Council under St Gregory Palamas' vindication (held by many as the Ninth Ecumenical)Disputed
Council of Constantinople (1351)
Σύνοδος ἐν Κωνσταντινουπόλει
- Date
- 1351
- Location
- Constantinople
Vindicated St Gregory Palamas and the distinction between God's unknowable essence and His uncreated energies, against Barlaam and Akindynos.
Historical background
- The hesychast controversy over the vision of the divine light and the knowability of God culminated in a series of councils at Constantinople.
Principal dispute
- Whether the light of Tabor and the grace of God are created or the uncreated energies of God.
Dogmatic result
- The essence and energies distinction was affirmed; the energies are uncreated and truly God, while the essence remains imparticipable.
Heresies and persons condemned
- Barlaam of Calabria and Gregory Akindynos, that the divine light and grace of God are created.
Later reception
- Its Tome was received into the Synodikon of Orthodoxy; many Orthodox writers count it among the great councils, some as the Ninth Ecumenical.
Related saints
Bibliography
- The Synodal Tome of 1351 (PG 151).
- J. Meyendorff, A Study of Gregory Palamas.