Symeon:

Ecstasy in the Light

Broderick Lemke
 Quick Summary
- Symeon was fasting and living Ascetically, however, he was upset he
didnt experience god.
- Spiritual advisor told him to chill out and eat something, that he was
being selfish. Asceticism is a tool to experience God, not a means to a
selfish end.
- He ate
- Suddenly a light, it was amazing.
- The light stopped, it was not amazing.
- Tears
- Living Ascetically allows him to come as close to God as he can in this
lifetime.
What is God?
 What is God?

Alfredo Jaar (b.1956),

The Sound of Silence

All images from the

Chicago Museum of
Contemporary Art

https://mcachicago.org/
Alfredo Jaar (b.1956),
The Sound of Silence

All images from the

Chicago Museum of
Contemporary Art

https://mcachicago.org/
Alfredo Jaar (b.1956),
The Sound of Silence

All images from the

Chicago Museum of
Contemporary Art

https://mcachicago.org/
Alfredo Jaar (b.1956),
The Sound of Silence

All images from the

Chicago Museum of
Contemporary Art

https://mcachicago.org/
Kevin Carter (1960-1994),
Starving Child and Vulture

Image from Times Hundred

Most Influential Images of All
Time

http://100photos.time.com/
Questions:
1a. What are some experiences that youve had that provided you a greater
understanding of the ineffable?

1b. If Symeon was able to attribute his experience in the light, his way of coming in
contact with the ineffable, to God, can we attribute our experiences to God?

2. What about other peoples Experiences? Can we take experiences we hear about
like mine, Trishas or Symeons and use them to understand God better? Or, are they
only beneficial to the person who experienced them? What about the Bible then?

3. What if others experience what they believe to be God in what we think are
inappropriate ways (Ex. Drissa Coulibaly who murdered 20 children because he said
God told him to)? Can their acts be considered an act of becoming close God just as
Asceticism is?