A Study Of Gregory Palamas

by John Meyendorff

Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica in the middle of the fourteenth century, is the outstanding figure of later Byzantine theology, a writer who may well be compared with the greatest theologians of the medieval West. This books is the first full study of his life and work to be available in English.

When this book was published in France in 1959, it was at once hailed as a major contribution to the understanding of Eastern Christianity; and not only of Eastern Christianity, for the thought of Palamas, with its vivid biblical quality, has a surprising relevance to the problems of our twentieth century. There has been a growing recognition of the importance of Palamas in the development of Eastern Christianity.

The relevance of Orthodoxy in the whole ecumenical movement is becoming ever more evident. Standing apart from the controversies which have embittered the history of Western Christendom, the Christian East has preserved a living continuity with the early Church. It is here that the significance of its witness, in itself disinterested, is to be found, now that the ecumenical movement is developing "ecumenism in time," and is searching for those churchly roots which are common to all Christians. Orthodoxy, which unites a sacramental view of the Church with a sense of personal liberty in the Holy Spirit, can open up unexpected perspectives in the Catholic-Protestant dialogue. May not its spirituality, which sees the victory of Christ over death and hell as avowing a real transfiguration of man and the universe, be of vital assistance at the moment when Western man is exploring the depths both of human anguish, and of the material world, and is being dangerously tempted by the psychic techniques of the non-Christian East? ---- from the back cover

Genres: Theology

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Fr John Meyendorff (1926-1992) was a Professor of Church History and Patristics at St Vladimir s Orthodox Theological Seminary, and a professor of History at Fordham University, NY. He was a Fellow of the National Endowment for the Humanities (1976-77), and a Guggenheim Fellow. He held honorary doctorates from the University of Notre Dame and General Theological Seminary, was a Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy, and a Senior Fellow at Dumbarton Oaks. In 1990 The Diploma of Honorary Member of the Leningrad Theological Academy was bestowed upon him.

Reviews

[Carson Harraman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

the history part of the book was interesting, but the second half, focusing on Palamas's theology, was dense and suited mostly for those of an academic bent. if that's your thing, by all means, read it. just not layman friendly.

[Richard Seltzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as research for my history novel The Name of Hero.

[Steven-John Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reading A Study of Gregory Palama: An excellent study in both the background and the major emphases of this formidable writer.