The theological framework known as Palamism emerged from the defense of hesychast spirituality, specifically the distinction between the unknowable divine essence and the observable energies of God. This doctrine was established by Gregory Palamas, a Byzantine cleric who spent decades navigating the intellectual disputes of the late Byzantine period, eventually securing the victory of his views at the 1351 synod.
Early Education and Monastic Vocation
Born in Constantinople in 1296, Palamas was the son of a courtier, Constantine, serving under Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos. Despite the Emperor's expectations for a career in government service, Palamas pursued academic training at the University of Constantinople. There, he studied Aristotle before entering the monastic life on Mount Athos at age 21. His move to the Vatopedi monastery began an ascetic existence that eventually led him to the Great Lavra of St. Athanasius the Athonite. He later sought greater isolation in a skete at Glossia, focusing on the practice of mental prayer, commonly identified as hesychasm.
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The dispute with Barlaam began around 1336 after Palamas reviewed treatises written against the Latin Church. While Palamas agreed with the rejection of the Filioque, he contested Barlaam’s assertion that the nature of God was fundamentally undemonstrable. Barlaam, trained in Western Scholasticism, attacked the hesychast practice of mental prayer. In response, Palamas authored the nine treatises known as the Triads. These works argued for the uncreated nature of the light experienced during the Transfiguration. The conflict escalated through a series of synods until the theological position of Palamas was formally affirmed.
Ecclesiastical Career and Legacy
During his later years, Palamas served as an archbishop in Thessaloniki, where he eventually died in 1359. His theological battles included a conflict with the monk Gregory Akindynos from 1341 to 1347 and later with the philosopher Gregoras between 1348 and 1355. The Hagioritic Tome, composed in 1341 under his inspiration, serves as a primary source for his teachings. In 1368, the Eastern Orthodox Church canonized him as a saint. His influence persists through his inclusion in the Philokalia and the liturgical observance of his memory on the second Sunday of Great Lent.
Fast facts
- Born: 1296, Constantinople
- Died: 1359, Thessaloniki
- Citizenship: Byzantine Empire
- Primary Occupations: Theologian, philosopher, metropolitan
- Major Work: Triads For The Defense of Those Who Practice Sacred Quietude
- Canonized: 1368
- Key Philosophical Doctrine: Distinction between God's essence and energies
Questions readers ask
What is hesychasm?
It is a form of ancient mental prayer, sometimes referred to as the prayer of the heart, which Palamas defended against critics.
Why was the family of Gregory Palamas significant?
His mother Kalloni and siblings Theodosios, Makarios, Epicharis, and Theodoti all entered monastic life and were collectively canonized in 2009.
How did the Emperor influence his early life?
Andronikos II Palaiologos took part in the education of the young Palamas after his father died, intending for him to enter government service.
