Podcast appearances and mentions of Gregory Palamas

Learn about the definitive anthology of Eastern Orthodox mystical theology and its benefits for learning how to pray in a way that pursues union with God.Support us on Patreon for Member access to our special podcast series on the Gospel of John (season 1) and Exodus (season 2) when it releases in July 2025.Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications Purchase the complete Philokalia in EnglishWord & Table Episode Index

Upon reading the beginning of this homily, one clearly gets the sense that Saint Isaac the Syrian wants our understanding of the spiritual life, who we are as human beings, and a relationship with God (who has created us in His image and likeness), to be set on a foundation that is unshakable. One must love Isaac for the effort! He is giving us eyes to see.  He began by presenting us with an image of a soul who truly abides in her nature, and so comes to penetrate into and understand the wisdom of God. Knowing nothing of the impediment of the passions, the soul is lifted up toward God and is astonished and struck with wonder. This is Isaac's starting point for a reason. He wants us to regain what over the course of time has been lost; that is, our perception the beauty and wonder of how God has created us and our natural capacity for love and virtue. Furthermore, it is not just about perception but the experience of being God bearers and temples of the Holy Spirit. It is about our deification.  What has distorted or understanding is the emergence of the passions and how we have come to view them. Isaac tells us categorically that the soul by nature is passionless. We are created in God‘s image and likeness and it is only the emergence of sin that has darken that which was created to be filled with light. Thus, when a soul is moved in a passionate way, she is outside her nature. The passions have the ability to move the soul after the fall. There's a radical communion between body and soul and with sin our experience of the world through the senses and in our desires and appetites become distorted. The break of communion with God leads to an internal break within us as human beings; a fragmentation on the deepest level of our existence. What is the nature of a soul created for communion when it pursues autonomy from the one who created her in love? Is it not only the loss of unity with God but within ourselves and our capacity to experience and reflect our true dignity?  Saint Isaac makes us work in these paragraphs and grapple to understand what he's saying. Yet, it is a labor of love; for it is upon the foundation of this understanding of our nature that we will once again be able to see the wonder and beauty of how God has created us and experience the healing necessary to reflect this wondrous reality to the world. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:17:20 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 127, paragraph 1 00:31:07 Lindsey Funair: When I hear the memories of the soul grow old, it reminds me that the soul knows not ego or attachment, it remembers only what is worthy of taking to Paradise, only that that is in Love. That is all there is once the world and self-love and other things that are not Love, is filtered from our memory. 00:31:13 Anthony: It's important to say that Isaac was born into a time and geography of turmoil and he wasn't living in comfort locked away from the outside. 00:31:43 Maureen Cunningham: Washington Carfer 00:31:52 Maureen Cunningham: Carver 00:33:02 Troyce Garrett Quimpo: This sections reminds me of St John of the Cross's Purgative Way. 00:36:11 Anthony: George Washington Carver 00:36:20 Vanessa: famous Black inventer 00:40:08 Maureen Cunningham: Yes George Washington Carver thank you , a little book I read . A Man who talked to flowers. 00:40:34 Anthony: I think when Isaac refers to philosophers he might have in mind the humors that dominate a man or the astrologers who Forcast about a person. 00:42:08 Lindsey Funair: it helps me to think of passions in this sense of Maslow's entire hierarchy, those things which are necessary to life and living and connecting with others and doing good, but when focused on directly become a distraction from the humility and obedience which place us "in" our soul and in relative connection to God 00:42:08 Manuel: How this idea that the soul is passionless by nature fit in with the opening of the Philokalia “There is among the passions an anger of the intellect, and this anger is in accordance with nature. Without anger a man cannot attain purity”? 00:44:25 Vanessa: When I went to university, I always thought the academics disciplines were centered around "explaining the world without God." 00:44:51 Anthony: I wrote it 00:44:56 Kathy Locher: What in our nature would have made us susceptible to temptation. Especially, given that we were living in Eden in God's company? 00:45:31 Ryan N: Father what would your response be to those who emphasize the importance of the body because it is equally made in the image and likeness of God ( not just the soul) 00:46:35 Myles Davidson: Reacted to "What in our nature w..." with

A new law in Washington state requires priests to report abuse heard in confession—can civil law override the sacred seal? We explore Church teaching, legal precedent, and why this issue matters for Catholics everywhere, along with insights on forgiveness, tradition, and spiritual healing. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 13:16 – If God said all creation is good, were there predators and prey from the beginning? 16:44 – How do I get over being hurt from my local Catholic Church? Sorry i put up the wrong fader at first. 20:54 – How do I better explain why can't women be priests? 28:49 – I've been forgiven in confession for hurting others. My heart still yearns to be forgiven from them. Some are living and some are deceased. Is it ok to feel this way? 33:27 – I'm a new Catholic. What do you recommend I read more about traditions of the Church that I didn’t cover in OCIA? 43:44 – On Friday the governor of Washington signed a law that priests will be required to report child abuse revealed during confession. Isn't this already settled law? 51:34 – What is your best argument against the essence/energies distinction as proposed by Gregory Palamas?

Humans are created with an innate capacity to revel in God's glory, much like feeling the brief warmth of the sun after a long winter. This was intended to be our constant state, but we chose a different path. Yet, we still experience fleeting moments of transcendence—times of special warmth, belonging, and comfort that can arise in church, through music, gardening, or savoring well-earned rest after a hard day's work. These moments stir something deep within us, a spiritual sense that hints at the divine. But we must ask: who is the God we encounter in these moments? Feelings, even spiritual ones, can deceive us just as our other senses do. Taste, meant to sustain us, has been twisted by culture into cravings for unhealthy foods that harm rather than nourish. Likewise, the pleasure of sex, designed to unite married couples and create families, has been perverted into experiences like pornography and extramarital affairs that erode true intimacy. So too, our spiritual sense can be manipulated by pride or a deceptive culture, leading us to relish experiences that feel good but draw us away from the true God toward spiritual ruin. The Orthodox Church, especially through Great Lent, offers a remedy to refine this spiritual sense. Fasting and denying cravings, almsgiving from a simplified life, frequent repentance like St. Ephraim's prayer, and earnest worship prepare us for the transcendent celebration of Christ's Resurrection. St. Gregory Palamas affirmed we can encounter God's grace through these practices, but he warned of false experiences that mislead. The Church trains us to discern the true God—who loves and saves—from idols of our own making or the world's fleeting promises. One day, we will all meet Him; let us prepare now to know Him truly.    

This video is the first in a series of commentary videos on David Bentley Hart's ( @leavesinthewind7441 ) lecture series at Cambridge entitled "The Light of Tabor : Towards a Monistic Chrisology". I mention Rowan Williams, Nestorius, Arius of Alexandria, the Ascension of Isaiah, Origen of Alexandria, Thomas Aquinas, Gregory Palamas, Karl Barth, Aristotle, Fr John Behr, Herbert McCabe, Paul of Samosata, Robert Jensen, Justin Martyr, Thomas Aquinas, Maximus the Confessor and more. DBH's Lecture 1 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3irRxu7E4W4My ascension to heaven video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgB3MNK-VLM

A continuation of the recent series talking about Thomas Aquinas' theory of happiness. Also some NEWS about Soulsteading, and a tiny bit of St. Gregory Palamas.

