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

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