HESYCHASM (Gr. hesychia, "quietness"),
term designating a contemplative tradition dating from the 4th century in
Eastern Christian monasticism. Hesychast monks, particularly those of the
monasteries of Mount Athos, devoted themselves to unceasing mental prayer
in order to achieve union with God. The most popular form of prayer was
the Jesus Prayer, also known as "prayer of the heart" and generally
consisting of the words: "Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on
me, a sinner." Regulating their breathing to correspond to the recitation
of the prayer, the Hesychasts hoped to focus and maintain mental
concentration on God's name. The practice was attacked by the Italo-Greek
humanist monk Barlaam the Calabrian (c. 1290-c. 1350); in response, the
Byzantine theologian St. Gregory Palamas (c. 1296-1359) composed the
Triads in Defense of the Holy Hesychasts, which was formally
endorsed at the Orthodox church councils at Constantinople in 1341, 1347,
and 1351. Hesychasm is still practiced among Eastern Christians. An
anthology of hesychast writings, known as the Philocalia, was
published in Venice in 1782 by St. Nicodemus (c.
1749-1809). J.Me.
|