In this stream I discuss the theology of St. Gregory Palamas as it relates to the Orthodox doctrine of theosis and read sections from the book The Deifcation of Man. 2nd half of the stream is found on my website for members. Make sure to check it out and let me know what you think. God bless Donochat Me: https://dono.chat/dono/dph Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8JwgaHCkhdfERVkGbLl2g/join If you would like to support my work please become a website member! There are 3 different types of memberships to choose from! https://davidpatrickharry.com/register/ Support COTEL with Crypto! Bitcoin: 3QNWpM2qLGfaZ2nUXNDRnwV21UUiaBKVsy Ethereum: 0x0b87E0494117C0adbC45F9F2c099489079d6F7Da Litecoin: MKATh5kwTdiZnPE5Ehr88Yg4KW99Zf7k8d If you enjoy this production, feel compelled, or appreciate my other videos, please support me through my website memberships (www.davidpatrickharry.com) or donate directly by PayPal or crypto! Any contribution would be greatly appreciated. Thank you Logos Subscription Membership: http://davidpatrickharry.com/register/ Venmo: @cotel - https://account.venmo.com/u/cotel PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/eternallogos Donations: http://www.davidpatrickharry.com/donate/ PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/eternallogos Website: http://www.davidpatrickharry.com Rokfin: https://rokfin.com/dpharry Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/COTEL Odysee: https://odysee.com/@ChurchoftheEterna... GAB: https://gab.com/dpharry Telegram: https://t.me/eternallogos Minds: https://www.minds.com/Dpharry Bitchute: https://www.bitchute.com/channel/W10R... DLive: https://dlive.tv/The_Eternal_Logos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dpharry/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/_dpharry

Stephanie welcomes Sam Parkison to takes us on a delightful journey to understand the deep-seated human desire to see God. Through the prism of his book, To Gaze Upon God, he uncovers the theological concepts underpinning this yearning, drawing insights from historical biblical theology. All creatures have an intrinsic desire to see and know God. This aligns with Augustine's famous proclamation that our hearts remain restless until they rest in God. Influenced by thinkers like Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, John Owen, Jonathan Edwards and C.S. Lewis, Parkison weaves Christian hedonism with the Westminster Shorter Catechism's guiding principle: to glorify and enjoy God. This longing is not an optional subplot of life but the ultimate narrative arc for all believers. The longing to delight in God's glory is rooted in Scriptural truth, biblical tradition, and ecclesiastical legacy. As we, contemporary Christians, grapple with modern challenges, we need to remember that our longing to see God will guide us towards spiritual growth and fulfillment in Christ. In Christ, our beatification transforms human potential into a participation in God's ultimate happiness, a transformative process vividly portrayed through Scripture and upheld by centuries of theological reflection. The doctrine of the beatific vision is the pinnacle experience of heaven—way beyond simply reuniting with loved ones, or enjoying a resurrected physical body. The beatific vision is the blessed sight of God. Parkison traces this understanding back to church fathers like Augustine and illustrates how this longing is fulfilled in direct communion with the divine. The conversation takes us into the historical nuance of the Reformation's principle of Sola Scriptura. Parkison clarifies that this doctrine does not reject all tradition; instead, it asserts Scripture as the sole infallible authority. The Bible acknowledges other authorities, like pastoral guidance and civil responsibilities (Romans 13). Stephanie and Sam examine how some modern Protestants inadvertently embrace Enlightenment thinking by disregarding the valuable insights of historical tradition, through a truncated adherence to Sola Scriptura. Humility is essential for theological exploration. It includes the importance of engaging with historical Christian thinkers across time to inform contemporary faith. This thematic humility acts as a safeguard against heresies, fostering an appreciation for ancient wisdom that can illuminate blind spots in our own era. Paul's admonition to emulate Christ's humility (Philippians 2:5-11) reinforces the call to learn from both Scripture, and seasoned theological voices. One particular discussion point is the mediating role of Christ in the Christian life. Drawing upon passages like Ephesians 1:3-11, Parkison underscores how, through union with Christ, believers partake in spiritual blessings that culminate in the beatific vision. This nuanced theology echoes the insights of thinkers like John Owen (and, probably, Thomas Aquinas), who explore the idea of Christians becoming closer to God through participation in Christ's humanity. The conversation touches upon C.S. Lewis's essay “On Reading Old Books,” which urges believers to draw from the wealth of historical Christian thought. Parkison stresses that overlooking the established theological wisdom of nearly two millennia will handicap personal spiritual growth. The historical perspective enriches our understanding of God's infinite nature, cultivating an endless delight in divine communion. Beyond cultural specificities, Parkison presents the argument that the desire to understand and encounter God transcends temporal and spatial boundaries. This universal longing is mirrored in stories from the biblical canon, from Adam and Eve's Edenic yearning to Moses's Sinai encounter. Biblical narrative consistently draws humanity toward a vision of divine glory. MORE ABOUT “TO GAZE UPON GOD” BY SAMUEL PARKISON Today, the doctrine of the beatific vision has been woefully forgotten within the church and its theology. Yet, throughout history Christians have always held that the blessed hope of heaven lies in seeing and being in the presence of God, of beholding the beatific vision. With lucidity and breadth, Parkison reintroduces the beatific vision and affirms its centrality for the life of the church today. Parkison argues for the beatific vision's biblical foundations and reminds us—through close readings of theologians such as Anselm of Canterbury, Thomas Aquinas, Dante, Gregory Palamas, John Calvin, and Jonathan Edwards—of the doctrine's historical and contemporary significance. The beatific vision is about seeing God, and as Christians have acknowledged across the tradition, seeing God is our ultimate end. Samuel G. Parkison (PhD Midwestern Seminary) is Associate Professor of Theological Studies at Gulf Theological Seminary in the United Arab Emirates. He is the author of several books, including Proclaiming the Triune God: The Doctrine of the Trinity in the Life of the Church (co-author), as well as Thinking Christianly: Bringing Sundry Thoughts Captive to Christ, and Irresistible Beauty: Beholding Triune Glory in the Face of Jesus Christ. We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with. Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog Identity in the battle | Ephesians https://www.podcastics.com/episode/74762/link/ Centering on Christ | The Tabernacle experience https://www.podcastics.com/episode/94182/link/ Shades of Red | Against human oppression https://www.podcastics.com/episode/115017/link/ God's glory, our delight  https://www.podcastics.com/episode/126051/link/   We have a high-quality, deeply inspiring, truly original Advent devotional for you! Stephanie created this original video series for YOUR ADVENT season! It will draw you closer to Christ, and deeper into the presence of God.  It is comprised of 12 videos leading up to Christmas, and a gorgeous devotional PDF to accompany it. You will not want to miss out! Go to gospelspice.com/advent to download your FREE one-day sample, and/or purchase the Gospel Spice Advent devotional at an amazing price. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

St. Gregory Palamas believed in beholding through prayer the uncreated energies of God. A young volunteer reveals to the community that this is not one quick event that pierces the soul. It is rather an encounter for the whole day.

St. Gregory Palamas believed in beholding through prayer the uncreated energies of God. A young volunteer reveals to the community that this is not one quick event that pierces the soul. It is rather an encounter for the whole day.

Unit 14: St. Gregory Palamas: An Introduction, Prof. Christopher VeniaminEpisode 6bis: Triumph of Ascetic Theology Over Philosophical Speculation (Better Sound Quality)Episode 6bis of “Gregory Palamas: An Introduction” is mainly an *enhanced sound quality* version of the original episode (with new title credits at the beginning, and an end card, plus an appeal for support tagged on at the end), which introduces the "Hesychast Controversy" of the 14th century in the declining decades of the Christian Roman Empire.The sixth episode presents the differing perspectives of Palamas' three theological opponents, Barlaam, Akindynus and Gregoras, who curiously shared a common intellectualistic approach to matters theological, which gradually, since Augustine of Hippo, became the fundamental approach of the West: philosophical speculation.Themes covered in this episode include why the essence-energies distinction is not ditheism; Palamas' disarming distinction between “Antilogia” and “Homologia”; St. Gregory held hostage by the Ottoman Turkss in 1354; and the outcome of Palamas' discussion with the Turkish Mullah.Q&As related to Episode 6 available in The Professor's Blog.Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016).The Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerAuthors, from debuts to bestsellers, chat about books, writing, publishing, and joy. Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the Show.Dr. Christopher VeniaminSupport The Mount Thabor Academyhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMYPrint Books by MOUNT THABOR PUBLISHING The Professor's BlogeBooks Amazon Google Apple KoboB&NMembership OptionsJoin our Bookclub, Bible Study, John Damascene's Christology or Greek Philosophy here:Patreon for Membership TiersClick on the Join button below our YouTube videos, and become a Friend or Reader of The Mount Thabor Academy! Click here: YouTube Membership Level...

