Hesychast Controversy
The Hesychast Controversy was a theological dispute in the Eastern Orthodox Church during the 14th century, primarily involving the teachings of Gregory Palamas. It centered on the nature of divine experience and the relationship between God's essence and energies. Palamas defended the practice of Hesychasm, a form of contemplative prayer aimed at achieving direct communion with God.
Opponents, including Barlaam of Calabria, argued that God's essence was unknowable and that human beings could not experience God directly. The controversy led to significant debates about mysticism, theology, and the nature of salvation within the Orthodox tradition, ultimately affirming the validity of Hesychasm.