Cognition of the universe’s integrity in the philosophy of hesychasm

The present article discusses the epistemological and ontological foundations of such a prominent Orthodox teaching as Hesychasm. It is emphasized that true knowledge, according to the worldview of the Hesychasts, comes through deep inner experience and contact with the divine presence in the heart. Though God is unknowable in essence, His actions and energies can be realized and perceived through human experience. The Hesychasts taught that created nature can be reunited with the godhead through the perception of uncreated energies, which are the manifestation of God’s presence in the world. The synergy of God and man leads to their meeting and communicating in prayer, which is a crucial step on the path to the deification of man. The author of the article concludes that at present Hesychasm remains an important component of spirituality and culture in Russia, and certain Hesychastic practices are still relevant in terms of human psychological experience and the search for personal integrity.