new theologian new theologian spelled greek byzantine christian monk poet saints eastern orthodox church given title theologian john gregory theologian applied modern academic sense theological study recognize spoke personal experience vision god principal teachings humans experience literally direct experience god born byzantine nobility given traditional education age fourteen met renowned monk convinced life prayer elder guidance time thirty new theologian abbot position held years attracted monks clergy reputation teachings brought conflict church authorities eventually send exile known disciple wrote life recognized byzantine mystic freely share mystical experiences writings included collection texts early christian prayer teachings wrote spoke frequently importance experiencing directly grace god talking experiences god divine light common subject writings need putting oneself guidance spiritual father authority teachings derived traditions early christian monks writings include biography early life details life come writings written disciple born members byzantine nobility supported dynasty given birth unclear traditional time monk new initial birth ignored tradition order spiritual father writings described experiences george birth received basic greek school education age uncle recognized potential higher learning uncle helped complete secondary education court emperor brother age fourteen met called pious holy monk constantinople meeting convinced younger higher education spiritual father time began studying life prayer guidance desire immediately enter monastery asked young wait monk spent years age seven serving household according sources served emperor instead living life day reportedly spent evenings prayer putting practice writings authors given spiritual father time experience god divine light described later disc attributed experience prayers spite experience young confessed fell ways living direct personal experience god central teachings writings monks followed abbot monastery age seven entered giving life completely teacher elder ordained priest simple monk considered holy people younger extremely practices following teacher extent abbot monastery insisted leave months following elder advice left nearby described run physically time continued follow guidance years moving monk ordained priest elected abbot monastery spent years abbot attracting monks clergy reputation learning monks attracted approach attempted reform byzantine monasteries monks emperor acquired large holdings property libraries art writings teachings aimed returning monasteries traditional role early church urging monks life simplicity purity heart constant prayer strict monastic discipline aimed upset monks monastery took emotional approach worship suggesting monk shouldn tears introduction vegetarian meals unique practices discipline caused displeasure monks years abbot morning group approximately thirty monks rose drove away breaking locks monastery gate way monks took appeal patriarch sided sent monks exile pleaded behalf monks return monastery including seeking monks apologize time abbot wrote hymns divine love completed exile letters works lost wrote articles relating disputes church survived theological ethical resigned abbot appointing disciples taking solitary life monastery opposition church endured severe opposition church authorities particularly chief theologian emperor court time stephen politician diplomat reputation thorough theoretical understanding theology removed actual experience spiritual life contrast held view actual experience holy spirit order speak god time recognizing authority scripture earlier church fathers differing views source authority speak spiritual matters cause years intense conflict ending eventual exile stephen found fault especially charismatic approach support individual direct experience god grace believed direct experience gave monks authority preach sins need formal practiced teacher church authorities taught speculative philosophical perspective taught direct mystical experience teachings especially direct experience god grace brought accusations stephen responded stephen charges declaring real teach impossible direct experience god disc stephen found fault spiritual father time formal recognition saints seldom practiced revered monks informally recognized honored monasteries disciples year younger arranged celebration honoring teacher included icon service stephen honoring teacher saint opinion worth honor conflict lasted years stephen finally able bring charges honoring saint stephen believed far patriarch constantinople supported going far send candles support stephen attacked eventually able convince homage improper convincing held unorthodox beliefs compromise stephen suggested annual festival honoring elder held private monastery new theologian refused compromise declaring duty honor church fathers saints january condemned exile stephen convinced patriarch order icons removed destroyed covered backed church authorities hymns christ speaking following bishops bishops handle body seek dominate masses seen appear brilliant pure souls worse mud dirt worse kind deadly poison evil men exile death sent exile near small village near shore according account left church authorities food middle winter found deserted ruined chapel dedicated happened land owned spiritual children donated land proceeds start monastery time disciples including appealed patriarch constantinople lift order exile fear dispute reach emperor lifted exile order completely offered establish monastery archbishop important constantinople qualification restraint celebration festival day refused compromise patriarch respect gave blessing live disciples act according good pleasure remained monastery close disciples monks secular people gathered free monks discipline zeal free direct conflict church authorities continued honor clergy constantinople monks joined celebrations wrote time accessible wanted spent thirteen years life exile dying march according biographer disciple death years previously day called monks sing funeral hymns recognized saint title theologian given modern academic sense learned theology recognize speaks personal experience vision god time title reserved mainly john author gregory