THE INFLUENCE OF THE HESYCHAST DOCTRINE OF GREGORY PALAMAS ON THE HERITAGE OF THE UKRAINIAN-ATHONIAN POLEMIST AND ELDER JOHN OF VISHENSKYI
/ВЛИЯНИЕ УЧЕНИЯ СВТ. ГРИГОРИЯ ПАЛАМЫ НА НАСЛЕДИЕ УКРАИНСКО-АФОНСКОГО ПОЛЕМИСТА И СТАРЦА ИОАННА ВИШЕНСКОГО/

Serhii Viktorovich SHUMYLO

director, The International Institute of the Athonite Legacy in Ukraine, 126 Chervonoarmiyska St., office 1, 01004, Kyiv, Ukraine, institute@afon.org.ua, 0038977214235

Abstract

The article examines the spiritual and literary heritage of the Ukrainian St. John of Vishensky (1550s - 1620s) and the influence of the Athos hesychasm teachings of St. Gregory Palamas on it. The author compares the works of Gregory Palamas and the works of John Vishensky and concludes that the Athos heritage of Gregory Palamas had a serious impact on the views and worldview of John Vishensky. In particular, after analyzing the works of the two saints, the author comes to the conclusion that the legacy of the elder John Vyshensky cannot be understood and interpreted in isolation from the teachings of St. Gregory Palamas and outside the Athos hesychast-patristic heritage, on which all his views were based.  According to the author, the works of John Vishensky are an important component of both Ukrainian literature and the world Orthodox heritage.

Keywords

John of Vishensky, Gregory Palamas, Hesychasm, Athos, Holy Mountain, Monasticism, Eldership, Holy Fathers, Orthodoxy, Ukraine

SUMMARY

The article is devoted to the spiritual and literary heritage of the Monk John of Vishensky (1550s - 1620s), who was one of the prominent Athos devotees who played an important role in the revival of Orthodoxy in Ukraine in the 17th century. Several generations of Ukrainian writers, church-cultural and political figures were brought up on the works of John Vyshensky. Having undergone a “new birth” and repeated reprints in the 19th – 20th centuries, his messages even in Soviet times were placed in school textbooks and reader books on Ukrainian literature. Thanks to this, in Soviet Ukraine, despite the then prevailing ideology of godlessness, schoolchildren could learn about faith in God, about Athos and his traditions. At the same time, the legacy of Elder John of Vishensky cannot be understood and interpreted in isolation from the teachings of St. Gregory Palamas and outside the Athos-Hesychast-patristic heritage, on which all his views were based. The works and legacy of Elder John are an invaluable spiritual and literary treasury. Undeservedly forgotten today, it is an important component of both Ukrainian culture and world Orthodox civilization. Nowadays, this heritage is gaining new relevance and requires deeper study and rebirth.

(Language: russian)

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