hesychast tradition

E47017

The hesychast tradition is an Eastern Christian mystical practice centered on inner stillness, continual prayer, and the direct experience of God, especially associated with Byzantine monasticism.


Statements (47)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Christian mystical tradition
spiritual practice
associatedWith Byzantine Empire
Byzantine monasticism
Mount Athos
contrastsWith purely intellectual theology
controversy Hesychast controversy
coreConcept direct experience of God
inner stillness
unceasing prayer
developedInCentury 13th century
14th century
emphasizes asceticism
contemplative prayer
repentance
silence
watchfulness (nepsis)
goal theosis
union with God
influenced Russian monasticism
later Orthodox spirituality
modern Orthodox contemplative renewal
influencedBy Desert Fathers
Evagrius Ponticus
John Climacus
Symeon the New Theologian
linkedDoctrine essence–energies distinction
practicedIn Eastern Catholic Churches
Eastern Orthodox Church
Oriental Orthodox contexts (to a lesser extent)
practiceElement attention to the heart
bodily stillness
fasting
regulated breathing (in some forms)
repetitive invocation of the name of Jesus
solitude
vigil
recognizedBy Palamite councils of Constantinople
religiousBranchOf Eastern Christianity
requires spiritual guidance by an elder (geron or starets)
seeksExperienceOf uncreated light
textualSource Philokalia
Sayings of the Desert Fathers
writings of Gregory Palamas
theologicalDefenseBy Gregory Palamas
usesPractice Jesus Prayer
viewedAs path of inner purification

Referenced by (10)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Dionysiou Monastery ("Hesychasm")
Great Lavra ("Hesychasm")
Xeropotamou Monastery ("Hesychasm")
hesychast tradition ("Byzantine monasticism")
associatedWith
Gregory Palamas ("Hesychasm")
St. Theophan the Recluse ("Hesychasm")
movement
Jesus Prayer
closelyLinkedTo
Eastern Christianity ("hesychasm")
hasSpiritualTradition
St. Isaac the Syrian ("Hesychast tradition")
influenced
St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite ("Hesychasm")
theologicalTradition

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