BYZANTINE HESYCHASM IN THE LIFE OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH

Abstract

In spite of the historical vicissitudes through which the Orthodox Church passed, monasticism represented for the Church a pillar of stability and fidelity to the Gospel teachings and Christian living. Practicing the prayer of the heart, of contemplation in complete silence, of a severe ascension give the possibility to the hesychast monks to see the uncreated light that the Holy Apostles saw on Mount Tabor, at the Transfiguration of Our Lord. The one who strongly supported the hesychast doctrine was Saint Gregory Palamas. The present study attempts to make a short presentation of how the prayer of the heart (the hesychast prayer) has evolved over the centuries, but also a comparative analysis of the rationalist way of thinking, inspired by Catholic schooling, with the hesychast tradition, specific to the Orthodox Church. Also, the study presents some historical landmarks regarding the practice of the hesychast life in the Romanian lands.