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DOGM- 6210: St. Gregory PalamasSpring Semester 2014

A Research Paper

Barlaam the Calabrian Instructor: Fr. George Papademetriou

Student: Konstantinos Dimou hursda!" Apri# 2$" 2014

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%&nti# the most recent time 'e had #i(ed in peace and sti##ness" recei(ing the 'ordo) )aith and piet! 'ith con)idence and cordia# simp#icit!" 'hen" through the en(!o) the de(i# and inso#ence o) his o'n mind a certain *ar#aam 'as raised againstthe +es!chasts 'ho" in the simp#icit! o) their heart" #i(e a #i)e pure and near to

God., A.A. -asi#ie( 1

Barlaam of Calabria *ernardo Massari " as a #a!man/ a#so no'n as Barlaamof Seminara 'as humanist scho#ar and monastic heretic o) the )ourteenth centur! 'ho isnoted )or his dispute 'ith St. Gregor! Pa#amas o(er the hes!chast pra!er and the doctrine

ehind it. 2

arly life

*ar#aam 'as orn in 'hat is no' the commune o) Seminara" a#a ria. c.12$031 45/.

Despite the genera# e#ie) that *ar#aam con(erted to 6rthodo7 hristianit!" 8artin 9ugieargues that he 'as in )act apti ed and rought up in the 6rthodo7 tradition.

+es!chast doctrine )irst ecame a matter o) pu #ic de ate as a resu#t o) the c#ash et'een t'o po'er)u# and disputatious persona#ities" Gregor! Pa#amas and *ar#aam. 4

*ar#aam o) a#a(ria c.12$031 45/ is est no'n to modern scho#ars )or his ro#ein the contro(ers! 'ith Gregor! Pa#amas o(er hes!chast spiritua#it! and to a #esser e7tenthe is a#so )ami#iar as an anti3;atin po#emicist. he ;ate ! antine sources" ho'e(er")reestern Scho#astic" Scotist" =omina#ist" or e(en 6c hamite. ?

*ar#aam c#aimed that Gree phi#osoph! had ehate(er detracts the sou# )romascending and attaches it to the od!" dar ens the sou# and pre(ents it )rom coming c#oser to God. @

1 A. A. -asi#ie(" +istor! o) the *! antine empire 24314? " p.@@?2 *ar#aam o) a#a ria36rthodo7>i i *ar#aam o) Seminara3>i ipedia" the )ree enc!c#opedia

4 heosis and Gregor! Pa#amas: ontinuit! or Doctrina# hange " =orma# Russe# St. -#adimirBsheo#ogica# Cuartet#! ?0:4 200@/ ? 3 $ p. ?$

? R. E. Sin e'ic " *ar#aaam s So#utions p.1?2@ Fr. George Papademetriou" 6n the =ature o) 8an" p.

2

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*ar#aam orn in an 6rthodo7 )ami#! " ecoming a mon " a)ter spending se(era#!ears in Arta and hessa#onica" in 1 0" he arri(ed in onstantinop#e " 'here he 'ashegoumenos o) the A ata#eptos monaster! unti# 1 41. 5

According to 8e!endor))" *ar#aam a Gree ! #anguage and sentiment " ut'estern educated and im ued 'ith the spirit o) the Ita#ian Renaissance. +e 'as )aith)u#

to 6rthodo7! as the re#igion o) +is Gree ancestors" and Pa#amas recogni ed that he hada sincere #o(e o) true piet!. At onstantinop#e he )ound po'er)u# support in the persono) the Great Domestic" 9ohn antacu ene" under 'hose patronage he 'as chie)#! engagedin commentaries on the Pseudo3 Dion!sius. +is reputation seems to ha(e gro'n e##s" this )ormida #e #earning 'as coup#ed 'ith anarrogant" sarcastic manner" so caustic at times the he put o)) e(en )riends and a##ies. 10

