www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Uniate Palamists

Have there been many Uniate theologians in the past willing explicitly to propound Palamitic doctrine? If so, does anyone know of any controversy with Latin Catholics which this might have occasioned?

Fr. George Maloney (S.J.) was an Eastern Catholic, and to the best of my knowledge he was an advocate of the so-called "Palamitic" theology.

That said, prior to his death in 2005 he converted to Eastern Orthodoxy.

Raymond,

I certainly don't know of any. In my diaconal training, we read from Orthodox theologians almost exclusively, but I believe this is a relatively new phenomenon. Vatican II called on us to return to our Eastern roots, and that call is being implemented, albeit slowly. Perhaps in the near future we will come to know some EC theologians who are propounding Palamitic doctrine explicitly.

It was my understanding that Palamas' work is considered a compendium of the teachings of the Eastern Fathers, and not a unique school of theology.

FWIW, the Ukrainian Catholic Church does celebrate St. Gregory Palamas on the Second Sunday of the Great Fast, while the Ruthenians do not.


Peace,
Deacon Richard

The Melkite Church also celebrates this Feast. While I don't know the names of any major Palamite theologians, I don't see how it would be a problem in the Catholic Church in any way. Our priest certainly gave a "Palamitic" homily on the Saint's Feast Day, and generally reflects a Palamite view of the faith though he's not a theologian per se.

Peace and God bless!

Yes, the deacon who preached on his feastday at my (Roumanian) parish this year delivered an impassioned defense of the saint against those that would consider him an innovator.

I'm just interested to see if the likes of Bl. Theodore Romzha, St. Josaphat Kuncevyc, or folks like this, hard-core papists, let slip a little Palamism now and again. (At the time of Romzha, though, I don't think Palamas was on the Ukrainian Calendre, was he? I thought Slipyj brought him on.) It seems like such an important question for me, and I'm anxious to know what our saints have had to say about it.

It was indeed Patriarch Joseph - who was no mean theologian - who brought about the restoration of Saint Gregory Palamas in the Greek-Catholic service books. He did his in a thorough and learned votum written at the invitation of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which on the strength of Patriarch Joseph's research agreed that Saint Gregory is legitimate for such purposes.

I don't recall meeting any respectable theologians lately who consider Saint Gregory's work false. Then again, if I met such a theologian, I would hardly be likely to consider him respectable!

I've also never met anyone who calls himself a "Uniate Palamist", whatever that might hypothetically be.

Fr. Serge

We Byzantine Catholics should embrace Palamite theology, it is part of our heritage, which we must reclaim.

I am reading the Triads by St. Gregory, his theology resonates in my soul.

Actually, I am pretty sure that St. Palamas is on the Ruthenian calendar.

He might be on the calendar, but he ain't in the new pew books!

Allyson,

Perhaps this was added back with the introduction of the RDL?


Peace,
Deacon Richard

What is a Uniate theologian? is this a form of Monism or Unitarianism?

"willing explicitly to propound Palamitic doctrine"??? This gives me the image of a vicious cougar ready to pounce on non-suspecting Catholics. Roar-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r!!!!

Discussion (or debate?) was held about this "saint" awhile back. The topic was sparked by the observation that the new Byzantine Catholic worship books didn't have him in there. I don't know if this is or was "controversial" but it did point out how this saint (and his theology) has been debunked in contemporary Byzantine Catholic worship. Latin Catholics were not involved, so it seems to be more of an internal issue. Maybe Byzantine Catholics on these forums can best answer? I am just an observer.

Meow!
Eddie

Fr. Serge,

How can I get my hands on this votum? A few years ago, I took a course at St. Tikhon of Zadonsk OCA seminary on Orthodox Spirituality. The primary text was "Orthodox Spirituality", by Fr. Dimitru Staniloae, a strong defender of Palamism. In my research for a paper on Catholic v.s. Orthodox approaches to union with God, I could have used something like this (although I still managed to pull an "A" in the course).

In Christ,
Dn. Robert

Even though Patriarch Joseph brought about the restoration of St Gregory Palamas - this does not mean that his cult is by any means popular in the UGCC.

In fact, it is opposed in many locales.

Alex

Truly sad.

Dear Todd,

Yes absolutely! The UGCC especially is an Eastern Catholic Church but one where there is confusion over the idea that "Catholic" means "we must have Latinisms to show we are not Orthodox." Although not in all parishes, to be sure.

Opposition to his cult is primarily based on the view of our Roman-trained priests that he was canonized after 1054 AD and they also remember the vitriolic attacks against Palamas by Western theologians of former years.

The fact that Sts. Volodymyr and Olha, who figure highly in the UGCC calendar, of course, were themselves canonized not by the Catholic Church, but by the Orthodox Church, seems lost on many.

Alex