MOUNT ATHOS AND THE BOGOMIL-HESYCHASTIC CONTROVERSY

• Authors: Angelovska-Panova Maja
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Since the 10th century Mount Athos continuously represented a center of Orthodoxy that impacted not only on a Byzantine religious life, but also on politics, society and arts. In the 14th century the practice of Hesychia was dominant. It was a kind of monasticism, mainly concentrated on the intensive contemplation that usually resulted with hypostatic union with God. At the same time under the influence of some heterodox propaganda, the Massalian as well as Bogomil tendencies penetrated, claiming to experience the essence of God, but also rejecting the sacraments of the official Christianity in respect of its institutional meaning. The controversy intensified when Barlaam of Calabria criticized Hesychasm as heretical, leading to a series of theological debates. Ultimately, Palamas’ teachings were upheld by the Palamite Councils (1341 – 1351), affirming Hesychasm as Orthodox doctrine, while the Bogomils were condemned. This conflict shaped Byzantine spirituality and solidified Hesychasm’s influence in Orthodox monasticism, particularly on Mount Athos.

Keywords

EN

MOUNT ATHOS; BOGOMILISM; HESYCHASM; MONASTICISM; ASCETICISM

• Publisher: Univerzita Konštantína Filozofa v Nitre
• Journal: Konštantínove listy
• Year: 2025
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 76 - 84

Contributors

author

Angelovska-Panova Maja

• Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Institute of National History, Grigor Prlichev 3, 1000 Skopje, R. N. Macedonia

• https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7100-7523

Identifiers

DOI

10.17846/CL.2025.18.1.76-84