Gregory Palamas: The Emperor's Six Questions (Better Sound Quality), Episode 2bis, Prof. C. Veniamin

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

Unit 14: St. Gregory Palamas: An Introduction, Prof. Christopher Veniamin
Episode 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).

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Further bibliography may be found in our Scholar's Corner.
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Chapters

1. The Council of 1351 (00:00:00)

2. Nicephorus Gregoras (00:00:43)

3. Two Issues: Addition to Bishop's Confession and Iconoclasm of the Hesychasts (00:01:17)

4. Iconography (00:06:27)

5. Theophanes the Greek (00:06:41)

6. Main topic of Council "God" and "Godhead" or "Divinity" (00:11:44)

7. Accusation of Ditheism and Polytheism (00:13:33)

8. Tomos and Synodicon (00:13:45)

9. “Antilogia” and “Homologia” (00:15:07)

10. “Another Synod”, 5th Session (00:17:46)

11. The Emperor’s 6 Questions (00:19:40)

12. Question 1: Validity of Distinction (00:19:59)

13. Question 2: Divine Energy created / uncreated (00:20:11)

14. Question 3: Simplicity of God (00:20:35)

15. Question 4: Meaning of “Theotes” (00:21:44)

16. Question 5: Divine Energy is God Himself (00:23:19)

17. Question 6: Our Participation in God (00:25:10)

18. Conclusion (00:25:46)