The Walling-Off of Saint Gregory Palamas

Protopresbyter Dimitrios Athanasiou | March 7, 2026

 

 

The walling-off of Saint Gregory Palamas constitutes a pivotal point in the ecclesiastical history and the theology of Orthodoxy, since it is directly connected with his struggle against false doctrines and the defense of Hesychasm.

The basic points that explain the context and the significance of this act follow:

1. The Historical Context

During the 14th century, the so-called “Hesychast Controversy” broke out. The monk Barlaam the Calabrian, coming from the West, accused the hesychast monks of Mount Athos of delusion, maintaining that God is entirely inaccessible and that the “Uncreated Light” which the monks saw during their prayer was created (a human fabrication or a vision).

2. The Act of Walling-Off

It is important to emphasize that for Saint Gregory, walling-off was not an act of schism or rebellion in the worldly sense, but an act of confession.

Let us see some additional details that complete the picture:

a) Saint Gregory considered that when a bishop (in this case Patriarch John XIV Kalekas) proclaims “with bared head” a teaching that comes into opposition with the tradition of the Church, then the cessation of his commemoration is necessary for the safeguarding of the truth.

b) Patriarch Kalekas did not limit himself only to theological disagreements, but also used political authority (in a period of civil war in Byzantium) to imprison Saint Gregory. The walling-off was therefore also a response to the attempt to impose an erroneous theology through violence.

c) As is mentioned, the foundation was Theosis. If the energies of God were “created” (that is, creations), as Barlaam maintained and Kalekas tolerated, then man would never be able to come into real contact with God Himself, but only with His creations. This would annul the entire meaning of Christian salvation.

This stance of Saint Gregory Palamas constitutes to this day the most fundamental argument for those who invoke the sacred canons (such as the 15th Canon of the First-Second Council) in matters of faith, distinguishing walling-off from a simple schism.

3. The Distinction of Essence and Energy

The walling-off was the “instrument” in order for the dogmatic truth formulated by the Saint to be protected:

• God is inaccessible in His Essence.

• God becomes participable (accessible) to man through His Uncreated Energies (such as the Light of the Transfiguration).

4. The Vindication

Despite the persecutions and his imprisonment, Saint Gregory was vindicated triumphantly by the Councils of 1341, 1347, and 1351. His teaching became an official dogma of the Orthodox Church, and he himself was recognized as a “Light of Orthodoxy.”

Important Note: Today, the case of the walling-off of Saint Gregory CONSTITUTES AN EXAMPLE of a “lawful” reaction when it is considered that a matter of alteration of the faith is raised, according to the 15th Canon of the First-Second Council.

 

Greek source:

https://fdathanasiou-parakatathiki.blogspot.com/2026/03/blog-post_31.html