=orman Russe## states that *ar#aam 'as a t!pe not un no'n in academe.om ati(e" se#)3assured and acer ic" he 'as considered arrogant e(en ! his )riends. *ut

he 'as an e7ce##ent dia#ectician and" #i e a modern positi(ist" re)used to to#eratenonsense. 11

Sara 9. Denning3*o##e thin s that &n)ortunate#!" *ar#aam does not seem to ha(e'armed the hearts o) his co##eagues in onstantinop#e as he had a reputation )orhaughtiness and pride. 12

According to 6strogors !" *ar#aam 'as a man o) considera #e #earning" utdogmatic and

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o) 1 ? *ar#aam presented his t'o discourses 6r. I3II/ e)ore the Imperia# ourt and thePatriarcha# S!nod/.

During the second ha#) o) 1 ? and perhaps into the eginning o) 1 @ *ar#aam'as 'riting the )irst edition o) his Anti#atin reatises.

In 8a! 1 @" Pa#amas recei(ed a cop! o) *ar#aam s A; ? 'hich e7amined the

propriet! o) using Aristote#ian #ogic in theo#ogica# discourse. A#read! suspicious o)*ar#aam s opinions on the Fi#ioi ipedia" the )ree enc!c#opedia1 Sara 9. Denning3 *o##e" Saint Gregor! Pa#amas: Dia#ogue et'een an 6rthodo7 and a *ar#aamite p.

4

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A series o) #etters ensued et'een the t'o ut the! 'ere una #e to reso#(e theirdi))erences amica #!. 15

In 1 " Pa#amas " he recei(ed at his hermitage at St. Sa as some o) the anti3;atin'ritings 'hich *ar#aam had pu #ished a)ter his pourpar#ers 'ith the papa# #egates 'hocame to onstantinop#e in 1 3 4. *ar#aam on the asis o) the apophatic theo#og! o) thePseudo3Dion!sius used an origina# argument: God eing un no'a #e" the ;atins shou#dgi(e up their c#aim to demonstrate their doctrine o) the Procession o) the +o#! Spirit.+o' cou#d the! demonstrate a rea#it! 'hich is outside a## perception and a## humanreasoningH ;atins and Gree s shou#d e content to re)er to the Fathers 'ho had recei(eda specia# i##umination on the su ect )rom God. *ut the )athers themse#(es are not a#'a!s

per)ect#! c#earJ there)ore the on#! thing to do is to re#egate the doctrine o) the Processionto the domain o) pri(ate theo#ogica# opinions 'hich do not constitute an o stac#e to theunit! o) the hurch. hus *ar#aam s theo#ogica# agnosticism ended in dogmatic

re#ati(ism.1$

What agenda did Barlaam pursue?

Fr. Romanides argues that the one 3sided adherence o) *ar#aam to the princip#eso) =eo3P#atonic Areopagite apophatism " it cou#d e presented as the genera#

phi#osophica# ac ground 'hich *ar#aam app#ied to the Fi#io

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s!##ogistica##!" ta ing non3e7istent uni(ersa#s as a starting point. hese o ser(ationsindicate strong#! that in the persons o) *ar#aam and Pa#amas one is con)ronted 'ith a rea#c#ash et'een the credo ut inte##igam tradition o) the post3Augustinian >est and theapophatic theo#og! o) the East Roman Fathers. 6ne cannot dou t the sincerit! 'ith 'hich*ar#aam e#ie(ed himse#) to e 6rthodo7. et this sincerit! in no 'a! pro(es that upon

coming East he #e)t his Franco3;atin presuppositions in the >est" or simp#! came" as8e!endor)) o) contends" as a non3;atin *! antine theo#ogian and phi#osopher.Fr. Romanides ma es some pre#iminar! o ser(ations in dea#ing 'ith and

understanding *ar#aam s theo#ogica# and phi#osophica# ac ground. 1. *ar#aam did not e#ong to an! 'e##3esta #ished theo#ogica# tradition in

*! antiumJ this )act e7p#ains 'h! he cou#d not easi#! e de)ended ! those 'ho insu stance agreed 'ith him theo#ogica##!. +ad there een an East Roman tradition in his)a(or" he 'ou#d ha(e een open#! supported )rom the (er! outset.

