On the Mystical Life: The Ethical Discourses : On Virtue and Christian Life Vol. 2

Popular Patristics Series #15

by Symeon the New Theologian, Alexander Golitzin (Translator)

This is the second of a three-volume series translating The Ethical Discourses into English for the first time. Where Volume I presented St Symeon's treatments of the Church, the sacraments, and the 'Day of the Lord,' in this collection the reader finds him addressing the traditional language of Eastern Christian asceticism in the light of his message. Apatheia, or 'dispassion,' the ancient term for freedom from sinful passion, is insisted on by Symeon as denoting the real possibility of a transfigured life. Elsewhere, he takes up the role of the tools of asceticism, i.e., fasting, vigils, poverty, etc., in order to underline their function as instruments enabling conformity to the Cross of Christ. Other discourses dwell on the character and signs of the saint, on faith and love, and on ascetic retreat. Throughout, St Symeon anticipates the great fourteenth-century movement of Byzantine hesychasm, as well as the monastic renaissance of eighteenth-century Athos and nineteenth-century Russia. On the Mystical Life is part of the POPULAR PATRISTIC SERIES.

Genres: Theology, Christianity, Religion, Spirituality, Nonfiction

189 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1996

About the author

St 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)

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be a mixed bag. Most of these discourses are concerned with dispassion (apatheia), and the constant Platonic denial of the body and sensuality can get tedious - ‘For what is the body other than the juice of masticated food?’ p.72 There's a strong emphasis on personal spiritual experience, which has its pros and cons, and Symeon's ire is particularly reserved for those who claim that such experiences aren’t possible.

[Jay D]

Good and worth reading. The typology is great, the theology of the Incarnation and theosis is great, but the arguments on predestination and foreknowledge are very weak.