The aim of this article was to familiarize the
reader with the imagery of light, particularly its role in the development of ascetic discipline
and early Christian mysticism. The vehicle
for this exploration is an analysis of selected
texts from the spiritual collection of the monk
and hermit Pseudo-Macarius (Symeon of
Mesopotamia). In Macarius’s theology of light
one may find clear references to the thought
of Origen, as well as the influence of other
Church writers representing the heritage of
both Greek Alexandrian tradition and Syrian
thought. The theological message of Symeon
of Mesopotamia should be read in the pneumatological
context. The fundamental truth
of his spiritual homilies is communion in
Holy Spirit and the reception of His fullness.
In the article, the author seeks to elucidate
and interpret the spiritual tradition known
to researchers as une mystique pneumatique.
The homilies of Macarius significantly contributed
to the dissemination of this pneumatological
mysticism throughout the Greek
and later Byzantine world. The interesting
apologetic themes appear on the margins of
the main subject of the works and are very
superficially discussed in the context of the
general polemics with heresies