Unit 14: St. Gregory Palamas: An Introduction, Prof. Christopher VeniaminEpisode 7bis: Conclusions (Better Sound Quality)Episode 7bis of “Gregory Palamas: An Introduction” is mainly an *enhanced sound quality* version of the original episode (with new title credits at the beginning, and an end card, plus an appeal for support tagged on at the end), which introduces the "Hesychast Controversy" of the 14th century in the declining decades of the Christian Roman Empire. What was Hesychasm really all about? And why is it still relevant to us today in the 21st century?The final episode in this unit is by way of conclusion, consisting of observations regarding the role and significance of St. Gregory Palamas in the life of the Orthodox Church, specifically, and in the history of Christian doctrine more generally.Dr. Veniamin's purpose is simply to remind us of the ascetic and pastoral context of Hesychast theology, which is the life of the people of God, going back to the patriarchs, prophets and saints of all generations - it is the life of that prayer and stillness which prepares us for the encounter with God.Q&As related to Episode 7 available in The Professor's Blog.Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016).The Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerAuthors, from debuts to bestsellers, chat about books, writing, publishing, and joy. Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the Show.Dr. Christopher VeniaminSupport The Mount Thabor Academyhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMYPrint Books by MOUNT THABOR PUBLISHING The Professor's BlogeBooks Amazon Google Apple KoboB&NMembership OptionsJoin our Bookclub, Bible Study, John Damascene's Christology or Greek Philosophy here:Patreon for Membership TiersClick on the Join button below our YouTube videos, and become a Friend or Reader of The Mount Thabor Academy! Click here: YouTube Membership Level...

Unit 14: St. Gregory Palamas: An Introduction, Prof. Christopher VeniaminEpisode 5bis: Epistemological Presuppositions (Better Sound Quality)Episode 5bis of “Gregory Palamas: An Introduction” is mainly an *enhanced sound quality* version of the original episode (with new title credits at the beginning, and an end card, plus an appeal for support tagged on at the end), which introduces the "Hesychast Controversy" of the 14th century in the declining decades of the Christian Roman Empire.In this fifth part, we discuss the philosophical background to the debate between St. Gregory Palamas and Nicephorus Gregoras, which took place at the 1351 Council of Constantinople.Themes covered in this episode include the influence of Greek philosophy (particularly that of Plato and Aristotle) on the anti-Hesychasts of the 14th century, the relevance of the debate between Nominalists and Realists in the western Middle Ages, and the experiential, non-philosophical and non-dialectical "essence-energies" distinction in the ascetic tradition of the Orthodox Church. See also the Timestamps below.Q&As related to Episode 5 available in The Professor's Blog.Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016).The Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerAuthors, from debuts to bestsellers, chat about books, writing, publishing, and joy. Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the Show.Dr. Christopher VeniaminSupport The Mount Thabor Academyhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMYPrint Books by MOUNT THABOR PUBLISHING The Professor's BlogeBooks Amazon Google Apple KoboB&NMembership OptionsJoin our Bookclub, Bible Study, John Damascene's Christology or Greek Philosophy here:Patreon for Membership TiersClick on the Join button below our YouTube videos, and become a Friend or Reader of The Mount Thabor Academy! Click here: YouTube Membership Level...

Unit 14: St. Gregory Palamas: An Introduction, Prof. Christopher VeniaminEpisode 4bis: Iconography & Knowledge of God through Prayer (Better Sound Quality)Episode 4bis of “Gregory Palamas: An Introduction” is mainly an enhanced sound quality version of the original episode (with new title credits at the beginning, and an end card, plus an appeal for support tagged on at the end), which introduces the "Hesychast Controversy" of the 14th century in the declining decades of the Christian Roman Empire. What was Hesychasm really all about? And why is it still relevant to us today in the 21st century?In this fourth part, we discuss the accusation of Iconoclasm leveled against the Hesychasts, and Prayer as the chief means by which knowledge of God is attained.The main themes covered in this presentation are included in the Timestamps below.Q&As related to Episode 4 available in The Professor's Blog.Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature (2022); and The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016).The Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerAuthors, from debuts to bestsellers, chat about books, writing, publishing, and joy. Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the Show.Dr. Christopher VeniaminSupport The Mount Thabor Academyhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMYPrint Books by MOUNT THABOR PUBLISHING The Professor's BlogeBooks Amazon Google Apple KoboB&NMembership OptionsJoin our Bookclub, Bible Study, John Damascene's Christology or Greek Philosophy here:Patreon for Membership TiersClick on the Join button below our YouTube videos, and become a Friend or Reader of The Mount Thabor Academy! Click here: YouTube Membership Level...

Unit 14: St. Gregory Palamas: An Introduction, Prof. Christopher VeniaminEpisode 2bis: The Emperor's 6 Questions (Better Sound Quality)Episode 2bis of “Gregory Palamas: An Introduction” is mainly an *enhanced sound quality* version of the original episode (with new title credits at the beginning, and an end card, plus an appeal for support tagged on at the end), which introduces the "Hesychast Controversy" of the 14th century in the declining decades of the Christian Roman Empire. What was Hesychasm really all about? And why is it still relevant to us today in the 21st century?In this second part, we discuss the six incisive questions posed by Emperor John VI Cantacuzenus himself during the 1351 Council of Constantinople, which signaled the formal end of the Hesychast debates, between St. Gregory Palamas and his three main theological opponents: Barlaam the Calabrian, Gregory Akindynos, and Nicephorus Gregoras (Gregory's third and most formidable theological opponent).The main themes covered in this presentation are included in the Timestamps below.Q&As related to Episode 1 available in The Professor's Blog.Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); and The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016).The Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerAuthors, from debuts to bestsellers, chat about books, writing, publishing, and joy. Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the Show.Dr. Christopher VeniaminSupport The Mount Thabor Academyhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMYPrint Books by MOUNT THABOR PUBLISHING The Professor's BlogeBooks Amazon Google Apple KoboB&NMembership OptionsJoin our Bookclub, Bible Study, John Damascene's Christology or Greek Philosophy here:Patreon for Membership TiersClick on the Join button below our YouTube videos, and become a Friend or Reader of The Mount Thabor Academy! Click here: YouTube Membership Level...

