The most holy father Simeon, who was named the New Theologian for the divinely bestowed gift of theology he received, lived during the years of Constantine Porphyrogenitus, around 1000 AD.
He was a disciple of Simeon, who was called the Venerable, from whom he was trained in ascetic struggles. He reached such heights of virtue and apathy, and was deemed worthy to receive such a rich divine grace, that it is almost impossible for anyone to write of him, as his extensive biography narrates in great detail.
Having received within himself all, we might say, the power of the Comforter and becoming a vessel of His illuminations, he emerged as a fountain of theology, a dwelling place of divine light, a most delightful habitation of ineffable mysteries, and, in general, a house of spiritual wisdom and divine knowledge.
Illuminated by this, he composed all kinds of writings, both poetic and prose, in large numbers and filled with very great benefit. From the works we selected and included only those that follow, along with those at the end of the Philokalia, translated for the benefit of many.
For from these flows much and abundant benefit to the readers.
