A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

16. S.Mamantis, styled in the MSS. of his works, νέος θεολόγος, ἡγούμενος μόνης τον͂ ἁγίου Μάμαντος τοῦ ξηροκέρκου, NOVUS THEOLOGUS (or THEOLOGUS JUNIOR) ET HEGUMENUS (s. ABBAS) MONASTERII S. MAMANTIS IN XEROCERCO, or, as some correct it, τοῦ ξυλοκέρκου, IN XYLOCERCO. His title " Theologus" indicates his eminence as a writer on divinity; and the epithet " Novus" or " Junior" was evidently added to distinguish him from some other ecclesiastic, perhaps from Gregory Nazianzen, to whom at a much earlier period the title " Theologus" was given ; or more probably to distinguish him from some other Symeon, either Symeon Metaphrastes [No. 22] or Symeon the Pious [No. 24]. The time at which this writer flourished has been much disputed ; but the facts of his history enable us to assign him to the latter half of the tenth and the beginning of the eleventh century. He was born about the middle of the tenth century, of wealthy and noble parents, named Basil and Theophano, at a place called Galate in Paphlagonia; and was sent at an early age, for his education, to Constantinople, where his relatives held high stations at the Byzantine court. His precocious attainments inspired the highest hopes of his family, and he was introduced by an uncle to the notice of the imperial brothers Basil II. and Constantine IX., apparently at the time when they were yet in their boyhood, and were emperors in name only, the reins of empire being really held successively by Nicephorus Phocas (A. D. 963-969) and John Tzimisces (A. D. 969-975). After the sudden death of the uncle by whom he had been introduced at court, Symeon determined, though only fourteen years of age, to embrace a monastic life; but the monk Symeon the Pious (Σνμεὼν ὁ εὐλαβής), or as Combéfis styles him, " Venerabilis," the Venerable [No. 24], whom he had chosen for his spiritual guide and father, having advised him to defer his purpose, he returned for a time to the house of his deceased uncle. At a somewhat later period he commenced his noviciate in the Monastery of Studium at Constantinople; but was induced by the envy of the abbot and some of the monks, excited by his pre-eminence in monastic practices, to remove to the Monastery of St. Mamas, where he completed his noviciate, and, in course of time, became abbot and was ordained presbyter. This was some time in the patriarchate of Nicolaus Chrysoberges, who was patriarch of Constantinople from A. D. 982 to 996. After some years Symeon, who had experienced trouble and danger from the turbulence of some recusant monks, resigned the abbacy, and devoted himself to the composition of works of piety. His literary labours attracted the approving notice of Sergius II., who held the patriarchate from A. D. 999 to 1019 or 1020 : but this must have been quite in the early part of the patriarchate of Sergius, who was soon alienated from Symeon by the instrumentality of his syncellus, Stephanus, archbishop of Nicomedeia, a man of learning and eloquence, who was jealous of Symeon. The charge against Symeon was, that he paid unauthorized honour to the memory of his spiritual father, Symeon the Pious, who was now dead; and to whom our Symeon paid the honours due to a canonized saint. In consequence of this difference Symeon, after six years of persecution, was banished from his monastery, and from Constantinople, by the patriarch and synod. This punishment was remitted, and high honours in the Church offered him, if he would comply with the wishes of the patriarch, but he would not purchase them by sacrificing the memory of his friend. He was enabled by the liberality of his friends to found a monastery in the place where he had taken up his abode during his exile, a deserted chapel of St. Marina, on the Asiatic side of the Propontis; and there he remained till his death. His life has been written at length by one of his disciples, Nicetas Stethatus, who has embellished the narrative with the usual appendages of celestial gifts, divine visions, and miraculous incidents : and from a summary of this given by Combéfis, in his Auctarium Novissimum, pars ii. p. 119, &c., and from an abridged translation of it in Romaic or modern Greek, we are indebted for the above particulars. Allatius considers Symeon to have been the precursor of the fanatic quietists, who some centuries after gave occasion to the controversy that so agitatea the Greek Church, respecting the uncreated light of Mount Tabor. [PALAMAS.]