Gregory Palamas

1296 – 1359 · Byzantium

Biography

Archbishop of Thessaloniki and Athonite monk; defender of hesychast prayer and the essence–energies distinction.

God is known and possessed by us through His uncreated energies, not His unapproachable essence.
Triads 3.2

Writings

  • Triads in Defense of the Holy Hesychasts
  • One Hundred and Fifty Chapters

Influence

Councils of 1341–1351 received his teaching; central to modern Eastern Orthodox theology.