Quotessence
Home / Authors / Symeon the New Theologian
Symeon the New Theologian

Symeon the New Theologian Quotes

Poet

Filter quotes by topic

AllChristianOrthodoxOrthodox ChristianIfsMenChristSoulCfsLordSpiritHolySufferingHumilityKingdomsKnowsAbleDesireDivineDoeGiving

Famous Symeon the New Theologian Quotes

“The aim of all those who live in God is to please our Lord Jesus Christ and become reconciled with God the Father through receiving the Holy Spirit, thus securing their salvation, for in this consists the salvation of every soul. If this aim and this activity is lacking, all other labour is useless and all other striving is in vain. Every path of life which does not lead to this is without profit.”

IfsDoeSoulSpiritFatherJesusChristLordPathHolyPleaseActivityJesus ChristAimSalvationStriveProfitUselessVainHoly SpiritLabourReceivingLackingOur LordLord Jesus ChristOur Lord Jesus Christ
Author:Symeon the New Theologian
Create image

“O Woe to his blinded soul! Saying this, he as it were said to God: "Thou Thyself are guilty, because the woman whom Thou gavest me hast deceived me." This very same thing I myself now suffer, wretched and miserable, when I do not desire to be humbled, and to say with my whole soul that I myself am guilty of my perdition. But on the contrary I say: "That person over there inspired me to do or say this. He advised me and knocked me off the path." Woe is my poor soul which speaks such words filled with sin! O most shameless and irrational words of a shameless and irrational soul!”

PersonsSaidSoulWholeDesireSufferingSpeakSinPoorPathHumilityFilledInspiredContraryGuiltyMiserableIrrationalWoeWretchedDeceivedThyselfBlindedShamelessPerdition
Author:Symeon the New Theologian
Create image

“A person who suffers bitterly when slighted or insulted should recognize from this that he still harbors the ancient serpent in his breast. If he quietly endures the insult or responds with great humility, he weakens the serpent and lessens its hold. But if he replies acrimoniously or brazenly, he gives it strength to pour its venom into his heart and to feed mercilessly on his guts. In this way the serpent becomes increasingly powerful; it destroys his soul's strength and his attempts to set himself right, compelling him to live for sin and to be completely dead to righteousness.”

IfsWayGivingShouldHeartPersonsStillsSoulSufferingFreedomSinPowerfulHumilityEndureAncientInsultGutsBreastsRighteousnessCompellingHarborsSerpentInsultedVenomChristian HumilitySlighted
Author:Symeon the New Theologian
Create image

“Through repentance the filth of our foul actions is washed away. After this, we participate in the Holy Spirit, not automatically, but according to the faith, humility and inner disposition of the repentance in which our soul is engaged. For this reason it is good to repent each day as the act of repentance is unending.”

SoulReasonActionChristianSpiritHumilityHolyEngagedHoly SpiritEach DayOrthodoxRepentanceDispositionRepentFoulUnendingFilth
Author:Symeon the New Theologian
Create image

“When your soul is pricked by compunction and gradually changed, it becomes a fountain flowing with rivers of tears and compunction. ... If any one of you ever happens to communicate with tears, whether you weep before the Liturgy or in the course of the divine Liturgy, or at the very time that you receive the divine Gifts, and does not desire to do this for the rest of his days and nights, it will avail him nothing to have wept merely once. It is not this alone that at once purifies us and makes us worthy; it is daily compunction that does not cease until death.”

IfsDoeSoulHappensChristianDesireNightCoursesChangedTearsDivineRiversCommunicateWorthyCeaseYour SoulOrthodoxFountainOrthodox ChristianDay And NightLiturgyCompunction
Author:Symeon the New Theologian
Create image

“Since ... 'the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force' (Mt. 11:12), and it is impossible for the faithful to enter it by any other way, unless they come through the narrow gate of trials and tribulations, the divine oracle rightly commands us, saying: 'Strive to enter by the narrow door' (Lk. 13:24). Again He says, 'By your endurance you will gain your souls' (Lk. 21:19), and, 'Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of heaven' (Acts 14:22).”

WaySoulChristianSufferingForceHeavenViolenceImpossibleDoorsDivineGainsStriveTrialsViolentKingdomsCommandYour SoulFaithfulEnduranceOrthodoxGatesOrthodox ChristianTribulationKingdom Of HeavenTrials And TribulationsOracles
Author:Symeon the New Theologian
Create image

“Just as gold tarnished in depth (cf. Jms. 5:3) cannot be properly purified and restored to its proper brightness unless it is cast in the fire and thoroughly hammered with mallets, so when the soul has been tarnished with the rust of sin and become thoroughly useless it cannot be cleansed and recover its original beauty unless it meets many trials and enter into the furnace of tribulations.”

Has BeensSoulChristianSinFireGoldOriginalsDepthCastsTrialsUselessOrthodoxBrightnessRustTribulationCfsFurnacesHammered
Author:Symeon the New Theologian
Create image