THE DIVINE LIGHT. THE SIGHT AND EXPERIENCE
OF IT IN GREGORY PALAMAS THEOLOGY Cover Image

THE DIVINE LIGHT. THE SIGHT AND EXPERIENCE OF IT IN GREGORY PALAMAS THEOLOGY
THE DIVINE LIGHT. THE SIGHT AND EXPERIENCE OF IT IN GREGORY PALAMAS THEOLOGY

Author(s): Ioan Chirilă, Stelian Paşca-Tuşa, Radu-Adrian MĂRINCEAN, Bogdan-Lucian Şopterean
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion, Eastern Orthodoxy
Published by: Asociaţiunea Transilvană pentru Literatura Română şi Cultura Poporului Român - ASTRA
Keywords: Gregory Palamas; divine light; apophatic theology; prayer;

Summary/Abstract: In the paper, the authors focused Gregory Palamas theology regarding the divine light which he had developed during the hesychast controversy that occurred in the 14th century. Palamas entered in an intellectual debate with his adversary Barlaam with the purpose of explaining to him the fact that the man could experience a union with God and thus see the divine light, different form any other physical light or light source. This divine light represents the topic of the paper. Our research begun with reviewing theological literature of contemporary theologians like Dumitru Stãniloae, John Meyedorff, Patrícia Calvário or Florin T. Tomoioagã which had previously studied and spoked about Palamas theology. Throught the paper the authors show and explain what divine light is, its apophatic charachter and what are the means through which it could be seen. They concluded that the uncreated light is beyond words and transcend earthly realm being knowable and perceptible only in relation with God mediated by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

  • Issue Year: VII/2019
  • Issue No: 13
  • Page Range: 221-230
  • Page Count: 10
  • Language: English