A Commentary on One of Gregory Palamas’ “Chapters” Preserved in Antipalamite Sources

Abstract

This article analyzes a chapter contained in a collection of antipalamite extracts taken from the works of St Gregory of Palamas, which after being read at the Council of 1351 caused such agitation that the controversy around the Palamite and his opponents was brought to a halt by the Emperor. The chapter comes to light in an essay of Arsenios of Tyre relating to the Council, is also preserved in other antipalamite sources, and is taken from Gregory’s 3rd Refutation of Akindin. The article shows that the antipalamites, following Nicephorus Gregoras, quote an original text, while what has come down to us in the Palamite manuscripts has been subject to later correction with the goal of softening careless expressions of thought. In the original version, Gregory relies on his own liberal interpretation of expressions from the works of Pseudo-Dionysius Areopagite. The article also gives other examples of changes made to the works of Gregory Palamas by the author himself, which have been brought to light by contemporary scholars (the 3rd letter to Akindin, “Dialogue Between an Orthodox and a Barlaamite”, “On the Holy Spirit”, and others). The author comes to the conclusion that it is wise to proceed with caution when using the works of Gregory Palamas as a primary source in the reconstruction of the history of the Palamite controversy or Palamite theology.

Keywords

• theology
• late-bysantine theology
• palamite controversy
• gregory palamas
• 1351 council of constantinople
• corpus dionysiacum
• dionysian corpus