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Quote by Symeon the New Theologian

“Keep in mind God's precept that states, 'Judge not, and you will not be judged' (Lk. 6:37), and in no way meddle in the lives of others.”

Quote by Symeon the New Theologian

Book:Symeon New Theologian

Work

Symeon New Theologian

This work is a profound theological treatise that delves into the nature of God, the human soul, and the relationship between the two. It is considered a foundational text in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, offering insights into the mystical and philosophical aspects of faith. more

Author

Symeon the New Theologian

Symeon the New Theologian (949–1022) was a Byzantine Christian mystic, poet, and theologian. Known for his emphasis on direct personal experience of God, he is one of three saints in Eastern Orthodoxy honored as 'Theologian.' His works include hymns, sermons, and theological writings that profoundly influenced Christian mysticism. more

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“'Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord' (Heb. 12:14), Why did he say 'strive'? Because it is not possible for us to become holy and to be saints in an hour! We must therefore progress from modest beginnings toward holiness and purity. Even were we to spend a thousand years in this life we should never perfectly attain it. Rather we must always struggle for it every day, as if mere beginners.”

Ifs Men Should Years Christian Hours Lord Struggle Progress Holy Thousand Mere Strive Saint This Life Purity Holiness Orthodox Thousand Years Modest Beginners

Book:Symeon New Theologian

Source: Symeon New Theologian

“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.”

“Illumination by the Spirit is the endless end of every virtue.”

Ends Christian Spirit Virtue Endless Orthodox Illumination Orthodox Christian

Author:Symeon the New Theologian

“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).”

“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 Beens Soul Christian Sin Fire Gold Originals Depth Casts Trials Useless Orthodox Brightness Rust Tribulation Cfs Furnaces Hammered

Author:Symeon the New Theologian

“... if we are ashamed to imitate our Lord's sufferings, which He endured for us, and to suffer as He suffered, it is obvious that we shall not become partakers with Him in His glory. If that is true of us we shall be believers in word only, not in deed. When deeds are absent, our faith is dead.”

Ifs Christian Suffering Lord Glory Obvious Deeds Believer Ashamed Orthodox Absent Our Lord Orthodox Christian

Author:Symeon the New Theologian

“Spiritual knowledge is like a house built in the midst of secular and pagan knowledge, in which there is laid up, like a solid and well-secured chest, the knowledge of the inspired Scriptures and the inestimable riches they contain. Those who enter into the house will never at all be able to see those treasures unless this chest is opened for them. But it does not belong to human wisdom (cf. I Cor. 2:13) ever to be able to open it, so that the riches of the Spirit deposited in it remain unknown to all who are worldly.”

“... men... who say that there is no one in our times and in our midst who is able to keep the Gospel commandments and become like the holy Fathers? To them the Master rightly says with a loud voice, 'Woe to you scribes and Pharisees (Mt. 23:13)! Woe to you, blind guides of the blind (Mt. 23:16), because you do not enter into the kingdom, and you hinder those who wish to enter' (Mt. 23:13).”

Men Able Christian Father Wish Voice Masters Holy Blind Guides Kingdoms Loud Our Time Midst Orthodox Commandments Woe Orthodox Christian Hinder Pharisees Scribes Loud Voices

Book:Symeon New Theologian

Source: Symeon New Theologian

“... I pray... that you may discern your affairs in a manner pleasing to God and may so act and endeavor that you may find Christ, as He even now cooperates with you, and in time to come will bestow on you abundantly the enjoyment of the illumination that comes from Him. Do not follow the wolf instead of the shepherd (cf. Mt. 7:15), nor enter into a flock that is diseased (cf. Ezek. 34:4). Do not be alone by yourself?”

May Christian Christ Praying Affair Enjoyment Orthodox Endeavor I Pray Illumination Flocks Shepherds Cfs Diseased

Author:Symeon the New Theologian

“Tremble with awe, O men! The insults God suffered for the sake of our salvation you too must endure! God is slapped on the face by the basest of slaves (Jn. 18:22). He gives you an example of victory, yet do you refuse to undergo this at the hands of a man of like passions as yourself? You are ashamed of becoming an imitator of God (Eph. 5:1), how then will you reign with Him and share in His glory in the kingdom of heaven if you do not endure that man?”