Unit 14: St. Gregory Palamas: An Introduction, Prof. Christopher VeniaminEpisode 3bis: The Jesus Prayer & Yoga (Better Sound Quality)Episode 3bis of “Gregory Palamas: An Introduction” is mainly an *enhanced sound quality* version of the original episode (with new title credits at the beginning, and an end card, plus an appeal for support tagged on at the end), which introduces the "Hesychast Controversy" of the 14th century in the declining decades of the Christian Roman Empire. What was Hesychasm really all about? And why is it still relevant to us today in the 21st century?In this third part, we discuss the accusation of Messalianism leveled against the Hesychasts, the practice of the Jesus Prayer, its relationship to Yoga, and the place of the body in prayer and worship.The main themes covered in this presentation are included in the Timestamps below.Q&As related to Episode 3 available in The Professor's Blog.Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); and The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016).The Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerAuthors, from debuts to bestsellers, chat about books, writing, publishing, and joy. Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the Show.Dr. Christopher VeniaminSupport The Mount Thabor Academyhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMYPrint Books by MOUNT THABOR PUBLISHING The Professor's BlogeBooks Amazon Google Apple KoboB&NMembership OptionsJoin our Bookclub, Bible Study, John Damascene's Christology or Greek Philosophy here:Patreon for Membership TiersClick on the Join button below our YouTube videos, and become a Friend or Reader of The Mount Thabor Academy! Click here: YouTube Membership Level...

Today Fr. Anthony wanted to share some ideas he's been playing with, resulting from his study of St. Gregory Palamas, theology (e.g. essence and energy), and relationships.  Enjoy the show!

Marriage as a Metaphor for Orthodoxy Homily of St. Gregory Palamas Today we celebrate the life and teachings of someone who really got it? St. Gregory Palamas; he experienced God's love for him in a real and tangible way, and he reflected that love back at God and on all those around him. That's what we are to do, as well. To open ourselves up to the deifying warmth and light of God; and then to send our thanksgiving and praise back up to Him and to use the energy of His grace to serve those around us. The Good News of the Gospel is that this is made possible and real through the life, death, and resurrection of the God-man Jesus Christ. Although this Gospel really is simple, it has been elaborated with so many words and celebrated, confirmed, and taught (if not gilded) with so many rituals and denied by so many lies that it is understandable if we sometimes end up misunderstanding, judging, and even venerating the cup rather than that which it holds. Perhaps a metaphor will help. I have met at least two sets of people who think they understand the joy and transformation that marriage can bring. One set thinks they know it because, while not married, they have their own version of it that seems to enjoy some of its benefits - most notably sex - without any institutional commitment.  The availability of internet porn means that this can even be done without the bother of having a partner.  No one can deny the reality of such experiences, but such experiences have precious little to do with the enduring joy of marriage.  Such people claim that they do not need to be married to experience the joy of sex - the physical part of "one-fleshedness"; but even when it comes to that (ie to sex), they have settled for something less satisfying than the real deal. And while intimacy is a powerful and even necessary part of marriage, it is hardly the primary source of the transformative joy that marriage brings. They think they understand things it well enough to do them their own way, but they don't, and their improper understanding leads them to accept something less than they should. Something that is actually counterproductive and harmful. A second set which is equally troubling think they understand marriage because they have submitted themselves to the institution of marriage. They have had their ceremony, they wear their rings, and they share a house. But when you start speaking to them about the joy that comes from sharing a life with another person, you learn that their experience is quite different. Shallow.  Weak.  Joyless.  They are living the rituals of marriage, but they are missing the very thing those institutions are meant to hold and protect. They think they get it, but they don't, and their improper understanding leads them to accept something less than they should. This is a great and wonderful mystery but, as with St. Paul, I speak not of marriage, but of the Church. (Ephesians 5:32) St. Gregory Palamas fought against both of these misunderstandings about God. On the one hand, there were people (like the Bogamils - basically medieval Pentecostals) who thought they could really experience God without the institution and sacraments of the Church. This is like having sex without marriage or even without a partner; it may be real in some sense, but it is not healthy nor is it real in the way that a committed sacramental relationship with God in Church is real.  These heretics thought they got it, but they didn't, and their improper understanding led them to accept something less than they should have.  Something that is actually counterproductive and harmful. On the other hand, there were those (like Barlaam and the Churchians) who thought that the rituals and sacraments of the Church were the only way to know God. They did not believe that it was possible to experience God.  They believed that the teaching that we are to enjoy union with God through Christ was just a metaphor for belief. And they believed that the noetic experience of God that monastic ascetics had when they opened themselves up to the Divine Nature of God was just a simple emotion and not a metaphysical or supernatural reality. They thought they got it, but they didn't, and their improper understanding led them to accept something less than they should have.  It was a joyless religion, lacking the possibility of deeper union with God. God is real and we were meant to become partakers of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). We are Orthodox Christians. We have not settled for something less than we should. We are not just going through the motions when we pray and participate in the rituals of the Church; we are opening ourselves up to God. We allow His grace to heal and transform us, and then we offer and share this transforming grace with the world.

Unit 14: St. Gregory Palamas: An Introduction, Prof. Christopher VeniaminEpisode 1bis: ProlegomenaEpisode 1bis of “Gregory Palamas: An Introduction” is mainly an enhanced sound quality version of the original episode (with a new title credit and end card, plus an appeal for support), which introduces the "Hesychast Controversy" of the 14th century in the declining decades of the Christian Roman Empire. What was Hesychasm really all about? And why is it still relevant to us today in the 21st century?In this first part, we outline the nature and significance of the debate between St. Gregory and his three main theological opponents: Barlaam the Calabrian, Gregory Akindynos, and Nicephorus Gregoras. Themes covered include the Vision of God; the Essence-Energies Distinction; God revealed as Light; the Tri-Hypostatic Character of the Light; and the Sanctification of the Human Body.We shall also touch upon such topics as the Stigmata and the Mystery of the Transfiguration; the Beatific Vision; Speaking in Tongues and the Humble Way of Christ; Latin Ecclesiology vs Direct Unmediated Experience of God; and the Glorification or Deification (theosis) of the entire human person, body and soul.Q&As related to Episode 1 available in The Professor's Blog.Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); and The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016).The Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerAuthors, from debuts to bestsellers, chat about books, writing, publishing, and joy. Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the Show.Dr. Christopher VeniaminSupport The Mount Thabor Academyhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMYPrint Books by MOUNT THABOR PUBLISHING The Professor's BlogeBooks Amazon Google Apple KoboB&NMembership OptionsJoin our Bookclub, Bible Study, John Damascene's Christology or Greek Philosophy here:Patreon for Membership TiersClick on the Join button below our YouTube videos, and become a Friend or Reader of The Mount Thabor Academy! Click here: YouTube Membership Level...

Series: Mystical Theology, Special EditionEpisode 3: “John Damascene: Christology”, Part 1Introducing the theology and spiritual life of the Orthodox Church, with particular reference to the Holy Bible and the witness of the Church Fathers, past and present.In “John Damascene: Christology”, Part 1, Episode 3 of our Special Editions, we begin our exploration of the Person of Jesus Christ, our Lord, God and Saviour, through Book III of the Damascene's Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith. Based on the translation in to English by S.D.F. Salmond, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Christian Fathers, Series II, vol. ix (New York & Oxford, 1899), pp. 45–73, we shall also consult the Greek text for deeper insights. Some of the themes covered in this podcast are listed in the Timestamps below.Q&As related to Special Edition Episode 3 available in The Professor's Blog: https://mountthabor.com/blogs/the-professors-blogRecommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); The Transfiguration of Christ in Greek Patristic Literature: From Irenaeus of Lyons to Gregory Palamas (2022); and Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church: According to the Spoken Teaching of Father John Romanides, Vol. 1 (2012), Vol. 2 (repr. ed. 2020).The Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerAuthors, from debuts to bestsellers, chat about books, writing, publishing, and joy. Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the Show.Dr. Christopher VeniaminSupport The Mount Thabor Academyhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMYPrint Books by MOUNT THABOR PUBLISHING The Professor's BlogeBooks Amazon Google Apple KoboB&NMembership OptionsJoin our Bookclub, Bible Study, John Damascene's Christology or Greek Philosophy here:Patreon for Membership TiersClick on the Join button below our YouTube videos, and become a Friend or Reader of The Mount Thabor Academy! Click here: YouTube Membership Level...

