Selected hymns in poetic translation from Greek

“Hymns” is a unique, almost unparalleled collection of prayer outpourings, philosophical and theological treatises, descriptions of mystical experience set forth by St. Simeon the New Theologian in poetic form. The full title of the book is “Love (outpourings) of Divine Hymns.” The compiler of the collection and the author of the titles of most of the hymns is St. Nikita Stifat. The central theme of the hymns is the vision of Divine light. Also touched upon are such issues as the Sacrament of the Eucharist, monastic activity, the relationship between the world and monasticism, the experience of knowledge of God and deification. St. Simeon expounds in hymns the doctrine of the possibility of perceiving God in real life through repentance, communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ and the deification of human nature. Each hymn, although it is a separate work, collectively represents a kind of poetic spiritual autobiography, telling about the path of St. Simeon to the knowledge of God. The publication presents a translation from Greek of selected hymns (24 in total), performed in poetic form by Archbishop. Hilarion (Alfeev). * Title of the work in Greek: Των θείων ύμνων οί ερωτες. In poetic translation from Greek Contents Preface The Monk Simeon the New Theologian was born in 949 in the city of Galata, in Asia Minor (in the territory of modern Turkey). His parents, Vasily and Feofania, were noble and rich people. Saint Simeon received a brilliant secular education in Constantinople and occupied a high position at court, being a close associate of Emperor Basil II. At twenty-five years old, Saint Simeon left the court and entered the Studite monastery, where he devoted himself to strict asceticism under the leadership of Elder Simeon the Reverent. With the elder’s blessing, Saint Simeon began to say the unceasing Jesus Prayer. His soul every hour and every moment rushed to God. From the Studite monastery, Saint Simeon, on the advice of his mentor, moved to the monastery of Saint Mamant, where he was soon elected abbot and ordained to the rank of presbyter. Around 1005, the monk left his abbess and settled into retirement in the monastery. There he created his theological works, expounded the doctrine of the deification of the flesh, taught the deepest secrets of internal asceticism, for which he was awarded by his contemporaries the name “New Theologian” (in comparison with the apostle and evangelist John the Theologian and Gregory the Theologian). The last thirteen years of St. Simeon's life were spent in the monastery of St. Marina, which he founded on the shores of the Bosphorus. In addition to his theological works, during his lifetime Saint Simeon became famous for his many miraculous healings that took place through his prayers and for his insight into the future. On March 12, 1021 - on the day predicted in advance by him by special revelation - the monk died peacefully. The disciple and cell attendant of Saint Simeon, the Monk Nikita Stifat, compiled his life. Thirty years after the repose of St. Simeon, his holy relics were found, from which many miracles also occurred. The Monk Simeon the New Theologian wrote “Active and Theological Chapters”, “A Word on Faith”, “A Word on Three Types of Prayer”. The “words” of St. Simeon are distinguished by their simplicity and warmth; he instructs, inspires, and touches. The “Following to Holy Communion,” which is found in every Orthodox prayer book, includes the prayer of St. Simeon the New Theologian (“From foul lips, from a vile heart, from an unclean tongue...”). An example of high theology and high poetry are about 70 small poems - “Hymns of Divine Love” by St. Simeon. The themes of the Hymns are very deep: the Holy Eucharist, monasticism and peace, the experience of spiritual enlightenment and deification. As in all the works of the Monk Simeon, the “Hymns” affirm faith in the possibility of perceiving God in this earthly life through deification, through repentance and communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. You might be interested in: