Some aspects of the unusual pneumatology of Saint Symeon the New Theologian

This article examines the pneumatology of Symeon the New Theologian (949-1022), a major figure of Byzantine mysticism, focusing on the most singular aspects of his doctrine on the Holy Spirit. Michel Stavrou conducts a theological and historical study that identifies the distinctive, even unusual, traits of Symeon's pneumatological thought in relation to the patristic tradition. The central idea is that Symeon develops a theology of the Holy Spirit marked by a particular insistence on the conscious and perceptible experience of his presence, which distinguishes him from his predecessors and sometimes causes him to be misunderstood. The contribution of the article lies in shedding light on the tensions and doctrinal originalities of Symeon, thus contributing to a better understanding of the evolution of pneumatology in the Byzantine Orthodox theological tradition.