God is form, man is matter. The concepts of ‘essence’ and ‘nature’ in the physics and christology of Michael Psellos

Michael Psellos, an outstanding scholar, theologian and philosopher of the eleventh century, in his works consistently distinguishes the terms ‘essence’ and ‘nature’, applying the first term mainly to the intellectual and spiritual sphere of being, and the second to the material sphere. The article suggests that the source of this terminological distinction was the physical views of Michael Psellos, based on a certain interpretation of Aristotle’s ‘Physics’, which is close to the late antique commentator tradition, especially to the commentary of John Philopon. Also considered are the Christological views of Michael Psellos, based on the nonsynonymous use of the term ‘nature’ in relation to the deity and humanity of Christ. As an example taken is the Psellos’ commentary on the words by Gregory the Theologian “natures are renewed and God becomes a man”. The Christology of Michael Psellos is considered in the context of late Byzantine theological tradition (St. Anastasius of Sinai, St...