The Theology of Light of Saint Symeon The New Theologian as seen by Father
Dumitru Stăniloae One of the greatest Byzantine mystics, Saint Symeon The New Theologian
frequently uses the theme of light in his theology. Saint Symeon The New
Theologian uses this word to designate divine light, that is God Himself and
all the gifts of His grace. Saint Simeon sees man’s connection with Christ as a
living relationship of communion in prayer, and the encounter of man with
Christ in the light is the proof of his personalistic Christology. The profound
Christological character of his theology is a true source of inspiration for
Father Dumitru Stăniloae’s Christology, which considers man’s relationship with
God as the conscious approach of the Person of Christ by man, as a dialogue
based on love. The merit of Father Stăniloae is to rediscover the theology of
Saint Symeon the New Theologian which he valorizes and emphasizes in his own
way to make God known to the people of the contemporary society often alienated
from God and lacking moral guidelines. ADRIAN IONIŢĂ |
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