Theosis in Patristic Thought

Authors

  • Vladimir KHARLAMOV

Keywords:

Theosis, Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite and Maximus the Confesso, essence and energy

Abstract

In the current renewal of interest in the deification theme, the consensual and homogeneous character of this concept among early Christian writers is generally assumed. This article concisely examines the intricate complexity of the emergence and development of theosis in patristic theology, acknowledging the initially marginal, rhetorical, multi-dimensional, and often contextualized role of this concept prior to its theological consolidation in Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite and Maximus the Confessor in the sixth and seventh centuries. Important to Palamite and Neo-Palamite Eastern Orthodox theology, the distinction between the divine essence and energy is not necessarily a representative characteristic of the early church fathers.

Author Biography

Vladimir KHARLAMOV

Vladimir Kharlamov holds a Ph.D. in Theological and Religious Studies from Drew University. He is Assistant Professor of Spiritual Theology at Sioux Falls Seminary (USA). His primary area of research is in Patristics and Late Antiquity. Among his other academic interests are Medieval theology, Christian spirituality, Islam, and Russian Religious Philosophy. He co-edited Theosis: Deification in Christian Theology (2006) and authored The Beauty of the Unity and the Harmony of the Whole: The Concept of Theosis in the Theology of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite (2009). He is member of the North American Patristics Society and American Academy of Religion. He has published and presented a number of academic articles and papers at conferences in his field.

THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS #9 (2008)

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How to Cite

KHARLAMOV, Vladimir. 2008. “Theosis in Patristic Thought”. Theological Reflections: Eastern European Journal of Theology, no. 9 (December):154-64. http://reflections.eeit-edu.info/article/view/87783.

Issue

No. 9 (2008): Theological Reflections: Euro-Asian Journal of Theology

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2020 Vladimir KHARLAMOV

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