Our orthodox theology is not a theoretical scheme and it does not exist to satisfy our intellect, but it is an experience, a way of life, a sharing of the Divinity and by grace a theosis. This is also its notable difference with Western and heretical theology in general, which satisfies mental schemes, gives the illusion of the alleged completeness of the truth and therefore leads from malice to malice and from heresy to heresy. On the contrary, the approach of the theology of our Church as an ecclesiastical experience, as a natural way of being, does not simply teach the truth, but transforms it into a transformation of the faithful, to the point where they have a vision of God, a living sense of God's uncreated actions in their daily lives . This fact was experienced by the saints of our Church.
Saint Simeon the New Theologian, one of the greatest Fathers and Theologians of our Church, is one of those who was privileged to see the uncreated light of God with his physical eyes. He was born in 957 in the Asia Minor city of Galatea in Paphlagonia and his baptismal name was George. His noble parents made sure to give him a serious education, because they intended him for high government positions. At the age of six he was sent to Constantinople to study. An important personality of the Reign soon emerges. With the help of a noble uncle, he is designated as spatharocovilarius, with the possibility of being reduced to a senator. He carries out his duties with success, but also with humiliation. He is not captivated by the splendor of worldly power and did not intend to spend his whole life among the ambitious nobles of power.
His acquaintance and his spiritual relationship with the student Saint Simeon the Reverend, changes his life. After the death of Nikiforos Phokas in 969, he leaves his position and retires to the famous Monastery to live near his spiritual one. He does not agree, because he was only 14 years old, and advises him to go back to his place.
At the age of 20 he received a special blessing from God. One night while he was fervently praying, his room was filled with a blinding and inexplicable light. Simeon fell into a trance and had the feeling that he had been lifted up into heaven. An inexplicable joy filled his soul at the divine apparition. He immediately ran to his spiritual to whom he related the apparition and begged him to receive him. He again refused, apparently by divine inspiration, so that the will of his disciple could be further sculpted.
At the age of 26, the miraculous apparition recurred. At that time he had been assigned a service mission in his homeland. Before leaving, he announced to his spirit the new apparition. He revealed to him that he was old enough to become a monk. His joy was unexpected. He made his journey, and on the occasion, announced to his parents his intention to follow the solitary life. They reacted violently and tried to persuade him, because they saw the brilliant career that lay before him. He remains unconvinced. He retired to the Monastery of Studi, where he became a monk and received the monastic name of his spiritual father, Simeon.
But the temptations did not last long. His obedience to his spiritual moved the envy of his fellow monastics, because he had to obey only the abbot Peter. That's why he was forced to leave and settle down. It was then that he saw a third
in turn divine apparition. He settled in the adjacent Monastery of Agios Mamatas of Xirokerkos, where the abbot was the venerable Antonios. His father came with several senators to persuade him to return to the world. He again refuses, while at the same time he sees a fourth divine apparition. He was 29 years old, where the abbot slept. After the request of the fraternity of the Monastery and the consent of Patriarch Nikolaos II of Chrysovergis, he was elected abbot of the Monastery. During his ordination as an elder he also saw a fifth divine apparition.
As abbot of the Monastery of Agios Mamandas, Simeon was called upon to face many problems, from the construction work of the Monastery to this spiritual cultivation of brotherhood. As a Neptian monk and mystical theologian he spoke of "divine love" and of the radiance of "divine light". The monks, because they did not understand him, considered him a heretic and declared war on him. Some appealed to the Patriarch to be deposed. He declared him innocent. He remained in the post of abbot for 25 years. In 1013, at the age of 57, after handing over the abbotship to his student Arsenius, he retired to a nearby hermitage and devoted himself to exercise and writing. But the Metropolitan of Nicomedia Stefanos managed to convince the Patriarch to send him into exile, in the area of Chrysoupoli, because he considered his spiritual father Simeon, a saint. He settled in some deserted church of Agia Marina, where he slept peacefully in the year 1037 at the age of 80, having predicted his death. His memory is celebrated on October 12.
Saint Simeon received the title of the new theologian, because he belongs to the great teachers of our Church. He belongs to the mystical theologians, who cultivated and experienced mystical theology, as theopty. His works "Hymns of Divine Loves", "Catechisms" and "Practical and Theological Chapters", formed the basis of the later mystical theology and the spiritual life of the faithful.