St. Gregory Palamas, in preparation for the feast of Theophany, calls his flock to remember the grace of their baptism and the high calling they have as children of God. He provides a summary of the practical aspects of how a person is baptized, giving spiritual commentary about this apostolic tradition. He then details the example and teachings of St. John the Baptist and his perennial, soul-profiting wisdom as recorded in the Holy Scriptures. This is a reading of Homily 59: "On What is Accomplished in Holy Baptism, and On Repentance, and What Saint John the Baptist Said About This Subject" -BUY the collection of St. Gregory's Homilies here: https://mountthabor.com/products/saint-gregory-palamas-the-homilies -BUY other books by St. Gregory, some of which can be found here: https://churchsupplies.jordanville.org/ -FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you: https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/ _______ St. Gregory taught: Repentance is the beginning, middle, and end of the Christian way of life, so it is both sought and required before Holy Baptism, in Holy Baptism, and after Holy Baptism. Holy Baptism is a symbol of death. After the holy anointing, he is immediately led to the sacred font, which has been thoroughly sanctified beforehand by various holy rites and ablutions. Once he has been brought, the bishop baptizes him by immersing him three times, invoking at each immersion one of the Three Persons whom we worship. Water is a means of cleansing, but not for souls. It can remove dirt from those being baptized, but not the grime that comes from sin. For that reason, the Healer of souls, the Father of spirits (Hebrews 12:9), Christ, Who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), enters the water before us to be baptized, as we celebrate today in advance. He draws the grace of the All-Holy Spirit from above to dwell in the water with Him, so that later when those being baptized as He entered the water, He is there, clothing them ineffably with His Spirit, attaching Himself to them, and filling them with the grace that purifies and illumines reasonable spirits. And this is what the divine Paul referring to: "as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27). While the three immersions in the water are also the saving invocation of the Life-Giving Trinity, they represent the Lord's three-day burial. Following this, the person being baptized comes out of the water the same number of times, because otherwise he could not have been submerged three times, but also because this signifies the resurrection from sin of the three parts of the soul, and the return of the mind, soul and body, all three together, to incorruption. Thus in divine baptism both death and life can be seen, the tomb together with the resurrection, just as the Lord, Who "in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth continuously unto God" (cf. Romans 6:10). As repentance is the beginning and end of the Christian way of life, the Lord's Forerunner and Baptist, who was himself the starting point of this approach to living, preached saying, "repent ye: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2). And the Lord Himself, the perfection of all goodness, said the same in His preaching (Matthew 4:17). Repentance means hating sin and loving virtue, turning away from evil and doing good (cf. Psalm 34:14; I Peter 3:11). As I speak these words to you, brethren, I feel no small pain in my soul, that we who were long ago vouchsafed Christian baptism have not yet accomplished those very things which John demanded of those approaching his own baptism. Yet the Lord's baptism, of which we were deemed worthy, is as far superior to the baptism given by John in those days, as the grace of the Holy Spirit is more excellent than water… ______ Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/orthodox-wisdom/message

AN ATHONITE GERONTIKON: Sayings of the Holy Fathers of Mount Athos. Written by: Archimandrite Ioannikios (Kotsonis). Publication of the Holy Monastery of St. Gregory Palamas, Kouphalia - Thessaloniki - Greece. 1997 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/athonite-audio/support

Series: Mystical TheologyUnit 14: Gregory PalamasEpisode 7: ConclusionsAre you ready to unravel the profound mysteries of Orthodox theology? We promise an enlightening journey as we immerse ourselves in the world of theosis and the revelation of God. Our exploration mentions briefly the significant contributions of Dionysius the Areopagite and the criticisms put forth by William of Ockham against Scholasticism's realist view. We tackle the notion that neither the analogia entis nor the analogia fidei apply to God, and that without illumination and theosis,  Holy Scripture remains cannot be interpreted correctly. We underline the fact that the Orthodox faith transcends concepts about God and is based on the vision of Christ in glory.The second phase of our discussion puts the spotlight on Christology and the intimate bond we can form with God through the incarnation. We examine St. Gregory Palamas' doctrine of the essence and energy of God, the role of the church, repentance, and the significance of the divine Eucharist in the Christian life. We further study the intersection of Orthodox theology with the ascetic life and how it manifests in our daily practices. Embark on this captivating exploration of theology with us and gain a deeper understanding of the beauty and mystery of the Christian faith.The seventh episode in this unit is by way of conclusion, consisting of observations regarding the role and significance of St. Gregory Palamas in the life of the Orthodox Church, specifically, and in the history of Christian doctrine more generally.Dr. Veniamin's purpose is simply to remind us of the ascetic and pastoral context of Hesychast theology, which is the life of the people of God, going back to the patriarchs, prophets and saints of all generations - it is the life of that prayer and stillness which prepares usThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerAuthors, from debuts to bestsellers, chat about books, writing, publishing, and joy. Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the Show.Dr. Christopher VeniaminSupport The Mount Thabor Academyhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMYPrint Books by MOUNT THABOR PUBLISHING The Professor's BlogeBooks Amazon Google Apple KoboB&NMembership OptionsJoin our Bookclub, Bible Study, John Damascene's Christology or Greek Philosophy here:Patreon for Membership TiersClick on the Join button below our YouTube videos, and become a Friend or Reader of The Mount Thabor Academy! Click here: YouTube Membership Level...

Series: Mystical TheologyUnit 14: Gregory PalamasEpisode 5: Epistemological PresuppositionsThe fifth episode in our series discusses the philosophical background to the debate between St. Gregory Palamas and Nicephorus Gregoras, which took place at the 1351 Council of Constantinople. Themes covered in this episode include the influence of Greek philosophy (particularly that of Plato and Aristotle) on the anti-Hesychasts of the 14th century, the relevance of the debate between Nominalists and Realists in the western Middle Ages, and the experiential, non-philosophical and non-dialectical "essence-energies" distinction in the ascetic tradition of the Orthodox Church.Q&As related to Episode 5 available in The Professor's Blog.Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022).TIMESTAMPS00:00 Background to the debates01:24 Question of “Universals”02:16 Real subsistence of Divine Energies03:35 Realism and Nominalism04:24 Realism10:07 Greek Philosophy: Plato14:34 Aristotle 16:14 No essence without energy17:00 Porphyry and Boethius17:48 Porphyry's 3 questions18:53 Boethius and “Universals”20:06 Three Schools in West: (1) Realist21:45 (2) Nominalist School 22:58 (3) Moderate-Realist School24:15 Nominalism of Gregoras27:36 Gregory of Nyssa 32:21 Cause and caused32:35 Philotheos Kokkinos33:28 “Theotes”35:36 The “twofoldness” of God36:22 Real knowledge of God37:36 “Energemata” - analogical assent38:59 Energies God HimselfIt is hoped that these presentations will help the enquThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerAuthors, from debuts to bestsellers, chat about books, writing, publishing, and joy. Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the Show.Dr. Christopher VeniaminSupport The Mount Thabor Academyhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support THE MOUNT THABOR ACADEMYPrint Books by MOUNT THABOR PUBLISHING The Professor's BlogeBooks Amazon Google Apple KoboB&NMembership OptionsJoin our Bookclub, Bible Study, John Damascene's Christology or Greek Philosophy here:Patreon for Membership TiersClick on the Join button below our YouTube videos, and become a Friend or Reader of The Mount Thabor Academy! Click here: YouTube Membership Level...

St. Gregory Palamas teaches us how we can reconcile to God when we have fallen into sin.

St. Gregory Palamas teaches us how we can reconcile to God when we have fallen into sin.

