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Tag Archives: palamite distinction
The Incomprehensibility of Divine Personhood and the Mysticism of the Hoi Poloi
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
St Mark Eugenicus and the Immaculate Burning Bush
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
Posted in Theotokos
Tagged burning bush, divine energies, immaculate conception, Mark of Ephesus, Moses, palamite distinction, prepurification, Theotokos, Virgin Mary
The Essence/Energies Distinction in the Theology of St Gennadius Scholarios
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 Byzantine Thomism, Duns Scotus, energies, essence, George Scholarios, God, Gregory Palamas, palamite distinction
13 Comments
The Essence/Energies Distinction and the Myth of Byzantine Illogic
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
Is the Palamite Distinction Ecumenical Dogma?
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 deification, dogma, ecumenical councils, essence and energies, God, Orthodoxy, palamite distinction, theosis
73 Comments
Staniloae and Zizioulas: The Incomprehensibility of Divine Personhood and the Mysticism of the Hoi Poloi
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
Oecumenical Grace: Eastern Orthodoxy on Theosis
“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 deification, divine energies, Eastern Orthodoxy, ecumenical, grace, palamas, palamite distinction, theosis
9 Comments
Was St Gregory of Nyssa a Proto-Palamite?
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