writer poetry opponents called new theologian creative approach supporters later church large embraced positive sense writings death writings kept alive small groups followers eventually central teachings movement copies works following centuries particularly 14th century eastern orthodox monasteries recognition greater outside official church calendar historians credit personality criticism church hierarchy emphasis direct experience god unorthodox teachings including belief monk direct experience god empowered sins wrote similar style taught traditional views early christian fathers including gregory gregory differed predecessors transparent open sharing interior experiences byzantine mystic freely share experiences given context teaching direct experience god christians faith composite work titled practical theological texts included collection texts early christian text titled methods prayer attributed describes method practicing jesus prayer includes direction correct posture breathing reciting prayer extremely unlikely wrote text scholars attribute monk believe written disciples central work life written time abbot consist thirty pieces thanksgiving given talks monks interested spiritual life services compiled likely edited widely read constantinople exile style maintains personality expressed live talks simplicity sincerity speaking heart fire obvious sequence order topics apparently collection talks given different seasons feast days saints main themes running different traditional theme early mystical especially practices faith frequently taught way reach direct experience god specific practices discussed include detachment mercy sorrow sins faith main emphasis power holy spirit transform profound mystical union god end result holy life referred baptism holy spirit compared baptism water believed christianity descended church ritual people replaced earlier emphasis actual direct experience god express strong conviction life christian mere rules include personal experience presence living christ describes conversion mystical experience divine light hymns divine love hymns divine love called hymns divine completed time exile describes vision god divine light experience divine associated god christ hymns similar theme written poetic meter rhyme began writing time finished editing thirteen years life monastery hymns totaling approximately verses hymns cover themes similar death practice virtue charity detachment especially notable hymns mystical experiences love christ described writing mystical content personal reader excerpt includes following description mystical union god light light movements fire flame miserable coming glory glory know holy spirit nature honor word race glory essence father christ god universe fall thank worthy know little power theological ethical theological ethical original written works compared writings taken talks cover positions controversial issues theology directed stephen main antagonist church church officials saw taking overly theoretical approach christianity pieces defended traditions early byzantine mystical teachings church officials time central defense view revelation scripture understood experience divine grace given pure heart cover wide range topics including defense stephen views unity presents doctrine necessity faith possibility direct experience god baptism holy spirit written exile discuss living holy life earth salvation faith good works need wants channel divine grace teachings church authorities regularly challenged teachings rooted faithful early greek fathers main traditions byzantine spirituality took intellectual approach school heart represented early monks combined different traditions inner experience synthesis new byzantine taught followers christ direct experience god early church fathers experienced taught context frequently described experiences god divine light preached monks way god grace life simplicity doctrine monks known addition placed great emphasis putting oneself complete guidance spiritual father direct experience central theme teachings writings christians actual direct experience god deep mystical experiences presented unique norm christians taught experience came prayer especially called monks traditional charismatic role church defended frequent sharing inner experiences writing encourage inner life written god gifts bestowed self beginning life present moment gratitude talent entrusted silent abundance bury talent given like evil servants oral teaching encourage gifts enjoy gifts goodness divine light repeatedly describes experience divine light writings inward outward mystical experience experiences began youth continued life came inward prayer associated feeling joy intellectual understanding light vision god writings spoke directly god experience variously pure light face reveal face like sun described light grace god taught experience associated mind completely times described light speaking kindness explaining discourse wrote light power transform shines evening change alteration form speaks works lives gives life changes light bear witness god light granted light seen received light light glory goes impossible appear light seen light seen light received light received grace received grace received light god received god christ light said live guidance spiritual father taught putting oneself guidance spiritual father essential living spiritual life relationship historical tradition especially prominent defined qualifications acting role spiritual father personal experience interior life purity heart vision god insight inspiration official priest requirement spiritual father simple monk spiritual children taught teachers empowered preach sins view brought disagreement church leaders time hymns wrote listen advice spiritual father answer god tell thoughts simple meditation hiding advice sins teachings hearing confession sins brought regular conflict church authorities particularly archbishop stephen according grace direct experience god empowered god preach sins stephen held view ordained priests authority views colored spiritual father simple monk preached gave ethical went wrote having received experience god grace careful assume debts dare having received heart takes away sin world
Symeon the New Theologian