St. Gregory Palamas teaches us how we can reconcile to God when we have fallen into sin.

St. Gregory Palamas teaches us that the Ascension is a calling to be transformed, and that this transformation requires a living faith.

St. Gregory Palamas teaches us that the Ascension is a calling to be transformed, and that this transformation requires a living faith.

St. Gregory Palamas teaches us that the Ascension is a calling to be transformed, and that this transformation requires a living faith.

A reading of the homily titled, "On Watchfulness and Noetic Prayer" from Chapter 15 of "Counsels from the Holy Mountain" by Elder Ephraim of Arizona -Learn more about the ever-memorable Elder Ephraim: https://stanthonysmonastery.org/pages/elder-ephraim -Buy the book here: https://stanthonysmonastery.org/products/counsels-from-the-holy-mountain -Find an Orthodox parish and monastery near you: https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/ 0:09 The Watchful Fathers, especially St. Gregory Palamas, showed us the way2:41 We must attack evil thoughts with anger, the Jesus Prayer, and rebuttal 5:06 Before noetic prayer was systematized, monks primarily focus on asceticism done with the body 8:02 The work of watchfulness led the Watchful Fathers to freedom from care 9:40 The value of silence 10:26 If one has tasted prayer and then loses prayer, he feels empty 11:29 Those who pray with watchfulness acquire great gifts 13:32 Prayer is the catapult against the demons, passions, and sin 14:45 The ax of prayer 15:37 A story of how a demon spoke through a woman to show a negligent monk that the Jesus prayer burns the demons 17:40 Must listen! A story of a man who comes to Elder Joseph and suffers from the demons yet courageously persists in saying the Jesus prayer 24:10 The power of prayer and the demons' refusal to repent, yet we are lazy 25:34 Even laypeople occupy themselves with the prayer and bear fruit 27:54 Conclusion _______ Elder Ephraim teaches: A monk who lacks prayer feels empty, unless he has not tasted the benefit of prayer and does not realize his emptiness. If a poor man never had anything, he is not troubled. But if a monk who has been taught the prayer becomes neglectful and loses it, he knows his loss and is troubled. Therefore, monks must pray not only to carry out their duty as monks, but at the same time to be monks in deed; not just monks in name and outward appearance, but also inwardly. According to the Watchful Fathers, one is not called a monk if he does not have this hidden work within him. Therefore, we too must compel ourselves to pray for our soul to be full of benefit. Only then can we consider ourselves to be monks. Just as someone could wonder how a body could live without a soul, likewise a person experienced in prayer would be at a loss and say, "But how can people live without this spiritual nourishment!" Our passions of soul and body are remedied in proportion to the progress we have made in prayer and the benefit we have received from it. The healing of one's passions and weaknesses marks how much a person has advanced in prayer. Consequently, we must compel ourselves. We must constantly urge ourselves not to forget the prayer, not to neglect it. When we notice that the prayer has "sprung a leak," has weakened and begins to waver and stumble, it is necessary as quickly as possible to strive to correct it, to work with diligence, to restore strength to our prayer. How will this be accomplished? the soul must collect itself immediately, must concentrate, "tighten the belt,” as we say, and vigorously begin to pray. It must drive away thoughts, expel worries, free the mind from distraction and say, “I will occupy myself with the prayer now." And when we occupy ourselves with it in this way for a while, we shall soon feel the power which proceeds from diligence in prayer. In conclusion, there is nothing left for us to do except to compel ourselves; to compel ourselves constantly. We should occupy ourselves with prayer above all, saying continuously: "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me." As we wake up in the morning we should say the prayer; then, we should do our work with the name of Christ on our lips. _______ Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/orthodox-wisdom/message

Fr. Stephen DeYoung is an Eastern Orthodox Priest at Archangel Gabriel Orthodox Church in Lafayette, Louisiana. He is also the author of multiple books and the host of the "Lord of Spirits" podcast and the "Whole Counsel of God" podcast. We mention Troels Engberg-Pedersen, Cerinthus, Moby Dick, The Ascension of Isaiah, Beau Branson, Gregory of Nazianzus, Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory Palamas, Maximus the Confessor, Aristotle, Augustine of Hippo, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Michael Servetus, William Ellery Channing, and many more. Religion of the Apostles - https://www.amazon.com/Religion-Apostles-Orthodox-Christianity-Century-ebook/dp/B0947BRDGS?ref_=ast_author_mpb Our First Conversation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMVBmpN8c7c&t=8312s My Presentation at the UCA - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsKU9YRS8KI

St. Gregory Palamas, what do we know about the unknowable? What do we do with repentance and sobriety?

St. Gregory Palamas, what do we know about the unknowable? What do we do with repentance and sobriety?

St. Gregory Palamas, what do we know about the unknowable? What do we do with repentance and sobriety?

Hebrews (1:10-2:3) and Mark. (2:1-12).  The Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas.  Fr. Anthony offers a reflection on the need for quiet (and for holy friends).  Enjoy the show!

Take advantage of a 20% discount, March 10-12, on all books. Type in discount code LENT20 when checking out at http://uncutmountainpress.com St. Gregory Palamas wrote two treatises on the procession of the Holy Spirit presenting the Orthodox dogmatic teaching and refutes the Latin heresies, especially that of the “filioque.” Not only do these texts show forth the glory of true theology, of which St. Gregory acquired by God's revelation to his heart, but they destroy any notion that St. Gregory thought of those in Roman Catholicism as “separated brethren” or still in any way part of the true Church of Christ. Furthermore, he explicitly states that not only do the Orthodox and Roman Catholics use different terminology, they indeed also have different theology. Let the listener be inspired by this brief excerpt from St. Gregory's Apodicitic Treatises on the Procession of the Holy Spirit, now available for the first time in English from Uncut Mountain Press. This recording was originally posted on the @OrthodoxEthos channel: https://youtube.com/watch?v=nHPzoOwi2x4&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE St. Gregory writes: Once again the subtle serpent and source of vice rears his own head against us, whispering things opposite to the truth. Or rather, since he has been crushed in his head by the Cross of Christ, he makes those who obey his destructive counsels in every generation each take the place of his own head, and similar to a hydra he has sprouted many heads instead of the one, relentlessly speaking utter unrighteousness through them. Thus he attached to his coiled body the Arians, thus the Apollinarians, thus the Eunomians and Macedonians, thus the host of many others who ran to him, spewing his venom through their speech against the sacred Church. In lieu of fangs, he has used their words and sunk them into the source of piety, as into the root of a plant that had youthfully grown virtue, burdened with the best of fruit; yet he was not able to utterly lay waste to it. For, his fangs were in turn shattered by those who had been bitten by him, meaning, by those who have truly made Christ their own Head. Accordingly, this serpent, which is noetic and, because of this, all the more accursed, the first, middle, and final evil, the wicked one, always feeding off of serpentine and earthly wickedness, the vigilant stalker, tirelessly looking out for the heel, that is to say, deception, the sophist, most resourceful and incomparably ingenious in every opinion obnoxious to God, not having at all forgotten his own evil art, introduces, through the Latins which were obedient to him, innovative expressions concerning God. While these innovations seem to make but a small change, they actually create the occasion for many evils and bring in many things that are subtle, foreign to piety, and logically absurd. In doing this he clearly displayed to all that even the smallest thing is not small in matters concerning God. For if, with each of our arguments, when one fallacious thing has initially been premised many absurdities ensue, how can it not be that, when one uncustomary premise has been made in relation to the common principle of all and to the indemonstrable first principles, from this more absurdities will not irreverently ensue? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/orthodox-wisdom/message

St. Gregory Palamas teaches that “[God] is not revealed in his essence (ousia), for no one has ever seen or described God's nature; but he is revealed in the grace (charis), power (dynamis) and energy (energeia) which is common to Father, Son and Spirit … Distinctive to each of the three is the person (hypostasis) of each… Shared in common by all three are not only the transcendent essence - what is altogether nameless unmanifested since it is beyond all names, manifestation and participation - but also the divine grace, power, energy, radiance, kingdom and incorruption, whereby God enters through grace into communion and union with the holy angels and the saints. “ In the book, The Orthodox Way, we learn that God “is outside all things according to his essence', writes St Athanasius, ‘but he is in all things through his acts of power.' ‘We know the essence through the energy', St Basil affirms. ‘No one has ever seen the essence of God, but we believe in the essence because we experience the energy.'” St. Maximus the Confessor put it this way: "God - who is truly none of the things that exist, and who, properly speaking, is all things, and at the same time beyond them - is present in the logos of each thing in itself, and in all the logoi together, according to which all things exist …” Orthodox Christian Andrew Williams beautifully distills St. Maximos' teaching. He says: “Without God, nothing is just nothing. And yet with God, out of nothing comes everything. He creates ex nihilo. In a sense, we can say that he imagines everything into being… Just like the icon painter, he puts the veils over nothing, and we come into being… individual, real persons in the image of God, each of us a veil over the face of God; each of us an icon of ultimate Reality. For Orthodox Christians, man as an icon of God may seem obvious at first glance, but let us consider this carefully. So what does it mean to be fashioned as an icon of God? In Colossians 1:15 St. Paul tells us that Christ is the “icon” of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. St. Gregory the Theologian says of this verse, “He is called “image” because he is of one substance with the Father; he stems from the Father and not the Father from him, it being the nature of an image to copy the original and to be named after it. But there is more to it than this. The ordinary image is a motionless copy of a moving being. Here we have a living image of a living being, indistinguishable from its original.” This ability to apprehend the knowledge of God and to participate in His divine energies is that likeness of being, which renders us icons. Our souls, enlivened by the breath of God, have the capacity to receive the sacraments of the Church, by which God imparts to us His grace and His very life to those who have been given “the right to become sons of God.”' But to what end? St John of Damascus says that “although man, by reason of the infirmity of his body, is capable of repentance, the angel, because of his incorporeality, is not.” Both Angels and man possess reason, intelligence, knowledge and agency. But only man is subject to mortality, which allows for his repentance. Man was expelled from the garden before eating of the tree of life, so that he would not attain immortality and solidify his corruption. For Christ taught that resurrected men are immortal and equal to the angels. Luke 20:36 It is the capacity to repent, to return to God and be healed of the wounds of sin that God preserved in mankind so that, according to St. Paul, his body could be sown in corruption and raised in incoruption by receiving the energies of God. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepodvigpod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepodvigpod/support

Fr. Daniel Sysoev (+2009) was a priest, husband, confessor, and martyr. Listen to a brief reading of his life here: https://youtu.be/ufXoK_C1eyU From "Catechetical Talks", p. 328-336. Buy here: https://mission-shop.com/product/catechetical-talks/ 0:09 Baptizing by sprinkling and not immersion, without need, is "one of the most painful and gross violations in performing the sacrament" 2:08 The scriptural basis for baptism by triple immersion (Mark 1:10, Matt 28:19, etc) 3:40 The canonical basis for baptism by triple immersion (Canon 50 of the Holy Apostles, etc) 4:41 Baptism by effusion is only blessed in exceptional circumstances and must not become the standard. This is clearly asserted by Moscow 1620 and Constantinople 1755 5:26 The 1848 Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs, the Russian works against Catholicism, and the Kollyvades Fathers say sprinkling is “vile,” un-Orthodox, and means Lutherans and Catholics who were sprinkled cannot be considered baptized 6:11 St. Gregory Palamas quoted at length to show that emphasis on form is “by no means meaningless ritualism” 7:29 St. Gregory Palamas on the three-fold immersion showing forth the three day burial and resurrection of the Lord 9:32 St. Cyril of Jerusalem explains the symbolism and reality of baptism 11:44 Symbolism is reality 12:07 Sprinkling (effusion) is only blessed when immersion is not possible 13:57 How to properly baptize, step-by-step 15:28 The whole Body of Christ, not only the bishops but the laity as well, must ensure that innovations and errors are "uprooted from the churches of God" Fr. Daniel says: One of the most painful and gross violations in performing the sacrament of baptism is baptizing by effusion (pouring), or even by sprinkling, for no apparent reason. Due to this distortion many hundreds of Christians are confused as to whether their spiritual birth was indeed valid. Many commune unto judgment and condemnation because of this. Dozens of schisms profit by this distortion, claiming that many Christians, even bishops, are not actually baptized. The priests' criminal laziness and indifference give rise to conflicts between local churches. But the "effusionists" brazenly claim that it makes no difference how they baptize, that this is mere "ritualism", and has absolutely nothing to do with the essence of the sacrament. They care nothing for the opinion and the words of God, the tradition of the Church, and the dictates of their own hierarchs. Baptism by triple immersion is expressly required by the Word of God. Canon 50 of the Holy Apostles: "If anyone, bishop or presbyter, does not perform three immersions in a single sacramental rite, but performs only one immersion, into the death of the Lord, let him be deposed. For the Lord said not: Baptize into My death; but: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." St. Cyril of Jerusalem writes, “Christ was truly crucified, truly buried, and truly resurrected; and all this He gave us by grace, that in becoming participants in His sufferings by imitation we might find salvation in reality.” And so it turns out that one who distorts the apostolic form of the sacrament disrupts the symbol of rebirth. But for us this symbol is by no means meaningless. It is participation in the reality of the Lord's death and Resurrection! How then can one believe the form of baptism to be irrelevant to salvation? Hence, if any pastor departs from similar divinely-instituted standards of baptism by immersion, the flock must humbly point out his error, and if he persists they must take the matter to the ruling bishop, that this lawlessness may be utterly uprooted in the holy churches of God. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/orthodox-wisdom/message

This foundational text comes from “A Handbook of Spiritual Counsel” by St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite. This particular chapter is a summary of the principles and practices found in the Philokalia. According to Fr. Maximos Constas, this should be read before beginning the Philokalia. St. Nikodemos, the great man of prayer and illumined teacher of Athos, guides the faithful in the method of spiritual healing and noetic progress. Especially key in seeking to apply the teaching of St. Nikodemos is to be under the guidance of a true spiritual father. He can help you take the next steps based on who you are and your current stage of spiritual progress. If you do not have a spiritual father, ask God for the grace to find the one meant for you. This is the first recording of the newest contributer to Orthodox Wisdom: Timothy D. He cam into the Church in 2018 and lives in Alabama. Please pray for Timothy and give thanks to God for another co-laborer with Orthodox Wisdom! A word about the nous: The English word that best conveys the meaning of the Greek word "νοῦς" is the word "mind." The Fathers use this term with several other meanings, too. They mainly refer to the nous as the soul (the "spiritual nature" of a man—St. Isaac the Syrian) and the heart (or "the essence of the soul"—vid. Philokalia, Vol. I, p. 109, 73). More specifically, it constitutes the innermost aspect of the heart (St. Diadochos §§79, 88). However, they also refer to it as the "eye of the soul" (St. John of Damascus, The Orthodox Faith, FC Vol. 37, p. 236) or "the organ of theoria" (Makarian Homilies) which "is engaged in pure prayer" (St. Isaac the Syrian). They call the energy of the nous "a power of the soul" (St. Gregory Palamas, On the Holy Spirit, 2, 9) "consisting of thoughts and conceptual images" (St. Gregory Palamas, On the Hesychasts, p. 410, 3). However, the nous is more commonly known as the energy of the soul, whereas the heart is known as the essence of the soul. (From the glossary of “Counsels from the Holy Mountain” by Elder Ephraim of Philotheou and Arizona) From “On Guarding the Mind of the Heart”: "In guarding the heart and keeping it pure, one can also keep all the divine commandments of Christ. For in truth this is how it is. The guarding of the mind and the heart and the spiritual prayer of the heart that is thus made possible has as its subject matter the commandment to love God. But by virtue of the power of this one commandment all of the other commandments are also included and fulfilled. This is why the Lord said: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15)." “The memory of God is a pain to the heart [that is done] for the sake of piety; everyone who forgets God experiences sweetness by remains unhealed.” -St. Mark the Ascetic Download “A Handbook of Spiritual Counsel” here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_zym... Orthodox Wisdom is now on your favorite podcast platform! Go to the “About” tab at the top of the this channel to find links to: -Apple Podcasts -Spotify -Stitcher -and more… This channel is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/orthodox-wisdom/message

