Podcasts about st gregory palamas

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024

The teaching of St Gregory is so fundamental to Orthodoxy that he is especially commemorated each year in Great Lent on the Sunday following the Sunday of Orthodoxy (as well as on Nov. 14); Bishop Kallistos observes in the English edition of the Philokalia, "his successful defence of the divine and uncreated character of the light of Tabor...[is] seen as a direct continuation of the preceding celebration, as nothing less than a renewed Triumph of Orthodoxy." The son of a prominent family, St Gregory was born (1296) and raised in Constantinople. At about age twenty, he abandoned a promising secular career to become a monk on Mt Athos. (His family joined him en masse: two of his brothers went with him to the Holy Mountain; at the same time his widowed mother, two of his sisters, and many of the household servants also entered monastic life.) He spent the next twenty years living as a hermit, spending five days a week in complete solitude, then joining the brethren on weekends for the Divine Liturgy and its accompanying services. Around 1335 he was called to live a much more public life in defense of the faith and spirituality of the Church. A Greek living in Italy, Barlaam the Calabrian, had launched an attack on the hesychastic spirituality of the Church. Fundamentally, Barlaam denied that man can attain to a true vision of God Himself, or true union with Him, in this life. Gregory, recognizing in this an attack on the Christian faith itself, responded. He even left the Holy Mountain and re-settled in Constantinople so as better to wage the struggle, which had become so public that a Church Council was called to settle the issue. St Gregory's views were affirmed, and Barlaam's condemned, at the Council of Constantinople of 1341. Though Barlaam himself returned to Italy, a series of his followers continued the attack, eventually resulting in two more Councils in 1347 and 1351, both of which affirmed the hesychasts' position. Metropolitan Hierotheos (The Mind of the Orthodox Church) writes that these councils have "all the marks of an Ecumenical Council." This, along with the fact that St Gregory's views are affirmed in the Synodikon of Orthodoxy (appointed to be read in churches every Sunday of Orthodoxy), and his commemoration every second Sunday of Great Lent, makes clear that his teaching is a basic and indispensable part of the Orthodox Faith. In 1347 St Gregory was consecrated Metropolitan of Thessaloniki, where he served until his repose. (He spent a year of this period as the prisoner of Turkish pirates). Despite (or due to?) his austere monastic background, he was revered by his flock: immediately after his repose in 1359, popular veneration of him sprang up in Thessaloniki, Constantinople and Mt Athos and, in 1368, only nine years after his death, the Church officially glorified him as a saint. St Gregory was always clear that unceasing mental prayer is not a special calling of monastics, but is possible and desirable for every Christian in every walk of life. See his On the Necessity of Constant Prayer for all Christians, reproduced on this site.

Our Holy Father Philotheos Kokkinos,Patriarch of Constantinople

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2024

He was born in Thessalonika around 1300; his mother was a convert from Judaism. He entered monastic life, first at Mt Sinai, then at the Great Lavra on Mt Athos. The so-called "Hesychast controversy" was then raging, and St Philotheos became one of the firmest and most effective supporters of St Gregory Palamas (November 14) in his defense of Orthodoxy against western-inspired attacks on the doctrines of uncreated Grace and the possibility of true union with God. It was St Philotheos who drafted the Hagiorite Tome, the manifesto of the monks of Mt Athos setting forth how the Saints partake of the Divine and uncreated Light which the Apostles beheld at Christ's Transfiguration. In 1351, he took part in the "Hesychast Council" in Constantinople, and wrote its Acts. In 1354 he was made Patriarch of Constantinople; he stepped down after one year, but was recalled to the Patriarchal throne in 1364. He continued to be a zealous champion of undiluted Orthodoxy, writing treatises setting forth the theology of the Uncreated Energies of God and refuting the scholastic philosophy that was then infecting the Western church. Despite (or because of?) his uncompromising Orthodoxy, he always sought a true, rather than political, reconciliation with the West, and even worked to convene an Ecumenical Council to resolve the differences between the churches. This holy Patriarch was deposed in 1376 when the Emperor Andronicus IV came to the throne; he died in exile in 1379. St Philotheos composed the Church's services to St Gregory Palamas. He is not listed in the Synaxaria, but is venerated as a Saint in the Greek church.

(Excerpt) THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IN THE WORLD (Part 2 - Talks & Discussions in Russia, Romania & Georgia) - Metr. Hierotheos

