My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
+
ON OCTOBER 12th OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE VENERABLE AND GOD-BEARING FATHER SYMEON THE NEW THEOLOGIAN
Our Venerable and God-bearing holy Father Symeon the New Theologian (949-1022 A.D.) is one of three Saints of the Orthodox Church to have been given the title of Theologian (the others are Saint John the Apostle and Saint Gregory Nazianzen). Born in Galatia and educated at Constantinople, he became Egoumenos (Abbot) of the Monastery of Saint Mamas. His feast day is celebrated by some on March 12, the date of his repose, while others commemorate his feast on October 12, as in our case, because March 12th falls within Great and Holy Lent.
Saint Symeon was a poet who embodied the mystical tradition. He wrote that human beings could experience the Spirit of God directly. His works influenced the hesychastic controversy of the 14th century.
HERE ARE SOME QUOTES FROM HIM
"When a man walks in the fear of God he knows no fear, even if he were to be surrounded by wicked men. He has the fear of God within him and wears the invincible armor of faith. This makes him strong and able to take on anything, even things which seem difficult or impossible to most people. Such a man is like a giant surrounded by monkeys, or a roaring lion among dogs and foxes. He goes forward trusting in the Lord and the constancy of His will to strike and paralyze His foes. He wields the blazing club of the Word/Logos in wisdom" - The Practical and Theological Chapters.
+
"The roof of any house stands upon the foundation and the rest of the structure. The foundations themselves are laid in order to carry the roof. This is both useful and necessary, for the roof cannot stand without the foundations and the foundations are absolutely useless without the roof--no help to any living creature. In the same way the grace of God is preserved by the practice of the Commandments, and the observance of these Commandments is laid down like the foundations through the gift of God. The grace of the Spirit cannot remain with us without the practice of the Commandments, but the practice of the Commandments is of no help or advantage to us without the grace of God."
+
"Our holy Fathers have renounced all other spiritual work and concentrated wholly on this one doing, that is, on guarding the heart, convinced that, through this practice, they would easily attain other virtue, whereas without it not a single virtue can be firmly established."
+
"For those who believe in Christ will become all this and even more, beyond enumeration, not only in the age to come but first in this life, and then in the world to come. Though in an obscure way here below and in a perfect manner in the Kingdom, those who believe see clearly nonetheless and receive as of now the first-fruits of everything they will have in the future life. Indeed, if they do not receive on earth everything that was promised to them, they do not have any part of foretaste of the blessings to come, their higher hope being set on the hereafter. However, it is through death and the resurrection that God in his foresight has given us the kingdom, incorruptibility, the totality of life eternal. Given these conditions, we unquestionably become partakers of the good things to come, that is, incorruptible, immortal, sons of God, sons of the light and of the day, inheritors of the kingdom of heaven, since we carry the kingdom within." (Source: Orthodox Wiki)
________________
Saint Symeon the New Theologian
(The Orthodox Synaxaristes of the Greek Orthodox Church)
Saint Symeon, our Venerable Father, on account of his superabundant virtue, prudence, understanding, and wisdom, is justly surnamed "New Theologian." He arrived at such a state of lofty moral excellence and Divine illumination that he is has come to be marveled at and loved by all. Saint Symeon followed the command of our Savior: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matthew 22:39; Deuteronomy 6:5), and, "Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matthew 22:39, Leviticus 19:18). Virtue, an active power characterized by ardor, purity, and righteousness, is potent. Virtue is what is needed for one to kindle the flame of Divine love, so that the soul is all afire and the mind advances from earth and ascends to the heavens. It energizes one that one is entirely divine by grace. With all his heart, Symeon loved virtue and exerted himself to make it active in his life. It is blessed to recount the superior valorous acts and merits of this Saint, but let us first commence with his life by furnishing information about his home, people, and upbringing. We shall see to what heights he attained, by God's grace working with Saint Symeon's toils and labors, that were wrought by much perspiration.