Being part of the Kingdom requires repentance; today the hosts talk about some of the ways of thinking (even about Orthodoxy!) that have to change in order for us to better fulfill our calling as the Royal Priesthood. For example, we often think of ourselves as what we are not rather than what we are (i.e. we are “not them.”). That, however, is quite different from what God thinks of us and our calling. We are to be priests of “them,” other Christians and non-Christians, animals and the entire world, as the most basic level of human brotherhood mentioned by St. Gregory Palamas in his first homily. Enjoy the show!

Being part of the Kingdom requires repentance; today the hosts talk about some of the ways of thinking (even about Orthodoxy!) that have to change in order for us to better fulfill our calling as the Royal Priesthood. For example, we often think of ourselves as what we are not rather than what we are (i.e. we are “not them.”). That, however, is quite different from what God thinks of us and our calling. We are to be priests of “them,” other Christians and non-Christians, animals and the entire world, as the most basic level of human brotherhood mentioned by St. Gregory Palamas in his first homily. Enjoy the show!

The Arena Podcast is the flagship of Patristic Nectar Publications and contains the Sunday Sermons and other theological reflections by Father Josiah Trenham delivered from the ambon of St. Andrew Church in Riverside, California and begun in 2010. Currently there are more than 550 sermons and lectures covering ten years worth of preaching through the liturgical calendar. Please subscribe and rate the podcast! If you are interested in other available titles, or if you would like more information on Patristic Nectar Publications, please visit our website at PatristicNectar.org | Links | The Divine Identity of Christ | Social Media | Patristic Nectar Films Youtube Channel Patristic Nectar Instagram Patristic Nectar Facebook Page | Support Our Ministry | 1) Spread the Word - tell your family and friends about Patristic Nectar. Share Patristic Nectar website links to content you have enjoyed. A personal invitation is the number one way the Church grows. Tell a friend to "Come and see!" 2) Make a Donation -Patristic Nectar is a small non-profit ministry with a big vision for expanding access to Patristic Orthodox teaching throughout the world. Since our establishment in 2010, we have made steady progress but there is so much more we could do. With funding, we can work to make our ministry vision a reality. Make a Donation Here 3) Pray For Us - remember us in your prayers, asking that the Lord strengthen, help, and direct us according to His divine will.

The Arena Podcast is the flagship of Patristic Nectar Publications and contains the Sunday Sermons and other theological reflections by Father Josiah Trenham delivered from the ambon of St. Andrew Church in Riverside, California and begun in 2010. Currently there are more than 550 sermons and lectures covering ten years worth of preaching through the liturgical calendar. Please subscribe and rate the podcast! If you are interested in other available titles, or if you would like more information on Patristic Nectar Publications, please visit our website at PatristicNectar.org | Links | The Divine Identity of Christ | Social Media | Patristic Nectar Films Youtube Channel Patristic Nectar Instagram Patristic Nectar Facebook Page | Support Our Ministry | 1) Spread the Word - tell your family and friends about Patristic Nectar. Share Patristic Nectar website links to content you have enjoyed. A personal invitation is the number one way the Church grows. Tell a friend to "Come and see!" 2) Make a Donation -Patristic Nectar is a small non-profit ministry with a big vision for expanding access to Patristic Orthodox teaching throughout the world. Since our establishment in 2010, we have made steady progress but there is so much more we could do. With funding, we can work to make our ministry vision a reality. Make a Donation Here 3) Pray For Us - remember us in your prayers, asking that the Lord strengthen, help, and direct us according to His divine will.

In this meditation on the witness of St. Gregory Palamas, Fr. Anthony encourages us to allow the peace of the Liturgy - rather than the chaos of the world - to define us and our relationships with others.  Enjoy the show!

On the second Sunday of Lent, we commemorate St. Gregory Palamas. In this episode, we will learn about his life and his devotion to prayer. What is “the Prayer of the Heart”? Who was Barlaam, and how does his interaction with St. Gregory Palamas make this Sunday sometimes considered “the Sunday of Orthodoxy, part two"? Find the Tending the Garden of Our Hearts: Daily Lenten Meditations for Families book, ebook, and audiobook at store.ancientfaith.com/tending-the-garden-of-our-hearts-daily-lenten-meditations-for-families. The downloadable activity book is available at etsy.com/listing/970766999/tending-the-garden-of-our-hearts-daily.

On the second Sunday of Lent, we commemorate St. Gregory Palamas. In this episode, we will learn about his life and his devotion to prayer. What is “the Prayer of the Heart”? Who was Barlaam, and how does his interaction with St. Gregory Palamas make this Sunday sometimes considered “the Sunday of Orthodoxy, part two"? Find the Tending the Garden of Our Hearts: Daily Lenten Meditations for Families book, ebook, and audiobook at store.ancientfaith.com/tending-the-garden-of-our-hearts-daily-lenten-meditations-for-families. The downloadable activity book is available at etsy.com/listing/970766999/tending-the-garden-of-our-hearts-daily.

On the second Sunday of Lent, we commemorate St. Gregory Palamas. In this episode, we will learn about his life and his devotion to prayer. What is “the Prayer of the Heart”? Who was Barlaam, and how does his interaction with St. Gregory Palamas make this Sunday sometimes considered “the Sunday of Orthodoxy, part two"? Find the Tending the Garden of Our Hearts: Daily Lenten Meditations for Families book, ebook, and audiobook at store.ancientfaith.com/tending-the-garden-of-our-hearts-daily-lenten-meditations-for-families. The downloadable activity book is available at etsy.com/listing/970766999/tending-the-garden-of-our-hearts-daily.

Article on Palamas (“Prochoros Kydones against Gregory Palamas”) by Fr. Kaapes: https://www.academia.edu/35761408/Temporarily_Unavailable Thomas de Aquino Byzantinus https://thab.upatras.gr/ Reference mentioned in talk from Synod of Zamosc: 1720 Synod of Zamosc – Mansi, vol. 6, 364, col. B, E: Georgium Palamam non solum uti sanctum coli, aut festo die celebrari, verum etiam eum in nostra ecclesia nominari […]

https://www.patreon.com/kabane Key theological note: While the previous videos in the series were largely based directly on the writings of St. Dionysius the Areopagite and St. Gregory Palamas and the work of reliable secondary sources, this video is an attempt at a synthetic account of the apophatic as it pertains to the nature of symbolism. As such, while I would not post it if I believed it to be unfaithful to the tradition or to scripture- and believe it to be an accurate statement of the Church's faith- I would like to include this note as an asterisk. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/kabane/support