I recently read The Triads by Gregory Palamas. Gregory Palamas is a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church who helped end a theological civil war in 14th century Byzantium. I sat down on Saturday and read the whole thing in the evening. It’s not that long but I was told by a fellow Catholic apologist that my version of the Triads was abridged.
I’ve actually been reading a lot of stuff about the other apostolic churches recently, such as the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox. They’re both apostolic and therefore both have a claim to be the true Church. The Assyrian Church of the East is also apostolic but it’s very hard to find their material in English.
Before I talk about the Triads, I want to talk about the split between the Catholic and Oriental Orthodox churches. The issue that split our churches was 5th and 6th century disputes over Christology. Modern liberal ecumenists will say that we’re saying the same thing but with different words. I think that’s irresponsible. However, I do concede that we’re a lot closer than we once thought. Catholics and Eastern Orthodox sometimes refer to them pejoratively as monophysites which isn’t really true. No one who has studied the controversy in depth would call them that. But let me repeat, we’re close but don’t believe the same thing. It seems further apart than it is because different language was used. The language of St. Cyril versus that of St. Leo.
So now we look at the Triads. Palamas wasn’t engaged in a dispute with the Catholics or Oriental Orthodox. He was settling an Eastern Orthodox internal dispute on the theology of monasticism. In the 20th century Catholic scholars have read his writings and come to different conclusions. Some are fascinated by Palamas but others are more cautious. Again it’s a problem or language. Palamas often refers to God as divine light. Here are some quotes. The page numbers are from the edition from The Classics of Western Spirituality edited by John Meyendorff.
I would also affirm that the prophets and patriarchs were not without experience of this light, but that (with a few exceptions) all their visions, especially the most divine ones, have participated in this light.
– p. 68
Thus there are diverse ways in which God transcends such a light, such an uncreated illumination and such a life which is similar to them.
– p. 71
Therefore Christ possesses this light immutably, or rather, He has always possessed it, and always will have it with Him.
– p. 77
This language used by Palamas is pretty foreign to the Catholic Church. A liberal ecumenist is tempted to say that we believe in the same thing, just in different words. Like the case with the Christology and the Orientals, I’m not going to go there. At the same time I’d say Catholics and Palamists are closer than a lot of people would believe.
So those are just some thoughts about terminology and the apostolic churches. It certainly isn’t the only thing that separates us but at times gives us the impression that we’re worlds apart on certain issues when that really isn’t the case. If you’re familiar with the writings of Gregory Palamas feel free to share your thoughts on this issue below.
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