Symeon the New Theologian: We awaken in Christ's body

<<Previous Poem | View All Poems by Symeon the New Theologian | Next Poem >>

We awaken in Christ's body

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

by Symeon the New Theologian
(949 - 1032) Timeline

English version by
Stephen Mitchell

Original Language
Greek

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

Amazon.com

/ Photo by Ktoine /

Themes

Awakening

Bliss

Heart

Light

Lover and Beloved

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
	Hymns of Divine Love: Songs of praise by one of the great mystics of all church history, by Symeon the New Theologian / Channeled by Gearoge A. Maloney, S.J.
	In the Light of Christ: St. Symeon the New Theologian -- Life, Spirituality, Doctrine, by Basil Krivocheine

More >>

<<Previous Poem | More Poems by Symeon the New Theologian | Next Poem >>

Symeon doesn't urge us to merely worship or love the Beloved (Christ within the Christian tradition) from a distance. We melt into the Divine, become one with the Divine, share the same body.

I move my hand, and wonderfully
my hand becomes Christ, becomes all of Him

Some of these lines remind me of the poem attributed to Teresa of Avila, You Are Christ's Hands with it's lines-- "Christ has no body now on earth but yours, / no hands but yours..."

This poem by Symeon is one I just want to drink in -- it feels so deeply healing and generous to the soul.

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.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World