Hesychasm

2005-11-16T04:48:02Z

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{{spirituality}}
'''Hesychasm''' is a [[mystical]] tradition of experiential [[prayer]] in the [[Orthodox Church]]. It is described in great detail in the [[Philokalia]], a compilation of what various [[saints]] wrote about prayer and the spiritual life.

==The Hesychastic prayer==
In practice, the Hesychastic prayer bears some superficial resemblance to mystical prayer or meditation in Eastern religions (e.g., Buddhism and Hinduism, especially Yoga), although this similarity is often overly emphasized in popular accounts.

For example, it may involve specific body postures and be accompanied by very deliberate breathing patterns. It involves acquiring an inner stillness, ignoring the physical senses. The hesychasts interpreted [[Jesus Christ|Christ]]'s injunction in the [[Gospel of Matthew]] to "go into your closet to pray" to mean that they should ignore sensory input and withdraw inwards to pray. It often includes many repetitions of the [[Jesus Prayer]], ''"Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me[, a sinner]."''. While some might compare it with a mantra, to use the Jesus Prayer in such a fashion is to violate its purpose. One is never to treat it as a string of syllables for which the "surface" meaning is secondary. Likewise, hollow repetition is considered to be worthless (or even spiritually damaging) in the hesychast tradition.

Saint [[Theophan the Recluse]] once related that body postures and breathing techniques were virtually forbidden in his youth, since, instead of gaining the [[Holy Spirit|Spirit of God]], people succeeded only "in ruining their lungs."

===Gregory Palamas: Defender of Hesychasm===

Hesychasm was defended theologically by [[Gregory Palamas]] at about [[Ninth Ecumenical Council|three separate Hesychast Synods in Constantinople]] from 1341 to 1351; he was asked to by his fellow monks on [[Mount Athos|Mt. Athos]] to defend it from the attacks of [[Barlaam of Calabria]], who advocated a more intellectualist approach to prayer.

==See also==

* [[Mysticism]]
* [[Philokalia]]
* [[The Way of a Pilgrim]]
* [[Meditation]]
* [[Prayer]]
* [[Theosis]]

== External links ==

*[http://www.hesychasm.ru/en/index.htm Hesychasm]
*[http://www.oca.org/OCchapter.asp?SID=2&ID=195 The Jesus Prayer], a very straightforward exposition.
*[http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/ignaty_jesus.aspx On Practicing the Jesus Prayer]
*[http://www.monachos.net/patristics/palamas_theology.shtml Three foundational aspects of the Theology of St Gregory Palamas]

==References==
* ''The [[Philokalia]]'' (four volumes)
* ''[[The Way of a Pilgrim]]''

[[Category:Asceticism]]

Alexander Schmemann

2005-11-16T04:14:37Z

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{{orthodoxyinamerica}}
Protopresbyter '''Alexander Schmemann''' ([[May 13]], 1921 - [[December 13]], 1983) was a prominent 20th century Orthodox Christian [[priest]], [[theologian]], and writer.

==Life==
Fr. Alexander Schmemann was born in Estonia to Russian émigrés. His family moved to France, where he received his university education. He married Juliana Osorguine in 1943, before completing his theological studies at the [[Orthodox Theological Institute of St. Sergius (Paris, France)|Orthodox Theological Institute of St. Sergius]] in Paris and was ordained a priest in 1946.

[[Image:Schmemann_and_Solzhenitsyn.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Matushka Juliana Schmemann, Fr. Alexander, and [[Alexander Solzhenitsyn]]]]
From 1946 to 1951, Fr. Alexander taught [[Church History]] at St. Sergius. He was invited to join the faculty of [[St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|St. Vladimir's Seminary]] (then in New York City), where he taught from 1951 onwards. When the seminary moved to its present campus in Crestwood, New York in 1962, Fr. Alexander assumed the post of dean, which he would hold until his death. He also served as adjunct professor at Columbia University, New York University, Union Theological Seminary and General Theological Seminary in New York. Much of his focus at St. Vladimir's was on liturgical theology, which emphasizes the liturgical tradition of the Church as a major sign and expression of the Christian faith.

Fr. Alexander was accorded the title of ''protopresbyter'' (also called ''archpriest'' in some Orthodox jurisdictions, though in the Russian tradition from which Fr. Alexander came, the two are distinct honorary titles), the highest honor that can be bestowed on a married Orthodox priest. He held honorary degrees from Butler University, General Theological Seminary, Lafayette College, Iona College, and [[Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (Brookline, Massachusetts)|Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology]].

He was an Orthodox observer for the Second Vatican Council of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] from 1962 to 1965.

In 1970, he was active in the establishment of the [[Orthodox Church in America]], which at that time became officially independent from the [[Church of Russia|Russian Orthodox Church]], though its [[autocephaly]] has not been universally recognized.

His sermons were broadcast in Russian on ''Radio Liberty'' for 30 years. He gained a broad following of listeners across the Soviet Union, including [[Alexander Solzhenitsyn]], who became his friend after emigrating to the West.

Fr. Alexander published many books and articles. ''For the Life of the World'', a popular volume on Christian faith as reflected in liturgy, has been translated into eleven languages. Originally prepared as a study guide for the National Student Christian Federation in 1963, it even had an anonymous version published by the underground [[samizdat]] in the Soviet Union. ''The Eucharist'' was finished just before his death. This and several collections of his writings were published posthumously.

== Works ==

[[Image:Schmemann_Grave.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The grave of Fr. Alexander at [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Monastery (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)|St. Tikhon's Monastery]]]]
* ''Great Lent: Journey to Pascha'' (1969)
* ''For the Life of the World: Sacraments and Orthodoxy'' (1970)
* ''Liturgy and Life: Christian Development Through Liturgical Experience'' (1974)
* ''Of Water and the Spirit: A Liturgical Study of Baptism'' (1974)
* ''Introduction to Liturgical Theology'' (1975)
* ''The Historical Road of Eastern Othodoxy'' (1977)
* ''Ultimate Questions: An Anthology of Modern Russian Religious Thought'' (1977)
* ''Church, World, Mission: Reflections on Orthodoxy in the West'' (1979)
* ''The Eucharist: Sacrament of the Kingdom'' (1988)
* ''Celebration of Faith: I Believe...'' (1991)
* ''Celebration of Faith: The Church Year'' (1994)
* ''Celebration of Faith: The Virgin Mary'' (1995)
* ''The Journals of Father Alexander Schmemann 1973-1983'' (2000)

== External links ==
*[http://www.schmemann.org Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann Website]
*[http://www.svots.edu/Faculty/Faculty/Protopresbyter_Alexander_Schmemann/ SVS Faculty: Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann]

[[Category:Modern Writers]]

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Hesychasm

Alexander Schmemann