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Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Christian : Eastern Orthodox

10th Century

About Symeon the New Theologian

Timeline (949 - 1032)

Symeon the New Theologian, Symeon the New Theologian poetry, Christian, Christian poetry, Eastern Orthodox poetry, [TRADITION SUB2] poetry, poetry

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English version by
Stephen Mitchell

Original Language
Greek

We awaken in Christ's body

Themes

Bliss

Heart

Lover and Beloved

Smile

Recommended Books

	The Book of Mystical Chapters: Meditations on the Soul's Ascent from the Desert Fathers and Other Early Christian Contemplatives, Translated by John Anthony McGuckin
	Christian Mystics: Their Lives and Legacies throughout the Ages, by Ursula King
	The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry, by Stephen Mitchell
	In the Light of Christ: St. Symeon the New Theologian -- Life, Spirituality, Doctrine, by Basil Krivocheine
	On the Mystical Life, the Ethical Discourses : the Church and the Last Things, by Symeon the New Theologian / Translated by Alexander Golotzin

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We awaken in Christ's body
as Christ awakens our bodies,
and my poor hand is Christ, He enters
my foot, and is infinitely me.

I move my hand, and wonderfully
my hand becomes Christ, becomes all of Him
(for God is indivisibly
whole, seamless in His Godhood).

I move my foot, and at once
He appears like a flash of lightning.
Do my words seem blasphemous? -- Then
open your heart to Him

and let yourself receive the one
who is opening to you so deeply.
For if we genuinely love Him,
we wake up inside Christ's body

where all our body, all over,
every most hidden part of it,
is realized in joy as Him,
and He makes us, utterly, real,

and everything that is hurt, everything
that seemed to us dark, harsh, shameful,
maimed, ugly, irreparably
damaged, is in Him transformed

and recognized as whole, as lovely,
and radiant in His light
he awakens as the Beloved
in every last part of our body.

-- from The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry, by Stephen Mitchell

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About Symeon the New Theologian

Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World