2. *ar#aam pro a #! 'as more at home 'ith Franco3;atin scho#astic categoriesthan the *! antine mind setting.

he mere )act that much o) the de ate re(o#(ed around the interpretation o) Pseudo3

Dion!sius does not pro(e the *! antine character o) *ar#aam s thought" especia##! 'henone rea#i es the Areopagite s p#ace o) authorit! in the Franco3 ;atin >est.hat he attac s A

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An e7p#anation o) these t'o )acts" either in terms o) the traditiona# *! antine suspicionthat *ar#aam 'as a ;atin sp!" or in some other terms" is certain#! to e e7pected in suchstud!. 20

In 1 0s *ar#aam egan to attac +es!chasm )or oth its theo#og! and manner o) pra!er. +e accused Gregor! Pa#amas o) 8essia#ianism" and argued that the #ight on 8t.a or at the rans)iguration 'as created and not eterna#. +is intemperate criticism o) the

m!stica# e7ercises o) the mon s o) 8t. Athos 'hom he ca##ed ompha#ops!choi" 'ithsou#s in their na(e#s / triggered the contro(ers! o(er Pa#amism that 'as to di(ide the*! antine hurch )or o(er a decade. 21

In 9une and 9u#! 1 41" t'o successi(e counci#s" he#d in onstantinop#e" re u ed*ar#aam" 'ho #e)t *! antium. 22 +e 'ent to the >est3to =ap#es )irst and then to A(ignon"in ear#! 1 42" 'here he esta #ished contacts he had made there at the time o) his (isit in1 $. Sometime in 1 42 he o))icia##! pro)essed a##egiance to the Roman hurch and in6cto er 1 42 'as appointed ishop o) Gerace. In 4? he made his #ast appearance on the

internationa# scene" sent on an em ass! to onstantinop#e ! the pope. 8ost o) the rest o) his #i)e 'as spent in Gerace" 'here he died o) the p#ague in 1 45.According to ia Ko# a a" *ar#aam s iograph! has inspired much de ate" the

Pa#amite )action and modern scho#ars 'ho re#! primari#! on Pa#amite accounts portra!him as a ;atin impostor mas

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According to Fr. Andre'" *ar#aam had a so#uti ed St. Dion!sius 'ritings on theun no'a i#it! o) God" thus de)orming their meaning" reading =eo3P#atonism into them.+e used the un no'a i#it! o) God not to den! rationa#ism" ut rather to a))irm it"deciding that man can on#! re#! on )a##en human reason the no'#edge o) things " to #i(e

his #i)e. hus" he had in )act separated human #i)e and societ! )rom God and +is grace" ecoming one o) the )irst humanist secu#arists o) the Renaissance. *ar#aam di(orced our practica# dai#! conduct )rom possi #e sancti)ication ! rea# grace. +e dismissed an!

e7perience o) God as mere su ecti(e imagination" se#)3i##umination ! the po'er o) the ps!che and the )antasies o) meditation" as it can e among Roman atho#ic m!stics. he!do not and cannot no' the uncreated energies o) God" ecause o) their con)ession o) theFi#io

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a## this" ho'e(er" goes e(en )urther" e!ond Protestantism" to amora# agnosticism and)rom there to atheism.

