Tag Archives: Palamite distinction

The Incomprehensibility of Divine Personhood and the Mysticism of the Hoi Poloi

Posted on 16 July 2020 by Fr Aidan Kimel

The Eastern theological tradition has long insisted the essence of God is incomprehensible, inaccessible, unknowable, and imparticipable to all rational creatures, human and angelic. The living God can only be apprehended through his divine energies. As Vladimir Lossky writes: “Wholly … Continue reading →

Posted in Dumitru Staniloae, Zizioulas & Yannaras | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

St Mark Eugenicus and the Immaculate Burning Bush

Posted on 6 December 2019 by Fr Aidan Kimel

We jump from St Gregory the Theologian in the 4th century to two Byzantine theologians in the 15th century—Joseph Bryennius, a vigorous supporter of hesychastic theology, and St Mark Eugenicus, the resolute voice of Orthodoxy at the Council of Florence. … Continue reading →

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The Essence/Energies Distinction in the Theology of St Gennadius Scholarios

Posted on 18 October 2016 by Fr Aidan Kimel

by Fr Christiaan Kappes In today’s installment, I hope to fully accede to Fr. Kimel’s request; namely, to figure out what the real Scholarios believes! Well, historically, there have been many “Scholarii” (viz., Scholarioses) to contend with (up to three!). … Continue reading →

Posted in Byzantine theology | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

The Essence/Energies Distinction and the Myth of Byzantine Illogic

Posted on 27 June 2016 by Fr Aidan Kimel

by Fr Christiaan Kappes First of all, I heartily thank Fr. Aidan Kimel for inviting me to write a guest column on Palamism. Although, in the essence of the argument, it should not make a difference, I will start by … Continue reading →

Posted in Byzantine theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 66 Comments

Is the Palamite Distinction Ecumenical Dogma?

Posted on 21 June 2016 by Fr Aidan Kimel

1. The official "Message" of the Council (think cover letter), still in draft form, will affirm other Councils as "Ecumenical." — George Demacopoulos (@GDemacopoulos) June 21, 2016 2. Council of 879 (ending poorly-named Photian Schism) and Councils of 1350s, endorsing … Continue reading →

Posted in Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , | 73 Comments

Staniloae and Zizioulas: The Incomprehensibility of Divine Personhood and the Mysticism of the Hoi Poloi

Posted on 2 October 2014 by Fr Aidan Kimel

The Eastern theological tradition has long insisted the essence of God is incomprehensible, inaccessible, unknowable, and imparticipable to all rational creatures, human and angelic. The living God can only be apprehended through his divine energies. As Vladimir Lossky writes: “Wholly … Continue reading →

Posted in Dumitru Staniloae, Zizioulas & Yannaras | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Oecumenical Grace: Eastern Orthodoxy on Theosis

Posted on 12 June 2014 by Fr Aidan Kimel

“It is too little realized,” write Charles Mœller and Gérard Philips, “that opposition to neo-platonism is as important in the East as that to Pelagianism in the West” (The Theology of Grace and the Oecumenical Movement, p. 6). In the … Continue reading →

Posted in Grace, Justification & Theosis | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Was St Gregory of Nyssa a Proto-Palamite?

Posted on 5 May 2014 by Fr Aidan Kimel

The title is intentionally provocative, and I’m afraid the article will disappoint anyone who is hoping for a clear answer to the question posed. While I have read a fair amount of the secondary literature about St Gregory Palamas’s famous … Continue reading →

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