Gregory Palamas
Athonite monk and later metropolitan of Thessalonica. His defence of hesychast prayer, and of the distinction between God’s essence and his uncreated energies, was upheld by councils at Constantinople in 1341 and 1351.
Palamas was a priest-monk when Barlaam of Calabria denounced him and the hesychast monks to the patriarch (Synodal Tome of 1341 §§3, 51). The monks of Mount Athos call him their brother and endorse his treatise in defence of those who practise stillness (Hagioretic Tome closing declaration (PG 150, cols 1235–1236)). In that work, the Triads, he argues that God’s essence cannot be shared but that his uncreated energies can, and that God is wholly present in them (Palamas, Triads 3.2.5 and following).
By 1351 he was metropolitan of Thessalonica. He spoke for himself at the council of that year, signed its tome, and was declared in it a defender of the church and of the faith (Synodal Tome of 1351 §§5–6, 51 and signatures). The encyclical of the Orthodox council held on Crete in 2016 names the councils held in his time among those of universal authority (Holy and Great Council, Encyclical I.3). 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 §§3, 51ubipetrusibiecclesia.com
The Synodal Tome of 1351
- Synodal Tome of 1351 §§5–6, 51 and signaturesubipetrusibiecclesia.com