Dominic J. O’Meara

This article examines two themes of Neoplatonic origin present in the work of Symeon the New Theologian: perfect knowledge and divine omnipresence. Dominic J. O'Meara, a specialist in ancient philosophy, adopts a philosophical-theological approach aimed at identifying and analyzing the way in which these concepts, inherited from the Neoplatonic tradition, are articulated in the thought of this eleventh-century Byzantine mystic. The study shows how Symeon integrates and transforms these philosophical notions within a Christian theology of spiritual experience and the presence of God. The main contribution of this article lies in shedding light on the philosophical sources underlying Symeonite theology, thereby contributing to a better understanding of the relationship between the Neoplatonic heritage and Orthodox theological thought in the Byzantine tradition.