A Byzantine Theodidact: Symeon the New Theologian’s Claim to Be Taught by God

The Byzantine mystic Symeon the New Theologian claimed to be a theodidact: one taught by God. This article examines the rationale and experiential theological method that underwrote this claim. Symeon contended with scholastic theologians over the role of the Holy Spirit in illuminating believers and inspiring their speech. The New Theologian’s mystical definition of a theodidact raises the problem of subjective experience in relation to teaching authority, which is addressed by exploring Symeon’s own insistence that Orthodox tradition, Scripture, and a holy life safeguard the inspired teacher against self-authentication, error, and hypocrisy.