Barlaam of Calabria
A monk from Calabria, learned in philosophy, who attacked the prayer and the claims of the hesychast monks. The council of Constantinople in 1341 found against him, and that of 1351 placed him under anathema.
The tome of 1341 says that Barlaam came from Calabria and trusted in his knowledge of secular philosophy, that he sought out hesychast monks as if to learn from them, then accused them in writing of claiming to share in God’s essence, attacked their prayer and breathing exercises, and denounced Gregory Palamas by name to the patriarch. The council found his charges blasphemous and ordered him to repent or be excommunicated (Synodal Tome of 1341 §§2–5, 47, 51).
In the sources cited here his teaching is reported only by his opponents. Palamas quotes him as holding that only the divine essence is uncreated and that everything else is of a created nature (Palamas, Triads 3.2.5 and following). The council of 1351 says that he did not repent in his lifetime and anathematises him with Akindynos (Synodal Tome of 1351 §§2, 51). See Gregory Palamas and the Hesychast Councils.
In the timeline
- 1341 to 1351, firm dateGregory Palamas and the Hesychast Councils
Councils at Constantinople in 1341 and 1351 uphold the monk Gregory Palamas against Barlaam. God’s essence is beyond reach, they teach, but his uncreated energies, seen as the light of Tabor, are shared by the saints. The Orthodox Church holds this teaching as its own.
Primary sources
The Synodal Tome of 1341
- Synodal Tome of 1341 §§2–5, 47, 51ubipetrusibiecclesia.com
The Synodal Tome of 1351
- Synodal Tome of 1351 §§2, 51ubipetrusibiecclesia.com