XVIII International Conference on Patristic Studies at the University of Oxford

On 19-24 August 2019, I took part in the XVIII International Conference on Patristic Studies held at the University of Oxford, where I presented a paper titled "‘Hail, glory of the fathers!’ Patristic sources and references in the hagiographical works of Philotheos Kokkinos" as part of a workshop on Following the Holy Fathers: Patristic Sources in the Palamite Controversy. 

Abstract

As a staunch defender of hesychast theology, Philotheos Kokkinos played a leading role in orchestrating its societal breakthrough, both through his ecclesiastical authority and writings. If a comprehensive analysis of Kokkinos’ theological works is yet to be undertaken, his hagiographical oeuvre has recently been the subject of systematic study. The lives of saints Kokkinos composed for five of his contemporaries (Nikodemos, Germanos Maroules, Isidore Boucheir, Sabas the Younger and Gregory Palamas) reflect the ecclesiastical climate and polemics ongoing at the moment of their composition and are permeated with numerous hesychastic elements. These include extensive visions of the divine and Tabor light, invectives against the anti-hesychasts, (dream) visions which foretell or legitimize the condemnation of the anti-hesychasts, and excursuses on hesychast theology, with citations from John of Damascus or Basil of Caesarea. Moreover, in his lives of contemporary saints, Kokkinos translates hesychast theology into living examples of the hesychastic way of life. He thus styles his heroes, especially Sabas the Younger,  as models to be emulated by people wishing to live in hesychia, both monastics and laymen. Patristic references, not limited to citations from the writings of the Church Fathers, abound in the lives. Kokkinos compares his heroes with patristic figures and even includes Church Fathers as characters in the stories, for the purpose of legitimizing the (contested) figures of his heroes and promoting hesychast theology. Moreover, in the life of Gregory Palamas, Kokkinos explicitly fashions him in an elaborate dream vision as “the ultimate Church Father” and promotes his theology as a patristic synthesis. This paper will offer a detailed exploration of Kokkinos’ use of the Church Fathers in his lives of contemporary saints in support of and for the promotion of the hesychast theology, thus contributing to the research on patristic sources in the hesychast debate.

Last modified: Wed, 05 Feb 2020 16:08:52 GMT