The wisdom of our salvation (On sacred rites and sacraments of the church)

The collection “The Wisdom of Our Salvation” is a reprint of the 1856 book “The Works of Blessed Simeon, Archbishop of Thessalonica.” The collection consists of 8 parts, which cover the following topics: - symbolism and hidden meaning of all 7 church Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Priesthood, Marriage, Repentance and Blessing of Anointing; - the meaning of the Divine Liturgy. The author reveals the symbolism of the proskomedia, priestly vestments, and also describes the structure of the church, its interior decoration and the sacred meaning of each element; - an explanation of the meaning of the daily cycle of services, various prayers and chants, including the Jesus Prayer and “Our Father,” as well as the rite of burial and commemoration of the dead; - refuting the innovations of the Latins and Armenians regarding the Eucharist (the use of unleavened bread, excommunicating infants from Communion) and other Sacraments, defending the purity and inviolability of the Orthodox Tradition; - rules of conduct for believers in the church, the duties of various degrees of priesthood (from reader to patriarch), and the meaning of the monastic image. The author, adhering primarily to a mystical interpretation, shows how every sacred act and every detail of church life is an expression of Divine Wisdom and leads to salvation. The book of St. Simeon of Thessalonica explains the symbolism and meaning of the sacraments and other sacred rites performed in the church. It also examines in detail various aspects (aspects) of church life, the rules of behavior of believers in the Church and the performance of divine services, and provides answers to many pressing questions regarding priestly service, based on Holy Tradition. The book is intended for everyone who is not indifferent to the liturgical life of the Orthodox Church and the living patristic heritage. Saint Simeon, Archbishop of Thessalonica (XIV - 1429) - a famous church figure, theologian, liturgist during the decline of the Byzantine Empire. In the rank of archbishop (1416 1417–1429), he became famous not only as a wise shepherd and devotee of piety, but also as a courageous defender of the religious and political independence of his flock: thanks to his efforts, Thessaloniki, besieged by Sultan Murat, did not surrender to the Turks and was taken by a second attack only after the death of Saint Simeon. The future saint was born in Constantinople. He became a monk with the name Simeon and lived his monastic life in a small cell, possibly in the monastery of Saints Callistus and Ignatius Xanthopoulos, to whom he was very close. Subsequently, he was ordained a hieromonk and, according to historians, may have visited the patriarchal court. At the end of 1416 or the beginning of 1417, Simeon was ordained Archbishop of Thessalonica. The new ministry turned out to be a heavy burden and the bishop’s health suffered greatly. As he himself reports, he was saved and restored to health thanks to the intercession of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica, patron of the cathedral city. His justice and concern for the poor earned St. Simeon national recognition during his lifetime, so that even non-Christian Venetians and Jews mourned his death. The veneration of the bishop was not stopped from generation to generation, and the memory of the saint and his spirit lived on in his many outstanding works. His official glorification finally took place in 1981, when the saint was canonized by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Saint Simeon is the author of many varied writings on liturgical, pastoral, canonical, dogmatic, apologetic, moral, historical and political topics. In all his works he was an ardent defender of Orthodoxy - his characteristic phrase is: “The true good for people is to be Orthodox, and if not to be, then it is better to die.” The saint is recognized as the greatest Byzantine liturgist. He is most famous for his massive work Dialogue against Heresies and on Our Only True Christian Faith, as well as on the Sacred Rites and Sacraments of the Church, which is considered a classic. Together with some of his other works, it was first published by Patriarch Dositheus of Jerusalem in Iaşi in 1683 and translated into Modern Greek in 1791 and into Russian in 1856–1857, and then reproduced by Minh in his Patrologia Graeca. As an exegete of divine services, the saint adhered primarily to a mystical interpretation, following mainly Dionysius the Areopagite. The works of Saint Simeon are highly valued by scholars of Orthodox worship; The memory of Saint Simeon is celebrated on September 15. This book, “The Wisdom of Our Salvation,” is a reprint of the 1856 book “The Works of Blessed Simeon, Archbishop of Thessalonica,” adapted for the modern Orthodox reader. Any comments and suggestions from readers will be gratefully received by the publisher. You might be interested in: