12 "to" C, taken from the number 35, the 12 "words" translated into Russian, after careful comparison with the Greek manuscripts in mock. synodal library (Wiley, 1869). Other works of C. (92 "words", "Activity and theological head" and "selfless word Elder S. reverent") transferred from the Modern Greek Bishop Feofan ("Words rap. AS the New Theologian", Moscow, 1879 and 1882; Vol 2., 1890 – 1892). "The words' C are simple and hearty, he instructs, inspires, contemplating, his contemporaries, accustomed to the artificial eloquence, found him" the words "unscientific and irregular. Church he named the new S. theologian, finding in his works similar to the works of Gregory the Theologian: and he and the other had deeper contemplation of the truths of the Christian piety. SA is considered the founder of the doctrine of the heavenly illumination of the soul of the believer, which subsequently led to the dispute and palamitov varlaamitov. In Slavonic prayer books printed Simeon's Prayer before communion St. Communion. Often shown works by S. Rev. Nil of Sora (debs Symeon commands ";" like the same reche St. Sumeon). Life AS described in detail his pupil Nikita Stifat. See Bishop Theophanes, "Life Rev. S. New Theologian" ("Dushepol. Reading", 1877, February), A. Lebedev, "The Byzantine education in general, theology and literature in particular" ("Readings in commonly. Lovers of spiritual Education ", 1877, Part II); his own," The trends in religious and intellectual life. Sketches from the history of the Eastern Church, IX, X and XI centuries. " (Ib., 1878, Part 1).