Mystical Theology: Introducing the Theology and Spiritual Life of the Orthodox Church

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Unit 16: “Sts. Silouan and Sophrony the Athonites: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher Veniamin Episode 2: “On the Knowledge of God”, Part 2 Based on the reading of excerpts from Silouan’s chapter, “On the Knowledge of God”, from the masterpiece, Saint Silouan the Athonite, by St. Sophrony the Athonite, this second episode will focus o...

Send us Fan Mail Series: Mystical Theology Unit 16: “Sts. Silouan and Sophrony the Athonites: Principles of the Christian Life”, by Prof. Christopher Veniamin Episode 1: “On the Knowledge of God”, Part 1 Based on the reading of excerpts from Silouan’s chapter, “On the Knowledge of God”, from the masterpiece, Saint Silouan the Athonite , by St. Sophrony the Athonite, this first episode will focus o...

Send us Fan Mail Series : Mystical Theology Unit 14: Gregory Palamas Episode 7: Conclusions Are you ready to unravel the profound mysteries of Orthodox theology? We promise an enlightening journey as we immerse ourselves in the world of theosis and the revelation of God. Our exploration mentions briefly the significant contributions of Dionysius the Areopagite and the criticisms put forth by Willi...

Send us Fan Mail Series : Mystical Theology Unit 14: Gregory Palamas Episode 6: Triumph of Ascetic Theology Over Intellectualism The sixth episode in our series presents the differing perspectives of Palamas’ three theological opponents, who curiously shared a common intellectualistic approach to matters theological, which gradually, since Augustine of Hippo, became the fundamental approach of the...

Send us Fan Mail Series : Mystical Theology Unit 14: Gregory Palamas Episode 5: Epistemological Presuppositions The fifth episode in our series discusses 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...

Send us Fan Mail Series : Mystical Theology Unit 14: Gregory Palamas Episode 4: Iconography & Knowledge of God through Prayer The fourth episode in our series discusses the characteristics of Hesychast iconography and the two forms of knowledge: human or created knowledge and knowledge of God. Themes covered in this episode include the erroneous employment of analogy in the post-Augustinian We...

Send us Fan Mail Series : Mystical Theology Unit 14: Gregory Palamas Episode 3: The Jesus Prayer and Yoga The third episode in our series discusses the vision of God as experienced by St. Gregory and the Hesychasts through the practice of the Jesus Prayer. In his defense of noetic prayer - the prayer of the heart - St. Gregory presents the Orthodox understanding of the vision of God. Themes covere...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 2: The Emperor’s 6 Questions The second episode in this series of presentations discusses the 3rd Hesychast Council of 1351, with St. Gregory championing the Orthodox Faith against the philosophical theology of Nicephorus Gregoras, the Christian Roman Empire’s leading intellectual of this period. Gregoras is the third and most formidable theological opponent of Palamas. Th...

Send us Fan Mail Series : Mystical Theology Unit 14: Gregory Palamas Episode 1: Prolegomena The first episode in this series of presentations is of an introductory character, touching briefly on each of the main themes contained in Palamas, and sets up the scene for a more in-depth treatment of St Gregory’s ascetico-theological vision. Throughout these presentations, reference will be made to Holy...