In this 'a! *ar#aam ecame one o) the )ounders o) >estern rationa#ist" secu#arist"and humanist ci(i#i ation. 24

Dear rothers and sisters in hrist" these are one part o) the things that I )ound"concerning *ar#aam.In m! interpretation and #imited ana#!tica# method" it seems that he 'as either a decent

person 'ho started 'ith man! hopes and ideas )or ma ing the 'or#d etter and he 'asgradua##! carried a'a!" stuc and #imited himse#)" on his o'n 'ea spots" 'ithout einga #e to get a o(e the sur)ace and catch the 'ho#e picture 'here God reigns and has a

persona# re#ation and e7perience 'ith each one o) us or on the other hand came 'ith themission to uni)! the t'o churches pro a #! under the authorit! o) the pope o) Rome.

he )act is that it is necessar! e)ore 'e dra' the #ast conc#usion" to do athorough#! research so that 'e ma! a(oid to condemn or e7a#t peop#e 'ho #i(ed inanother era that 'e do not

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1.Fer'erda " Rein. trans#ationJ Denning3*o##e 9. Sara introduction. SaintGregor! Pa#amas. Dia#ogue et'een an 6rthodo7 and a *ar#aamite"*inghamton" = : G#o a# Pu #icationsN emers" 1$$$.

2.Ka hdan" P. A#e7ander" The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, =e' or 367)ord: 67)ord &ni(ersit! Press" 1$$1.

.Ko# a a ia 8. *ar#aam the a#a rian. hree reatises on Papa# Primac!:Introduction" Edition" and rans#ation. In : Re(ue des etudes ! antines"tome ? " 1$$?. pp.41311?athttp:NN'''.persee.)rN'e Nre(uesNhomeNprescriptNartic#eNre ! O0 @@3??$5O1$$?OnumO? O1O1$01

4. 8e!endor))" 9ohn. A Study of regory !alamas" rest'ood" = : S-SPress" 1$$5.

?.6strogors !" George" History of the Byzantine State , Rutgers &ni(ersit!"

=9: Rutgers &ni(ersit! Press" 1$@$

@.Fr. Papademetriou" George. On the #ature of $an" anada:S!na7is Press" 2004.

.Romanides" S. 9ohn. =otes on the Pa#amite ontro(ers! and Re#atedopics Part I" The Greek Orthodox Theological Review, Volume VI, Number 2,

Winter, 1 !"#!1$ %ubli&hed b' the (ol' )ro&& Greek Orthodox Theological*chool %re&&, +rookline, a&&achu&ett&$or on#ine:http:NN'''.romanit!.orgNhtmNrom.1?.en.notesOonOtheOpa#amiteOcontro(ers!.01.htm

5. Russe##" =orman. heosis and Gregor! Pa#amas: ontinuit! or Doctrina#

hangeH" St -#adimir s heo#ogica# Cuarter#! ?0:4 200@/ ? 3 $.

$.Sin e'ic " R. E. % he So#utions addressed to George ;apithes ! *ar#aamthe a#a rian and their Phi#osophica# onte7t ,%-o#. ;III" oronto" anada:Ponti)ica# Institute o) 8ediae(a# Studies" 1$51.

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10.Sin e'ic " R. E. he Doctrine o) the Kno'#edge o) God in the Ear#!>ritings o) *ar#aam the a#a rian" -o#. ;I-" oronto" anada:Ponti)ica# Institute o) 8ediae(a# Studies" 1$52.

12.-asi#ie(" A. A. History of the Byzantine &mpire '()*+) ' .8adison" >I:he &ni(ersit! o) >isconsin Press" 1$?2.

11. Q TUVWUXV YZ [\]^Z__ XY`^Z b 200@/" UU. 22 32 5

!nternet "eso#r$es

1. http:NNorthodo7'i i.orgN*ar#aamOo)O a#a ria

2. http:NNen.'i ipedia.orgN'i iN*ar#aamOo)OSeminara

. Fr. Andre'" St. Gregor! Pa#amas" 'o Ita#ian on(erts and t'oci(i#i ations" 3 6rthodo7 hristian Recourse enter at http:NNtheorthodo7church.in)oN #ogNocrcN2010N04Nst3gregor!3pa#amas3t'o3ita#ian3con(erts3and3t'o3ci(i#i ationsN

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