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2024 450:14

Theology as Charisma and Experience, continued a) St John the Theologian and Evangelist b) St Gregory the Theologian c) St Symeon the New Theologian d) St Gregory Palamas Discussion after the Talk Q1 Progress in Prayer Q2 The Worldwide Influence of Russian Theologians Q3 Curing Human Beings Q4 Noetic Prayer and Evagrius of Pontus Q5 The Method of Hypnotism and Orthodox Psychotherapy Q6 Obedience to the Spiritual Father Q7 Monasticism and Marriage in Relation to Deification Q8 Holy Communion and Confession Q9 Holy Communion and Holy Relics Q10 The Possibility of Baptism in the Mother's Womb Q11 Birth Control Q12 The Relationship between the Divine Liturgy and the Jesus Prayer Q13 Theology and Philosophy Q14 Discerning between Thoughts Q15 Sorrow and Depression Part 3 - Romania 1. The Hesychastic Life according to St Basil the Great 1. Correspondence with St Gregory the Theologian 2. Sacred Hesychia and God's Temple a) Wandering b) Leaving the World c) Life in the Wilderness d) Prayer and Reading e) Hesychia f ) Nous and Theoria g) Temple of the All-Holy Spirit h) Transformation of the Whole of Life 3. Hesychast and Celebrant Epilogue Discussion after the Talk Q1 The Link between Hesychastic Experience and the Divine Eucharist Q2 Theoria of the Divine Light Statement on the Television Station of the Patriarchate of Romania The International Conference on St Basil the Great 2. Bringing Up Children Today 1. Children are God's Gift 2. Bringing up Children in the Church 3. Children as Equal Members of the Church 4. Difficulties connected with the Development and Upbringing of Children Today Discussion after the Talk Q1 The Hour of Death Q2 Sickness of the Nous Q3 Noetic Prayer Q4 Holy Communion and Confession Q5 Homeopathy Q6 Children in the Church Q7 Choosing Someone to Care for Children Q8 Dialogues between the Orthodox and non-Orthodox Q9 Children Facing Death Q10 Children and Church Attendance Q11 Religious Education in School Q12 Demonic Attacks on Children Q13 Psychological Disturbance Q14 Unloved Children 3. Interview - The Theology of St Gregory Palamas and the Scholasticism of Barlaam Q1 The Historical Context of the Life of St Gregory Palamas Q2 Influence of the Holy Mountain on his Life Q3 Effect of his Conflict with Barlaam Q4 Popular Interest in Theological Issues Q5 Summary of St Gregory Palamas's Teaching Q6 Knowledge of God Q7 Patristic Teaching as the Basis of St Gregory Palamas's Teaching Q8 Consequences of the Church's Victory through St Gregory Palamas Q9 The Message of St Gregory Palamas for our Era 4. Interview - Therapy and Truth Part 4 - Georgia 1. About Orthodox Psychotherapy 1. Why the Book was written 2. The Book's Title and Subtitle 3. Discussions about the Subject Matter of the Book 4. Orthodox Psychotherapy from the Psychological Point of View 5. Basic Elements of Orthodox Therapeutic Treatment Discussion after the Talk Part 5 - St Paissy Velichkovsky St Paissy Velichkovsky – A Great Hesychast Father 1. His Path to Monasticism 2. Searching for and Translating the Writings of Hesychast Fathers 3. Spiritual Guide to Hundreds and Thousands of Monks 4. Experiencing Hesychastic Monasticism 5. His Saintly Decease 6. The ‘Philokalic' Movement in the Orthodox World Conclusion

(Excerpt) THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IN THE WORLD (Part 1 - Talks & Discussions in Cyprus) - Metr. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos, Greece

Elevated Orthodoxy: St. George Weekly Sermons

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2024 278:53

The book The Orthodox Church in the World contains theological talks given by the author in Cyprus, Russia, Romania and Georgia at a variety of conferences. The Orthodox Church in the World includes subjects as: Personalism and Person, Theology as Science and as Charisma, The Hesychastic Life according to St Basil the Great, Bringing Up Children Today, Dogma and Ethics and Orthodox Psychotherapy. There are interviews on Therapy and Truth and The Theology of St Gregory Palamas and the Scholasticism of Barlaam, and the final chapter is devoted to St Paissy Velichkovsky – A Great Hesychast Father who “unites the Holy Mountain with the Balkans and Russia.” An unusual feature of The Orthodox Church in the World is the record of the wide-ranging discussions that took place between the author the audience after each talk. Answers are given on issues of the spiritual life, which will help the clergy, monks and laypeople, parents and young people. True theology can transform society. The author points out to his audience the great importance and value of the Church's hesychastic tradition, which gives meaning to life. His Eminence the Metropolitan Hierotheos stresses that Orthodoxy possesses a spiritual therapeutic method for curing human beings so that, once cured, they can meet God as light and Paradise, and not as fire. Curing the human soul is not an individual act, but a method followed within the Church through the Sacraments and asceticism, by which man acquires unity with God. Discerning the depths of his listeners' hearts and their concerns, the author answers them from his heart, revealing aspects of his own personal life. At the end of book, prompted by the publication of the book St Paissy Velichkovsky, by Professor Antonios-Emilios Tachiaos of the Theological School of the University of Thessaloniki, the author identifies basic points from this impressive and surprising biography of St Paissy, who loved hesychia and the neptic tradition of the Church from his youth. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/athonite-audio/support

March 31 2024 - St. Gregory Palamas (Fr. Chris)

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2024 10:05

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Metr. Jonah: St Gregory Palamas and Hesychasm

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Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2024 12:38

SHARE this podcast: https://anchor.fm/ministry-of-the-word — LINKS to all our podcasts: https://anchor.fm/orthodox-christian-teaching — VISIT our podcast WORDS OF LIFE: https://anchor.fm/words-of-life-daily — A GOSPEL HOMILY of Metr. Jonah Puffhausen — E-MAIL: livebyfaith888@gmail.com — ON SPOTIFY: Send a message through the Q&A in the programme notes.

Fr James Coles: Sunday of St Gregory Palamas

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Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2024 14:03

SHARE podcast: https://anchor.fm/ministry-of-the-word — LINKS to all our podcasts: https://anchor.fm/orthodox-christian-teaching — FOR ADDITIONAL DAILY TEACHING visit our podcast WORDS OF LIFE: https://anchor.fm/words-of-life-daily — A GOSPEL HOMILY of Archpriest Fr James Coles of the Orthodox church in Arizona. (https://stig.org) — E-MAIL: livebyfaith888@gmail.com — ON SPOTIFY: Send a message through the Q&A in the programme notes.

St Gregory Palamas - The Experience of God, Fr Daniel, Great Vespers Saturday, 03-30-2024

In Heaven and On Earth

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2024 5:06

Homilies from St. Anne's. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

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Praying the Jesus Prayer, Fr Daniel, Second Sunday of Lent - St Gregory Palamas, 03-31-2024

In Heaven and On Earth

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2024 14:06

Homilies from St. Anne's. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

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Homily - St. Gregory Palamas and Marriage

OrthoAnalytika

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2024 8:23

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.

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2nd Sunday of Great Lent- St. Gregory Palamas, Defender of Orthodox Common Sense

Sermons from St. Sophia, Bellingham, Washington

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2024 11:54

St Gregory Palamas: This divine Father, who was from Asia Minor, was from childhood reared in the royal court of Constantinople, where he was instructed in both religious and secular wisdom. Later, while still a youth, he left the imperial court and struggled in asceticism on Mount Athos, and in the Skete at Beroea. He spent some time in Thessalonica being treated for an illness that came from his harsh manner of life. He was present in Constantinople at the Council that was convened in 1341 against Barlaam of Calabria, and at the Council of 1347 against Acindynus, who was of like mind with Barlaam; Barlaam and Acindynus claimed that the grace of God is created. At both these Councils, the Saint contended courageously for the true dogmas of the Church of Christ, teaching in particular that divine grace is not created, but is the uncreated energies of God which are poured forth throughout creation: otherwise it would be impossible, if grace were created, for man to have genuine communion with the uncreated God. In 1347 he was appointed Metropolitan of Thessalonica. He tended his flock in an apostolic manner for some twelve years, and wrote many books and treatises on the most exalted doctrines of our Faith; and having lived for a total of sixty-three years, he reposed in the Lord in 1359. His holy relics are kept in the Cathedral of Thessalonica. A full service was composed for his feast day by the Patriarch Philotheus in 1368, when it was established that his feast be celebrated on this day. Since works without right faith avail nothing, we set Orthodoxy of faith as the foundation of all that we accomplish during the Fast, by celebrating the Triumph of Orthodoxy the Sunday before, and the great defender of the teachings of the holy Fathers today. Apolytikion Plagal Fourth Mode O Gregory the Miracle Worker, light of Orthodoxy, support and teacher of the Church, comeliness of Monastics, invincible defender of theologians, the pride of Thessalonica, and preacher of grace, intercede forever that our souls may be saved. Kontakion Fourth Mode Holy and Divine instrument of wisdom, bright and harmonious trumpet of theology, with one voice, we praise you, O Gregory, preacher of God. Since your mind now stands before the First Mind, guide our minds to Him, O Father, that we may cry to You, "Hail Herald of Grace."

Homily on the Eve of Theophany - St. Gregory Palamas

Orthodox Wisdom

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2024 20:08

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

"I KNOW A MAN IN CHRIST" - ELDER SOPHRONY THE HESYCHAST & THEOLOGIAN - Written By: Metropolitan of Nafpaktos, Greece: Hierotheos (Vlachos)

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Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2023 1006:07

Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos wrote this book about Elder Sophrony as an expression of gratitude for his long association (17 years) with the Elder and “to share with readers the spiritual wealth that I unworthily received”. The first part of the book is a spiritual portrait of Elder Sophrony. After a brief survey of his theology, the author examines the Elder's writings in the light of the experience of saints of the Church, particularly St Paul, St Symeon the New Theologian and St Gregory Palamas, thus placing his teaching in a wider context. There is a careful analysis of the Elder's correspondence with David Balfour, which reveals “many subtle details of the spiritual life” but also how “a genuine spiritual father guides those entrusted to him”. The second part of the book records what the author learnt and experienced during visits to the Monastery of St John the Baptist in meetings and informal conversations with the Elder and as a concelebrant at the Divine Liturgy. Over the years he carefully recorded the Elder's words and amassed an archive of notes that he publishes here. The subjects covered reflect both Father Sophrony's and the author's personal and pastoral concerns and include prayer (particularly the Jesus Prayer); monasticism and obedience; priesthood and the temptations it brings; giving spiritual guidance; the problems facing those who become Orthodox; and family life. The discussions also shed light on theological issues close to the Elder's heart. The book shows us a “great hesychast and theologian, but also a wise, discerning and prophetic spiritual father” and brings us closer to the man in Christ. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/athonite-audio/support

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St Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica

Christian Saints Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2023 40:45

St Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica (Nov 14)Reference materials for this episode:https://youtu.be/rkM5Mhd_s7c?si=Y9mELt52x_S08w9D — playlist of lectures discussing the hesychast controversyhttps://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2023/11/14/103303-saint-gregory-palamas-archbishop-of-thessalonica — biographyhttps://sgpm.goarch.org/Monastery/?page_id=33 — in depth, but incomplete, biographyhttps://sgpm.goarch.org/Monastery/?p=109 — sermon on the healing of the paralyzed manScripture citations for this episode:Genesis 11:1-9 — the tower of Babel 1 Kings (3 Kingdoms) 9:1-9 — God's words to Solomon regarding the templeMark 2:1-12 — healing of the paralyzed manMatthew 9:1-8 — healing of the paralyzed manHebrews 12 — God is a consuming fire into whose presence we must be prepared to enterThis episode is a joint production of Paradosis Pavilion & Generative soundsAll music in this (& every) episode of The Christian Saints Podcast is a production of Generative SoundsParadosis Pavilion - https://youtube.com/@paradosispavilion9555Generative Sounds - https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.comhttps://www.instagram.com/christiansaintspodcasthttps://twitter.com/podcast_saintshttps://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcastIconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these imagesPrints of all of Nick's work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.comDistribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative SoundsCopyright 2021 - 2023

St Gregory Palamas (1359)

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2023

The teaching of St Gregory is so fundamental to Orthodoxy that he is especially commemorated each year in Great Lent on the Sunday following the Sunday of Orthodoxy (as well as on Nov. 14); Bishop Kallistos observes in the English edition of the Philokalia, "his successful defence of the divine and uncreated character of the light of Tabor...[is] seen as a direct continuation of the preceding celebration, as nothing less than a renewed Triumph of Orthodoxy." The son of a prominent family, St Gregory was born (1296) and raised in Constantinople. At about age twenty, he abandoned a promising secular career to become a monk on Mt Athos. (His family joined him en masse: two of his brothers went with him to the Holy Mountain; at the same time his widowed mother, two of his sisters, and many of the household servants also entered monastic life.) He spent the next twenty years living as a hermit, spending five days a week in complete solitude, then joining the brethren on weekends for the Divine Liturgy and its accompanying services. Around 1335 he was called to live a much more public life in defense of the faith and spirituality of the Church. A Greek living in Italy, Barlaam the Calabrian, had launched an attack on the hesychastic spirituality of the Church. Fundamentally, Barlaam denied that man can attain to a true vision of God Himself, or true union with Him, in this life. Gregory, recognizing in this an attack on the Christian faith itself, responded. He even left the Holy Mountain and re-settled in Constantinople so as better to wage the struggle, which had become so public that a Church Council was called to settle the issue. St Gregory's views were affirmed, and Barlaam's condemned, at the Council of Constantinople of 1341. Though Barlaam himself returned to Italy, a series of his followers continued the attack, eventually resulting in two more Councils in 1347 and 1351, both of which affirmed the hesychasts' position. Metropolitan Hierotheos (The Mind of the Orthodox Church) writes that these councils have "all the marks of an Ecumenical Council." This, along with the fact that St Gregory's views are affirmed in the Synodikon of Orthodoxy (appointed to be read in churches every Sunday of Orthodoxy), and his commemoration every second Sunday of Great Lent, makes clear that his teaching is a basic and indispensable part of the Orthodox Faith. In 1347 St Gregory was consecrated Metropolitan of Thessaloniki, where he served until his repose. (He spent a year of this period as the prisoner of Turkish pirates). Despite (or due to?) his austere monastic background, he was revered by his flock: immediately after his repose in 1359, popular veneration of him sprang up in Thessaloniki, Constantinople and Mt Athos and, in 1368, only nine years after his death, the Church officially glorified him as a saint. St Gregory was always clear that unceasing mental prayer is not a special calling of monastics, but is possible and desirable for every Christian in every walk of life. See his On the Necessity of Constant Prayer for all Christians, reproduced on this site.

St Gregory Palamas (1359)

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2023 2:35

The teaching of St Gregory is so fundamental to Orthodoxy that he is especially commemorated each year in Great Lent on the Sunday following the Sunday of Orthodoxy (as well as on Nov. 14); Bishop Kallistos observes in the English edition of the Philokalia, "his successful defence of the divine and uncreated character of the light of Tabor...[is] seen as a direct continuation of the preceding celebration, as nothing less than a renewed Triumph of Orthodoxy." The son of a prominent family, St Gregory was born (1296) and raised in Constantinople. At about age twenty, he abandoned a promising secular career to become a monk on Mt Athos. (His family joined him en masse: two of his brothers went with him to the Holy Mountain; at the same time his widowed mother, two of his sisters, and many of the household servants also entered monastic life.) He spent the next twenty years living as a hermit, spending five days a week in complete solitude, then joining the brethren on weekends for the Divine Liturgy and its accompanying services. Around 1335 he was called to live a much more public life in defense of the faith and spirituality of the Church. A Greek living in Italy, Barlaam the Calabrian, had launched an attack on the hesychastic spirituality of the Church. Fundamentally, Barlaam denied that man can attain to a true vision of God Himself, or true union with Him, in this life. Gregory, recognizing in this an attack on the Christian faith itself, responded. He even left the Holy Mountain and re-settled in Constantinople so as better to wage the struggle, which had become so public that a Church Council was called to settle the issue. St Gregory's views were affirmed, and Barlaam's condemned, at the Council of Constantinople of 1341. Though Barlaam himself returned to Italy, a series of his followers continued the attack, eventually resulting in two more Councils in 1347 and 1351, both of which affirmed the hesychasts' position. Metropolitan Hierotheos (The Mind of the Orthodox Church) writes that these councils have "all the marks of an Ecumenical Council." This, along with the fact that St Gregory's views are affirmed in the Synodikon of Orthodoxy (appointed to be read in churches every Sunday of Orthodoxy), and his commemoration every second Sunday of Great Lent, makes clear that his teaching is a basic and indispensable part of the Orthodox Faith. In 1347 St Gregory was consecrated Metropolitan of Thessaloniki, where he served until his repose. (He spent a year of this period as the prisoner of Turkish pirates). Despite (or due to?) his austere monastic background, he was revered by his flock: immediately after his repose in 1359, popular veneration of him sprang up in Thessaloniki, Constantinople and Mt Athos and, in 1368, only nine years after his death, the Church officially glorified him as a saint. St Gregory was always clear that unceasing mental prayer is not a special calling of monastics, but is possible and desirable for every Christian in every walk of life. See his On the Necessity of Constant Prayer for all Christians, reproduced on this site.

Our Holy Father Philotheos Kokkinos,Patriarch of Constantinople

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2023

He was born in Thessalonika around 1300; his mother was a convert from Judaism. He entered monastic life, first at Mt Sinai, then at the Great Lavra on Mt Athos. The so-called "Hesychast controversy" was then raging, and St Philotheos became one of the firmest and most effective supporters of St Gregory Palamas (November 14) in his defense of Orthodoxy against western-inspired attacks on the doctrines of uncreated Grace and the possibility of true union with God. It was St Philotheos who drafted the Hagiorite Tome, the manifesto of the monks of Mt Athos setting forth how the Saints partake of the Divine and uncreated Light which the Apostles beheld at Christ's Transfiguration. In 1351, he took part in the "Hesychast Council" in Constantinople, and wrote its Acts. In 1354 he was made Patriarch of Constantinople; he stepped down after one year, but was recalled to the Patriarchal throne in 1364. He continued to be a zealous champion of undiluted Orthodoxy, writing treatises setting forth the theology of the Uncreated Energies of God and refuting the scholastic philosophy that was then infecting the Western church. Despite (or because of?) his uncompromising Orthodoxy, he always sought a true, rather than political, reconciliation with the West, and even worked to convene an Ecumenical Council to resolve the differences between the churches. This holy Patriarch was deposed in 1376 when the Emperor Andronicus IV came to the throne; he died in exile in 1379. St Philotheos composed the Church's services to St Gregory Palamas. He is not listed in the Synaxaria, but is venerated as a Saint in the Greek church.

Our Holy Father Philotheos Kokkinos,Patriarch of Constantinople

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2023 2:09

He was born in Thessalonika around 1300; his mother was a convert from Judaism. He entered monastic life, first at Mt Sinai, then at the Great Lavra on Mt Athos. The so-called "Hesychast controversy" was then raging, and St Philotheos became one of the firmest and most effective supporters of St Gregory Palamas (November 14) in his defense of Orthodoxy against western-inspired attacks on the doctrines of uncreated Grace and the possibility of true union with God. It was St Philotheos who drafted the Hagiorite Tome, the manifesto of the monks of Mt Athos setting forth how the Saints partake of the Divine and uncreated Light which the Apostles beheld at Christ's Transfiguration. In 1351, he took part in the "Hesychast Council" in Constantinople, and wrote its Acts. In 1354 he was made Patriarch of Constantinople; he stepped down after one year, but was recalled to the Patriarchal throne in 1364. He continued to be a zealous champion of undiluted Orthodoxy, writing treatises setting forth the theology of the Uncreated Energies of God and refuting the scholastic philosophy that was then infecting the Western church. Despite (or because of?) his uncompromising Orthodoxy, he always sought a true, rather than political, reconciliation with the West, and even worked to convene an Ecumenical Council to resolve the differences between the churches. This holy Patriarch was deposed in 1376 when the Emperor Andronicus IV came to the throne; he died in exile in 1379. St Philotheos composed the Church's services to St Gregory Palamas. He is not listed in the Synaxaria, but is venerated as a Saint in the Greek church.

ST. GREGORY PALAMAS AS A HAGIORITE by Metr. Hierotheos Vlachos of Nafpaktos (Part 3)

metr vlachos st gregory palamas

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2023 147:43

Part 3 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/athonite-audio/support

ST GREGORY PALAMAS AS A HAGIORITE by Metr. Hierotheos Vlachos of Nafpaktos (Part 4)

contents metr vlachos st gregory palamas

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2023 148:47

https://t.me/athoniteaudio/3955 Part 4 Table of Contents for this Episode to follow. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/athonite-audio/support

ST GREGORY PALAMAS AS A HAGIORITE by Metr. Hierotheos Vlachos of Nafpaktos (Part 5)

keeper metr vlachos st gregory palamas

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2023 124:20

Part 5 Chapter 9 - The Keeper of the Holy Mountain --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/athonite-audio/support

ST GREGORY PALAMAS AS A HAGIORITE - By Metr. Hierotheos Vlachos of Nafpaktos (Part 6)

contents metr vlachos st gregory palamas

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2023 131:28

Part 6 Table of Contents for episode to follow --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/athonite-audio/support

ST. GREGORY PALAMAS AS A HAGIORITE by Metr. Hierotheos Vlachos of Nafpaktos (Part 1)

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Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2023 130:31

St Gregory Palamas as a Hagiorite The book St Gregory Palamas as a Hagiorite covers the life, work and teaching of St Gregory Palamas and relates them to his identity as a monk of the Holy Mountain. Having first acquired personal knowledge of God, St Gregory Palamas subsequently became an unerring theologian, preacher and teacher of the theology of the uncreated Light, as well as of social justice through practicing Christ's commandments. Involved in a major controversy with representatives of a legalistic, anti-hesychastic tradition originating from the West, St Gregory Palamas proved that prayer of the nous in the heart and the vision of the uncreated Light is part of the tradition of the Church. The teaching of St Gregory Palamas has made an inestimable contribution to Orthodoxy and is very relevant to our times. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/athonite-audio/support

ST GREGORY PALAMAS AS A HAGIORITE by Metr. Hierotheos Vlachos of Nafpaktos (Part 2)

table contents metr vlachos st gregory palamas

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2023 122:21

(Part 2) Table of Contents to follow. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/athonite-audio/support

Episode 7: Conclusions, “St Gregory Palamas: An Introduction.”

Mystical Theology: Introducing the Theology and Spiritual Life of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2023 25:43

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...

Episode 6: Triumph of Ascetic Theology Over Intellectualism, “St Gregory Palamas: An Introduction.”

Mystical Theology: Introducing the Theology and Spiritual Life of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2023 29:30 Transcription Available

Series: Mystical TheologyUnit 14: Gregory PalamasEpisode 6: Triumph of Ascetic Theology Over IntellectualismThe sixth episode in our series presents the differing perspectives of Palamas' three theological opponents, 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.A word is also offered regarding St. Gregory's capture by the Ottoman Turks in 1354 and his being held hostage for about a year. Themes covered in this episode include similarities and differences between Barlaam, Akindynus and Gregoras; why the essence-energies distinction is not ditheism; Palamas' disarming distinction between “Antilogia” and “Homologia”; St. Gregory held hostage by the Ottoman Turks; 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).TIMESTAMPS00:00 Why three opponents?00:12 Barlaam the Calabrian05:10 Gregory Akindynus14:50 Nicephorus Gregoras16:46 Essence-Energies distinction18:30 “Antilogia” and “Homologia”22:47 Palamas Taken Hostage24:05 Discussions with Turkish MullahIt is hoped that these presentations will help the enquirer discern the profound interrelationship between Orthodox theology and the Orthodox Christian life, and to identify the ascetic and pastoral significance of the Orthodox ethos contained therein. 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...

Episode 5: Epistemological Presuppositions, "St. Gregory Palamas: An Introduction."

Mystical Theology: Introducing the Theology and Spiritual Life of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2023 42:31 Transcription Available

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...

Episode 4: Iconography & Knowledge of God through Prayer, "St. Gregory Palamas: An Introduction."

Mystical Theology: Introducing the Theology and Spiritual Life of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2023 27:12 Transcription Available

Series: Mystical TheologyUnit 14: Gregory PalamasEpisode 4: Iconography & Knowledge of God through Prayer The fourth episode in our series discusses the characteristics of Hesychast iconography and the two forms of knowledge: human or created knowledge and knowledge of God. Themes covered in this episode include the erroneous employment of analogy in the post-Augustinian Western theological tradition, explaining why in the Orthodox Biblical and Patristic tradition there is neither the analogia entis nor the analogia fidei. In fact, the way to knowledge of God is through prayer and worship, which was the central theme of the Hesychast Controversy of the 14th century, culminating in the 1351 Council of Constantinople. Q&As related to Episode 4 available in The Professor's Blog: https://mountthabor.com/blogs/the-professors-blog Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022).TIMESTAMPS00:20 Accusation of iconoclasm02:45 Panselinos and the Macedonian School05:10 Feofan Grek and the Cretan School08:43 Patriarch Philotheos Kokkinos09:50 Two forms of knowledge11:18 Filioque12:35 Empirical basis of theology13:25 Byzantine renaissance14:05 "Analogia entis" — "Analogia fide"14:40 William of Occam and Scholasticism16:06 Luther and sola scriptura16:44 No analogies in Orthodox tradition17:19 Illumination18:10 Authority19:22 Similarities between Barlaam and Gregoras20:04 Same response to the Arians20:47 Knowledge of God through prayer21:37 Mother of God archetypal hesychast23:35 Patriarchs men of prayerIt is hoped thThe 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...

Episode 3: The Jesus Prayer and Yoga, "St. Gregory Palamas: An Introduction."

Mystical Theology: Introducing the Theology and Spiritual Life of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2023 30:31 Transcription Available

Series: Mystical TheologyUnit 14: Gregory PalamasEpisode 3: The Jesus Prayer and YogaThe third episode in our series discusses the vision of God as experienced by St. Gregory and the Hesychasts through the practice of the Jesus Prayer. In his defense of noetic prayer - the prayer of the heart - St. Gregory presents the Orthodox understanding of the vision of God.Themes covered in this episode include what is meant by unceasing prayer, Abba Lucius and the Euchites, in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers, and the difference between Orthodox prayer and yoga.Q&As related to 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 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...

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Episode 2: The Emperor's 6 Questions, “St Gregory Palamas: An Introduction.”

Mystical Theology: Introducing the Theology and Spiritual Life of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2023 28:28 Transcription Available

Episode 2: The Emperor's 6 QuestionsThe second episode in this series of presentations discusses the 3rd Hesychast Council of 1351, with St. Gregory championing the Orthodox Faith against the philosophical theology of Nicephorus Gregoras, the Christian Roman Empire's leading intellectual of this period. Gregoras is the third and most formidable theological opponent of Palamas.Themes covered in this 2nd Episode include bishops' confession of faith at consecration, iconography, the distinction between “God” and “Godhead”, and the six questions posed by Emperor John VI Cantacuzenus at the Council of 1351.Q&As related to Episode 2 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).TIMESTAMPS00:00 The Council of 135100:44 Nicephorus Gregoras 01:15 Two Issues: Addition to Bishops' Confession and Iconoclasm of the Hesychasts06:07 Iconography 06:41 Theophanes the Greek 11:45 Main topic of Council “God” and “Godhead” or “Divinity”13:34 Accusation of Ditheism and Polytheism 13:44 Tomos and Synodicon 15:09 “Antilogia” and “Homologia”17:50 “Another Synod”, 5th Session 19:43 The Emperor's 6 Questions20:13 Question 1: Validity of Distinction 20:28 Question 2: Divine Energy created / uncreated20:51 Question 3: Simplicity of God22:00 Question 4: Meaning of “Theotes”23:35 Question 5: Divine Energy is God Himself25:25 Question 6: Our Participation in God26:02 Conclusion It is hoped that these presentations will help the enquireThe 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...

Episode 1: Prolegomena, "St Gregory Palamas: An Introduction."

Mystical Theology: Introducing the Theology and Spiritual Life of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2023 37:42 Transcription Available

Series: Mystical TheologyUnit 14: Gregory PalamasEpisode 1: ProlegomenaThe first episode in this series of presentations is of an introductory character, touching briefly on each of the main themes contained in Palamas, and sets up the scene for a more in-depth treatment of St Gregory's ascetico-theological vision.Throughout these presentations, reference will be made to Holy Scripture and to many of the Holy Fathers.A wide range of themes will be covered, including the nature of revelation and the knowledge of God, direct personal experience of God from this life, the Jesus Prayer, the Vision of God, and the sanctification of the body and its final place in the life to come.Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022).TIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction02:09 Stages in St. Gregory's Life07:26 Objections to St. Gregory‘s theology10:40 Experience of God11:16 Essence–Energies Distinction19:09 God as Light22:18 Transfiguration28:20 Stigmata30:00 Speaking in Tongues30:23 Transfiguration of human body31:48 Direct contact with God34:30 Physical technique in Prayer36:50 Union of “nous” with heartIt is hoped that these presentations will help the enquirer discern the profound interrelationship between Orthodox theology and the Orthodox Christian life, and to identify the ascetic and pastoral significance of the Orthodox ethos contained therein. 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...

Fr Basil Caldaroni: Sunday of St Gregory Palamas

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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2023 13:28

Share this link to share the podcast: www.anchor.fm/ministry-of-the-word — Direct links to all our podcasts: https://anchor.fm/orthodox-christian-teaching — A Gospel Homily of Archpriest Fr Basil Caldaroni of the Orthodox church in Arizona. (www.stig.org) Date: 12th March 2023

Fr Symeon Halsell: Sunday of St Gregory Palamas

santa barbara orthodox symeon st gregory palamas

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2023 18:56

Share this link to share the podcast: www.anchor.fm/ministry-of-the-word - A Gospel Homily of Fr Symeon Halsell of the Orthodox church in Santa Barbara (www.stathanasius.org). Date: 5th March 2023

"A pure gift of grace in this present life" - Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas

A Form of Acknowledgment

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2023 29:05

Homily, 03.12.2024 - St. Gregory Palamas / Second Sunday of Lent; Hebrews 11:10-2:3; Mark 2:1-12

hebrews pure lent homily life sunday st gregory palamas

Homily - Cultivate Peace (St. Gregory Palamas)

OrthoAnalytika

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2023 19:39

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!

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March 12 2023 - Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas (Fr. Chris)

Elevated Orthodoxy: St. George Weekly Sermons

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2023 6:49

fr chris st gregory palamas

The Filioque: From the Latins Which Were Obedient to Satan - St. Gregory Palamas

Orthodox Wisdom

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2023 5:01

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 (1359) - November 14th

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2022

The teaching of St Gregory is so fundamental to Orthodoxy that he is especially commemorated each year in Great Lent on the Sunday following the Sunday of Orthodoxy (as well as on Nov. 14); Bishop Kallistos observes in the English edition of the Philokalia, "his successful defence of the divine and uncreated character of the light of Tabor...[is] seen as a direct continuation of the preceding celebration, as nothing less than a renewed Triumph of Orthodoxy." The son of a prominent family, St Gregory was born (1296) and raised in Constantinople. At about age twenty, he abandoned a promising secular career to become a monk on Mt Athos. (His family joined him en masse: two of his brothers went with him to the Holy Mountain; at the same time his widowed mother, two of his sisters, and many of the household servants also entered monastic life.) He spent the next twenty years living as a hermit, spending five days a week in complete solitude, then joining the brethren on weekends for the Divine Liturgy and its accompanying services. Around 1335 he was called to live a much more public life in defense of the faith and spirituality of the Church. A Greek living in Italy, Barlaam the Calabrian, had launched an attack on the hesychastic spirituality of the Church. Fundamentally, Barlaam denied that man can attain to a true vision of God Himself, or true union with Him, in this life. Gregory, recognizing in this an attack on the Christian faith itself, responded. He even left the Holy Mountain and re-settled in Constantinople so as better to wage the struggle, which had become so public that a Church Council was called to settle the issue. St Gregory's views were affirmed, and Barlaam's condemned, at the Council of Constantinople of 1341. Though Barlaam himself returned to Italy, a series of his followers continued the attack, eventually resulting in two more Councils in 1347 and 1351, both of which affirmed the hesychasts' position. Metropolitan Hierotheos (The Mind of the Orthodox Church) writes that these councils have "all the marks of an Ecumenical Council." This, along with the fact that St Gregory's views are affirmed in the Synodikon of Orthodoxy (appointed to be read in churches every Sunday of Orthodoxy), and his commemoration every second Sunday of Great Lent, makes clear that his teaching is a basic and indispensable part of the Orthodox Faith. In 1347 St Gregory was consecrated Metropolitan of Thessaloniki, where he served until his repose. (He spent a year of this period as the prisoner of Turkish pirates). Despite (or due to?) his austere monastic background, he was revered by his flock: immediately after his repose in 1359, popular veneration of him sprang up in Thessaloniki, Constantinople and Mt Athos and, in 1368, only nine years after his death, the Church officially glorified him as a saint. St Gregory was always clear that unceasing mental prayer is not a special calling of monastics, but is possible and desirable for every Christian in every walk of life. See his On the Necessity of Constant Prayer for all Christians, reproduced on this site.

St Gregory Palamas (1359)

revelation saints pope francis orthodox roman catholic anglican all saints all saints day eastern orthodox st gregory palamas

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2022 2:35

The teaching of St Gregory is so fundamental to Orthodoxy that he is especially commemorated each year in Great Lent on the Sunday following the Sunday of Orthodoxy (as well as on Nov. 14); Bishop Kallistos observes in the English edition of the Philokalia, "his successful defence of the divine and uncreated character of the light of Tabor...[is] seen as a direct continuation of the preceding celebration, as nothing less than a renewed Triumph of Orthodoxy." The son of a prominent family, St Gregory was born (1296) and raised in Constantinople. At about age twenty, he abandoned a promising secular career to become a monk on Mt Athos. (His family joined him en masse: two of his brothers went with him to the Holy Mountain; at the same time his widowed mother, two of his sisters, and many of the household servants also entered monastic life.) He spent the next twenty years living as a hermit, spending five days a week in complete solitude, then joining the brethren on weekends for the Divine Liturgy and its accompanying services. Around 1335 he was called to live a much more public life in defense of the faith and spirituality of the Church. A Greek living in Italy, Barlaam the Calabrian, had launched an attack on the hesychastic spirituality of the Church. Fundamentally, Barlaam denied that man can attain to a true vision of God Himself, or true union with Him, in this life. Gregory, recognizing in this an attack on the Christian faith itself, responded. He even left the Holy Mountain and re-settled in Constantinople so as better to wage the struggle, which had become so public that a Church Council was called to settle the issue. St Gregory's views were affirmed, and Barlaam's condemned, at the Council of Constantinople of 1341. Though Barlaam himself returned to Italy, a series of his followers continued the attack, eventually resulting in two more Councils in 1347 and 1351, both of which affirmed the hesychasts' position. Metropolitan Hierotheos (The Mind of the Orthodox Church) writes that these councils have "all the marks of an Ecumenical Council." This, along with the fact that St Gregory's views are affirmed in the Synodikon of Orthodoxy (appointed to be read in churches every Sunday of Orthodoxy), and his commemoration every second Sunday of Great Lent, makes clear that his teaching is a basic and indispensable part of the Orthodox Faith. In 1347 St Gregory was consecrated Metropolitan of Thessaloniki, where he served until his repose. (He spent a year of this period as the prisoner of Turkish pirates). Despite (or due to?) his austere monastic background, he was revered by his flock: immediately after his repose in 1359, popular veneration of him sprang up in Thessaloniki, Constantinople and Mt Athos and, in 1368, only nine years after his death, the Church officially glorified him as a saint. St Gregory was always clear that unceasing mental prayer is not a special calling of monastics, but is possible and desirable for every Christian in every walk of life. See his On the Necessity of Constant Prayer for all Christians, reproduced on this site.

All Saints (repeat)

Christian Saints Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2022 20:53

Since All Saints Day is coming up, (and since I am busy catching up on some work deadlines) I thought it would be good to re-release our inaugral episode, about All Saints Day.We consider the concept of Christian sainthood in general, and the role of the saints in traditional Christian faith and devotion. We reflect on the account of the "Great Multitude in White Robes" in the Revelation of John (Revelation 7:9-17), and the commemorative hymns and prayers for All Saints Day in the Anglican, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions. We read excerpts from a post by Father Myles Hixson on the Anglican Compass website, an All Saints' Day homily by Pope Francis, and a homily by the 14th century Orthodox theologian, St Gregory Palamas.

Our Holy Father Philotheos Kokkinos,Patriarch of Constantinople (1379)

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2022 2:09

He was born in Thessalonika around 1300; his mother was a convert from Judaism. He entered monastic life, first at Mt Sinai, then at the Great Lavra on Mt Athos. The so-called "Hesychast controversy" was then raging, and St Philotheos became one of the firmest and most effective supporters of St Gregory Palamas (November 14) in his defense of Orthodoxy against western-inspired attacks on the doctrines of uncreated Grace and the possibility of true union with God. It was St Philotheos who drafted the Hagiorite Tome, the manifesto of the monks of Mt Athos setting forth how the Saints partake of the Divine and uncreated Light which the Apostles beheld at Christ's Transfiguration. In 1351, he took part in the "Hesychast Council" in Constantinople, and wrote its Acts. In 1354 he was made Patriarch of Constantinople; he stepped down after one year, but was recalled to the Patriarchal throne in 1364. He continued to be a zealous champion of undiluted Orthodoxy, writing treatises setting forth the theology of the Uncreated Energies of God and refuting the scholastic philosophy that was then infecting the Western church. Despite (or because of?) his uncompromising Orthodoxy, he always sought a true, rather than political, reconciliation with the West, and even worked to convene an Ecumenical Council to resolve the differences between the churches. This holy Patriarch was deposed in 1376 when the Emperor Andronicus IV came to the throne; he died in exile in 1379. St Philotheos composed the Church's services to St Gregory Palamas. He is not listed in the Synaxaria, but is venerated as a Saint in the Greek church.

Our Holy Father Nikephoros the Hesychast (14th c.)

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Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2022 1:16

He was originally a Roman Catholic, but became Orthodox and lived in asceticism on the Holy Mountain as a monk. He was the spiritual father of St Gregory Palamas. His life was outwardly uneventful, and he reposed in peace in the 14th century. He left this very concise description of the hesychast's path: "Gather your mind and compel it to enter into your heart and remain there. When your mind is firmly in your heart, it must not remain empty, but must incessantly make the prayer: 'Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me!' And it must never fall silent. Through this the whole string of the virtues: love, joy, peace and the others, will make their abode in you, by which, then, every request of yours to God will be fulfilled."

Our Holy Father Nikephoros the Hesychast (14th c.)

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Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2022

He was originally a Roman Catholic, but became Orthodox and lived in asceticism on the Holy Mountain as a monk. He was the spiritual father of St Gregory Palamas. His life was outwardly uneventful, and he reposed in peace in the 14th century. He left this very concise description of the hesychast's path: "Gather your mind and compel it to enter into your heart and remain there. When your mind is firmly in your heart, it must not remain empty, but must incessantly make the prayer: 'Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me!' And it must never fall silent. Through this the whole string of the virtues: love, joy, peace and the others, will make their abode in you, by which, then, every request of yours to God will be fulfilled."

St Photios, patriarch of Constantinople (891)