ОБРАЗ СМИРЕНИЯ В ЖИТИИ СИМЕОНА ЭМЕССКОГО
HUMBLENESS IN SIMEON SALOS’S LIFE

Summary/Abstract: The existing typology of sanctity distinguishes “foolishness for Christ” as a “paradoxical” deed, which is defined by scientists both as “aggression” (S. Ivanov) and as “the highest degree of humility” (I. Kologrivov, etc.). The mentioned distinction in behavioral assessment of the holy fool is conditioned by the difference in methodological approaches. The interpretation of the Life of Saint Simeon Salos is based on the main principle of hermeneutics concerning understanding of another; text interpretation in the sacred traditional context. Based on the analysis of the action development it was revealed that the Holy Fool represents a special type of humility, which is characterized by the utter self-renunciation in the forms that “blow up” a situation and disclose people’s sinful nature. The main motivation of his behavior is love for God and the neighbor, self-sacrifice for the sake of the people, for their salvation. The basic axiological category is the category of the world, which in Saint Simeon’s Life is presented as divided into the world of “this”: terrestrial and sinful where the devil acts, and the world of Christ in which the Holy Fool already indwells. The purpose of the Holy Fool’s behavior is to unveil the devil’s presence and to exempt the world from it. The plot is built on the principle of synergy, which implies that the sacred will is fully subjected to the will of God. The image of Saint Simeon Salos becomes an utter expression of love toward people through self-renunciation. We find it possible to call this self-renunciation not aggressive, but daring since it is based not on self-affirmation, but on the belief in God and service to Him

• Details
• Contents