The First-Created Man: Seven Homilies by St. Symeon the New Theologian

by Symeon the New Theologian (Translator), Seraphim Rose (Translator), Herman of Alaska (Editor)

This is a collection of seven of Saint Symeon's homilies which deal with the fall of Adam and our redemption by Christ. For St. Symeon, theology is life -- the true "words of God" which speak to the Christian heart and inspire it to struggle for the Kingdom. These profound homilies on Adam and the future age are of special value because they give the theological foundation of the Christian life of struggle. The First-Created Man offers a vision of the beginning and the end of all things, which is essential to understanding the purpose of our existence here on this earth, and what lies beyond it.

Genres: Christianity, Theology, Religion, Nonfiction, Spirituality

124 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1994

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

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starts off dry but very good and worth the read

Most interesting and relevant aspects are: the nature of Adam and his joyful life in paradise; the traditional teaching of the fall; meditations on God’s mercy and reflections on death

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fundamental.

[Greg Hoskins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read from the lens of Orthodox Christianity.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

great. Maybe it's just my western eyes. But I felt I saw a lot that controverts common eastern arguments against the west.

[David Di Giacomo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. St. Symeon's homilies are some of the most simple-seeming of patristic texts I have read, and yet how profound they are! I feel I have only scratched the surface. Definitely will re-read.

[Joshua Finch]

I wouldn't have seen myself that Adam & Eve were banished from Eden not merely because they disobeyed the one rule, but because they also didn't repent when Christ came down to speak with them. But! Then they repent after having lost Paradise. And their doing this is why God decides to incarnate thousands of years later.

We are still (sufficiently) free to live rightly, despite inheriting a fallen world. In fact those of us who know of Christ (Anno Domini / AD), he mentions, will be held to a higher degree of responsibility than those before Christ (BC). He emphasizes the necessity not only of belief, but of the sacraments and virtues, for salvation. He discusses how the virtues restore the likeness to God, while the image of God is another thing marred from the fall.

[FrDrStel Muksuris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little gem of a book offers the reader the dense but insightful seven homilies of St. Symeon the New Theologian on the creation of Adam, the fall, and the redemption according to the patristic consensus of the Eastern Orthodox Church. It has been translated by the late Fr. Seraphim Rose, from the Russian edition first authored by St. Theophany the Recluse. It begins with a sound translation of the life of St. Symeon by his disciple Niketas Stethatos and then immerses the reader into these homilies. A couple of hours of dedicated reading will allow any avid reader to devour the book and walk away informed and inspired. Definitely worth it!

[EC · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful book from St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood Press.
Be based and love God.