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The Classics of Western Spirituality
Symeon the New Theologian: The Discourses
"A major new project...to reengage people with their own spiritual roots...the first contemporary fresh translations from the classic works of mysticism in the Roman Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, Islamic and American Indian traditions."
―G. W. Cornell, Associated Press Symeon the New The Discourses translation by C.J. DeCatanzaro, introduction by George Maloney, S.J., preface by Basile Krivocheine It shines on us without evening, without change, without alteration, without form. It speaks, works, lives, gives life and changes into light those whom it illuminates. We bear witness that "God is light," and those to whom it has been granted to see Him have all beheld Him as light. Those who have received Him as light, do so because the light of His glory goes before Him, and it is impossible for Him to appear without light. Those who have not seen His light have not seen Him, for He is the light, and those who have not received the light have not yet received grace. Those who have received grace have received the light of God and have received God, even as Christ Himself, who is the light, has said, "I will live in them and move among them." SYMEON THE NEW THEOLOGIAN (942-1022) Father George Maloney in his Introduction to this volume focuses directly on the special importance of St. Symeon and on how similar the religious situation of his era is to our own. "Concretely, the battle of two opposing views of theology centered around St. Symeon and his mystical apophatic approach of the experiencing of God immanently present to the individual, as opposed to the "head trip" scholastic theology as represented by Archbishop Stephen of Nicomedia, the official theologian at the court of Constantinople. Stephen represented the abstract, philosophical type of theologizing while Symeon strove to restore theology to its pristine mystical tendency as a wisdom infused by the Holy Spirit into the Christian after he had been thoroughly purified through a rigorous asceticism and a state of constant repentance." This great spiritual master of Eastern Christianity was an abbot, spiritual director of renown, theologian and important church reformer. These Discourses which form the central work of his life were preached by St. Symeon to his monks during their morning Matins ritual. They treat such basic spiritual themes as repentance, detachment, renunciation, the works of charity, impassiblity, remembrance of death, sorrow for sins, the practice of God's commandments, mystical union with the indwelling Trinity, faith and contemplation.
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―G. W. Cornell, Associated Press Symeon the New The Discourses translation by C.J. DeCatanzaro, introduction by George Maloney, S.J., preface by Basile Krivocheine It shines on us without evening, without change, without alteration, without form. It speaks, works, lives, gives life and changes into light those whom it illuminates. We bear witness that "God is light," and those to whom it has been granted to see Him have all beheld Him as light. Those who have received Him as light, do so because the light of His glory goes before Him, and it is impossible for Him to appear without light. Those who have not seen His light have not seen Him, for He is the light, and those who have not received the light have not yet received grace. Those who have received grace have received the light of God and have received God, even as Christ Himself, who is the light, has said, "I will live in them and move among them." SYMEON THE NEW THEOLOGIAN (942-1022) Father George Maloney in his Introduction to this volume focuses directly on the special importance of St. Symeon and on how similar the religious situation of his era is to our own. "Concretely, the battle of two opposing views of theology centered around St. Symeon and his mystical apophatic approach of the experiencing of God immanently present to the individual, as opposed to the "head trip" scholastic theology as represented by Archbishop Stephen of Nicomedia, the official theologian at the court of Constantinople. Stephen represented the abstract, philosophical type of theologizing while Symeon strove to restore theology to its pristine mystical tendency as a wisdom infused by the Holy Spirit into the Christian after he had been thoroughly purified through a rigorous asceticism and a state of constant repentance." This great spiritual master of Eastern Christianity was an abbot, spiritual director of renown, theologian and important church reformer. These Discourses which form the central work of his life were preached by St. Symeon to his monks during their morning Matins ritual. They treat such basic spiritual themes as repentance, detachment, renunciation, the works of charity, impassiblity, remembrance of death, sorrow for sins, the practice of God's commandments, mystical union with the indwelling Trinity, faith and contemplation.
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416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
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About the author
Symeon the New Theologian
12 books26 followersSt Symeon the New Theologian was born in Galatia, Paphlagonia and his father prepared him for education at Constantinople in official life. He was afterwards assigned as a courtier in attendance to the Emperors Basil II and Constantine Porphyrogenitus. He abandoned his life as a courtier to retreat to a monastery at the age of 27 under his Elder, Simeon the Pious at the Monastery of Stoudios. Later he became abbot of the Monastery of St. Mammas in Constantinople.
The strict monastic discipline for which Symeon aimed rankled some in the monastery. One day after the Divine Liturgy some of the monks attacked and nearly killed him. After they were expelled from the monastery Symeon asked that they be treated leniently. From church authorities too, Symeon endured severe opposition, some of whom found his works irksome enough to banish him from Constantinople. So he left and resided in the Monastery of St. Makrina across the Bosphorus. Eventually he became a recluse.
Symeon was not educated in Greek philosophy but was quite familiar with the life of the church. He often spoke from direct personal experience and on occasion attacked certain scholars whom he viewed as pretending to have a knowledge they didn't have.
Some of Symeon's works include his Catechetical discourses, The First Created Man Hymns of Divine Love and the Three Theological Discourses.
(from Wikipedia)
The strict monastic discipline for which Symeon aimed rankled some in the monastery. One day after the Divine Liturgy some of the monks attacked and nearly killed him. After they were expelled from the monastery Symeon asked that they be treated leniently. From church authorities too, Symeon endured severe opposition, some of whom found his works irksome enough to banish him from Constantinople. So he left and resided in the Monastery of St. Makrina across the Bosphorus. Eventually he became a recluse.
Symeon was not educated in Greek philosophy but was quite familiar with the life of the church. He often spoke from direct personal experience and on occasion attacked certain scholars whom he viewed as pretending to have a knowledge they didn't have.
Some of Symeon's works include his Catechetical discourses, The First Created Man Hymns of Divine Love and the Three Theological Discourses.
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 1, 2025
Saint Symeon the New Theologian’s Catechetical Discourses is an extremely edifying and powerful work that I would highly recommend every Christian read. While Saint Symeon at times seems to lean far into experientialism, the overall effect of the text is both deeply humbling and profoundly insightful. He offers a stirring vision of our calling as human beings—union with the uncreated Energies of God—and guides the reader with both practical daily advice and expansive spiritual teachings that aim to purify the nous. Particularly striking is his discussion of the necessity of tears of repentance to wash the heart, and how this is our natural reaction even when coming out of the womb—a beautiful, poetic, yet also real and substantive reflection on how the separation from God is deeply troubling to our very nature. Few writings so boldly and beautifully communicate the transformative reality of divine Grace in the life of the believer.
December 13, 2022
Christians need to be challenged, but the rigor of St. Symeon's way, for me, was discouraging, as a modern American non-monastic. His interpretation of St. Matthew 25:31-46, in which the hungry and sick and prisoners were all referring to the reader's self in need of spiritual food, healing, and release, seemed to me far-fetched. Loving God, and turning away from the world and one's neighbor to focus on purifying oneself is a misleading interpretation of the Lord's two great commandments, I feel. Even though I am not one of the three theologians of the Orthodox Church like St. Symeon, I cannot accept this.
December 25, 2025
I didn't understand a lot of it. I don't recommend it for laypeople.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews