Search engine for discovering works of Art, research articles, and books related to Art and Culture
ShareThis
Javascript must be enabled to continue!

Gregory Palamas and Dionysius

View through CrossRef
Abstract This essay presents the Byzantine thinker St Gregory Palamas, who was influenced by Dionysian writings in formulating his own theology. The essay investigates the influence of Dionysius on Palamas and compares aspects of both thinkers with relevant doctrines in pagan Neoplatonism. Palamas is famous for defending a particular kind of spirituality known as hesychasm, where the goal of the mystic is to achieve stillness (hesychia) and experience the divinity as transforming light. In this regard, the theology of Dionysius the Areopagite became of great importance. Palamas found in Dionysius support for his distinction between God’s essence and activities, a distinction that Palamas found necessary in order to explain how humans could participate in God without being absorbed in the divine essence. Dionysius’ writings also served Palamas well in his development of a doctrine of mystical experience.
Title: Gregory Palamas and Dionysius
Description:
Abstract This essay presents the Byzantine thinker St Gregory Palamas, who was influenced by Dionysian writings in formulating his own theology.
The essay investigates the influence of Dionysius on Palamas and compares aspects of both thinkers with relevant doctrines in pagan Neoplatonism.
Palamas is famous for defending a particular kind of spirituality known as hesychasm, where the goal of the mystic is to achieve stillness (hesychia) and experience the divinity as transforming light.
In this regard, the theology of Dionysius the Areopagite became of great importance.
Palamas found in Dionysius support for his distinction between God’s essence and activities, a distinction that Palamas found necessary in order to explain how humans could participate in God without being absorbed in the divine essence.
Dionysius’ writings also served Palamas well in his development of a doctrine of mystical experience.

Related Results

Introduction: a sign of contradiction
Introduction: a sign of contradiction
Abstract Palamas is still regarded in the West with suspicion, partly because of Jugie’s persuasive construction of Palamism as a ‘near-heresy’, and partly because o...
Gregory Palamas and the Making of Palamism in the Modern Age
Gregory Palamas and the Making of Palamism in the Modern Age
Abstract ‘Palamism’ is not a neutral term. It was devised in the early twentieth century by a Roman Catholic scholar, Martin Jugie, to indicate a system of thought d...
Iconographic Veneration of St. Gregory Palamas in the Late Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Period
Iconographic Veneration of St. Gregory Palamas in the Late Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Period
Svet. Ribolov, Iconographic Veneration of St. Gregory Palamas in the Late Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Period. The study covers a wide range of sources that provide information abo...
Dionysius and the City of Rome
Dionysius and the City of Rome
In Dionysius and the City of Rome: Portraits of Founders in the ‘Roman Antiquities’, Beatrice Poletti examines Dionysius of Halicarnassus’ description of figures traditionally rega...
Concluding reflections
Concluding reflections
Abstract Akindynos’ negative assessment of Palamas’ character has been influential, particularly through its strong endorsement by Juan Nadal. Palamas knew how to us...
New directions since Meyendorff
New directions since Meyendorff
Abstract This chapter examines the new directions taken since Meyendorff’s work in four fields: the edition of texts, historical research, philosophical investigatio...
The Use of Logical Proofs in Theology according to St. Gregory Palamas
The Use of Logical Proofs in Theology according to St. Gregory Palamas
Theodore Zisis, The Use of Logical Proofs in Theology according to St. Gregory Palamas. St. Gregory Palamas developed the theme of the apodeictic method in many of his works. Indee...

Back to Top