Spirituality in Late Byzantium: Essays Presenting New Research by International Scholars

This collection of essays on late Byzantine spirituality presents new research covering a very important but less than well-documented period of Byzantine culture. Its thematic cohesion, originality of thought, variety of methodological approaches and broad intellectual range, make it a valuable contribution to the field and an asset for academics and students alike. The essays discuss pertinent historical, textual, liturgical and doctrinal matters, and through new evidence and re-appraisals of accepted scholarly views they seek to make their mark. Table of ContentsList of IllustrationsPrefaceAcknowledgementsGlossaryIntroduction - Eugenia RussellPart I: The Seeds of hesychia and the Theologians of hesychasmChapter One: The Reforming Abbot and his Tears: Penthos in late ByzantiumHannah HuntChapter Two: The Patriarch Philotheos Kokkinos and His Defence of HesychasmNorman RussellChapter Three: Symeon of Thessalonica and his Message of Personal RedemptionEugenia RussellChapter Four: Reading Denys in late Byzantium: Gregory Palamas’s Approachto the Theological Categories of ‘apophasis’ and ‘union and distinction'James BlackstonePart II: Four Case Studies on Late Byzantine SpiritualityChapter Five: The 'Testament of Job’: From Testament to VitaMaria HaralambakisChapter Six: Donors and Iconography: The Case of the Church St. Virgin in Dolna Kamenitsa (XIV c.)Teodora BurnandChapter Seven: The Church of the Most Pure Virgin at the Village of GraeshnitsaRobert MihajlovskiChapter Eight: Journey of the Soul to Perfection: Nicetas StethatosJozef MatulaAfterword - Eugenia RussellIllustrationsList of ContributorsAbout the EditorIndexHallowed be thy name