About this episode

Derek Krueger discusses his book on the homoerotic desires and theological insights of Symeon the New Theologian in medieval Constantinople.

Derek Krueger Monastic Desires: Homoeroticism, Homophobia, and Love of God in Medieval Constantinople (Cambridge UP, 2026) The Byzantine Abbot Symeon the New Theologian (949–1022) transgressed the homophobic norms of medieval Orthodox society. His longing for God was distinctly homoerotic, and he depicted union with the divine as a queer sort of marriage. His Orthodox theology of theosis, the deification of the entire person, meant that Symeon taught the salvation of all the parts of the body. But monks also desired the eradication of lust and the punishment of those who fell prey to it. Sermons and biblical commentary defined men who had sex with men as sodomites; and saints' lives warned of the consequences of same-sex desires. Those who renounced sex redirected their desire rather than eliminating it. Symeon's queer erotics shed light on other devotions distinctive to medieval Orthodoxy, including the veneration of saints and worship with icons. Monastic Desires makes a groundbreaking contribution to the history of sexuality and the history of Christianity. New Books in Late Antiquity is presented by Ancient Jew Review Derek Krueger is emeritus professor of religious studies…

People in this episode

Host: Michael Motia

Guest: Derek Krueger

Topics covered

• homoeroticism
• medieval Christianity
• Orthodox theology
• sexuality in history
• monasticism
• Byzantine culture

Keywords

• homoeroticism
• medieval
• Byzantine
• theology
• monasticism
• Symeon the New Theologian
• Christianity
• sexuality
• Orthodox

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: UNC Greensboro, Ancient Jew Review

Books & works: Monastic Desires: Homoeroticism, Homophobia, and the Love of God in Medieval Constantinople

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