The Saint, as a tree thriving in full bloom, flourished during the 10th Century. He originated from the land of the Paphlagonians, and hailed from the village of Galatee. His parents were noble, wellborn, and affluent. His father was Basil, and his mother was Theophano. Symeon was but a lad when his parents sent him to a kinsman in Constantinople, to further his education and opportunities for advancement. His relatives were notable and influential. The youth was received into their home gladly. Symeon's uncle saw in the youth one distinguished by a beauty and an elegance not common. They arranged for him to have a tutor, by which he continued his education. Since, from his earliest years, the lad was sensible and discerning, he loathed disorderly pastimes of other children. He applied himself as much as possible to his studies and learning his lessons. The result of his perseverance and diligence was the elevation of the little scholar's knowledge. At length, he became exceptional in the art of calligraphy, as can be seen in the books which he had penned. He preferred occupying himself with knowing his letters and grammar. As for the rest of the curriculum, his interest flagged. From the study of profane knowledge, he perceived its injurious effect on moral from the conduct of his fellow pupils.
The Hymns of Divine Love, written in poetic form with poetic meter and rhyme, were finished and edited by him from 1009 until his repose. He was enjoined to keep to eight, twelve, and fifteen syllables to a line. The hymns bring into an orbit of mystical prayer, into an inner world filled with beauty and mystery. He also speaks of repentance, similarly to what is seen in his discourses.
As for the hymns and divine office that Father Symeon composed in honor of his spiritual father, the Studite, these have been lost to us, as well as man of his letters and polemical works. He managed to publish most of his works and have them edited by his disciple, Niketas Stethatos.
Let us now return to other events in the Saint's life. He received the gift of prophecy, that is, he foreknew and foretold the future. Many can testify to this gift of the Spirit, which was possessed by the man of God. He predicted ten years in advance what would befall the glorious protonotarios of the dromos, John, and another member of his family. But now is the time for us to narrow some of the miracles and wonder-workings of Saint Symeon, which energized in him through God. After this accounting, we shall conclude with the blessed repose of the Saint. The Saint was very approachable, and not at all austere in appearance. In imitation of Christ, he let everyone draw near to him, of all ages and genders. He walked slowly and peacefully, usually leaning on his staff.
The Egoumenisa (Abbess) of Vardaine narrated the following miracle (wonder or Gk. thavma), which Saint Symeon performed on her behalf. "There was an occasion,' she began, "when I succumbed to a higher fever. My inward parts were burning, so that my body was melting away as wax before the fire. Since I endured this fever for many days and was unable to eat anything, the physician forsook me and said that it was impossible for me to be healed. I was confined to mu bed and at the last gasp. My mother, seeing my death-struggle, took me in her arms and wept bitterly. While I was in such a state of misery, then--behold the miracle!--I suddenly beheld the blessed Symeon Evlavees. They appeared in such great glory as they approached me. The holy Symeon drew near to me and said, 'Rejoice, milady Anna! What has befallen thee that thou sufferest and reclinest without moving? Thou hast not eaten. Why dost thou not speak to thy mother or to us, thy friends?' I then, just as the hearing of his voice, came to myself, I recognized him and said with a thin voice, 'I am dying, most honorable father.' Then Saint Symeon Evlavees turned to his disciple and said, 'Take her, milord Symeon, by the hand. Raise her up and give her something to eat.' After Father Symeon took me by my hand, it seemed to me that he was asking my mother for food. She brought something and he began feeding me. Immediately, as soon as he had taken the food into his hand and gave it to me to eat. I was strengthened. I rose up from my bed, I, then, recounted to my mother the vision that I was vouchsafed to behold. I, then, had an appetite and ate. I was completely healed from that moment." This miracle was one of numerous miracles conducted by Saint Symeon the Theologian.
(To be continued)
__________________________
"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" - Saint John Chrysostom
+++
With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry)
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George