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Series: Mystical Theology
Episode 14: Athanasius the Great, Part 4: On God the Word, 2 & “On the Incarnation”, 1

Episode 14 of our “Mystical Theology” series consists of Part 2 of our presentation of God the Word according to St. Athanasius the Great, and includes the reading of excerpts from his famous, “On the Incarnation of the Word”.

Themes covered in this podcast are listed in the Timestamps below.

Q&As related to Episode 14 available in The Professor’s Blog.

Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016); 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).

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Episode 15: “Intrusive Thoughts”, Part 2, St. Silouan the Athonite (Fuller Treatment) Unit 16: “Sts. Silouan and Sophrony the Athonites: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher Veniamin

Based on the reading of St. Sophrony’s masterful introduction to Saint Silouan the Athonite, “Intrusive Thoughts”, Part 2 offers a fuller treatment of one of the most important subjects in the Orthodox spiritual life, and one which is especially helpful for spiritual fathers and leaders of the Church. Some of the themes covered in this podcast are listed in the Timestamps below. Presented by Prof. Christopher Veniamin, a spiritual child of St. Sophrony.

Q&As related to Episode 15 available in The Professor’s Blog.

Recommended background reading: Saint Silouan the Athonite, by St. Sophrony the Athonite; and The Enlargement of the Heart, by Archimandrite Zacharias

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

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community. 

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Dr. Christopher Veniamin

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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).

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community. 

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Dr. Christopher Veniamin

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

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community. 

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Dr. Christopher Veniamin

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

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community. 

Support the show

Dr. Christopher Veniamin

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

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community. 

Support the show

Dr. Christopher Veniamin

Join The Mount Thabor Academy
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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).

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community. 

Support the show

Dr. Christopher Veniamin

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Unit 14: St. Gregory Palamas: An Introduction, Prof. Christopher Veniamin
Episode 1bis: Prolegomena

Episode 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).

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community. 

Support the show

Dr. Christopher Veniamin

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https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support

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Further Info & Bibliography
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Series: Mystical Theology
Episode 13: Athanasius the Great, Part 3: On God the Word, 1

In Episode 13 of our “Mystical Theology” series, we turn to St. Athanasius’ masterful defense of the Orthodox Faith, in his great works “Against the Gentiles” and “On the Incarnation of the Word”, and then in his “Against the Arians”, in which he presents the mystery of the Divine Economy culminating in the “enfleshment” of God the Word Himself.

Themes covered in this podcast include creation in and through the Logos “out of nothing”, the “theologia – economia” distinction, the fundamental difference between “generation” or “begetting” (from the essence of God the Father) and “creation” (by the will and council of God), and the mystery of the Oneness of God the Holy Trinity in divine revelation.

Recommended background reading: Christopher Veniamin, ed., Saint Gregory Palamas: The Homilies (Dalton PA: 2022); The Orthodox Understanding of Salvation: "Theosis" in Scripture and Tradition (2016).

Join the Mount Thabor Academy Podcasts and help us to bring podcasts on Orthodox theology and the spiritual life to the wider community. 

Support the show

Dr. Christopher Veniamin

Join The Mount Thabor Academy
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2232462/support

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Further Info & Bibliography
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Contact us: [email protected]...