HESYCHASM Meaning and
Definition
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Hesychasm is a term derived from the Greek word hesychia, meaning "stillness" or "silence." It refers to a mystical tradition and spiritual practice within Eastern Orthodox Christianity that aims to achieve union with God through inner stillness and contemplation.
In hesychasm, practitioners strive to attain a state of uninterrupted prayer where the mind is disengaged from distracting thoughts and worldly concerns. This is achieved through the repetition of the Jesus Prayer, which involves focusing on the words, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." The emphasis is on cultivating a sense of inner peace and calmness by concentrating on this prayer, allowing the practitioner to open themselves to the Divine presence.
This spiritual tradition traces its roots back to the early Christian desert fathers and was later developed by St. Gregory Palamas in the 14th century. Hesychasm emphasizes the direct experience of God's presence and the transformation of the inner person. Its aim is to deepen one's understanding of God, attain a state of divine grace, and ultimately achieve theosis, or deification - the participation in the divine nature.
Practitioners of hesychasm engage in various ascetic practices, such as solitude, silence, fasting, and physical postures, to discipline the body and mind, allowing them to purify their thoughts and connect with God on a deeper level. Hesychastic spirituality is highly regarded in Eastern Orthodox Christianity and continues to be influential in the spiritual lives of many believers.
Common Misspellings for HESYCHASM
- gesychasm
- besychasm
- nesychasm
- jesychasm
- uesychasm
- yesychasm
- hwsychasm
- hssychasm
- hdsychasm
- hrsychasm
- h4sychasm
- h3sychasm
- heaychasm
- hezychasm
- hexychasm
- hedychasm
- heeychasm
- hewychasm
- hestchasm
- hesgchasm
Etymology of HESYCHASM
The word "hesychasm" comes from the Greek word "ἡσυχία" (hesychia), which means "stillness", "quietude", or "silence". This term is derived from the Greek adjective "ἡσύχιος" (hesychios), meaning "quiet" or "peaceful". Hesychasm refers to a mystical tradition of contemplative prayer and inner stillness practiced in Eastern Christianity, particularly in the Orthodox Church.
