V.N. Lossky about an Empirical Principle in Byzantine Theology

The article proposes a consideration of the most important aspect in the study of Byzantine theology ― the principle of distinguishing essence and energy, Divine Persons in Trinitarian theology, natures in Christology ― by the fact of being, by the act of thinking and by the result of naming (cf. with the scholastic scheme developed during the dispute about universals ― realism, conceptualism, nominalism). The latest literature on the issue is involved; a typology of the main approaches to its solution is carried out, which are thematized as follows ― the theology of autonomy and the theology of involvement. The first is characterized by an analytically rational way of studying the problem; the second is existential- empirical. It is shown that the Orthodox theologians of the Russian emigration, who laid the foundation for broad studies of Palamism, among which V. N. Lossky and protopr. John Meyendorff, belong to the second type, while modern world studies tend mainly to the first. The inevitable limitations and alien nature of the first approach as a whole in relation to Byzantine theology are stated, as well as the advantages and prospects of the second are revealed. Outstanding theologian of the late Byzantine period ― St Simeon the New Theologian is brought in as the main witness in favor of the involvement theology. His “Vita” (written by Nicetas Stethatus), “Hymni” and “Orationes ethicae” are the main sources under scrutiny. The example of ancient texts clearly shows the unconditional advantage that is given to the empirical and existential aspects of God’s communion over abstract dialectical reasoning about the ontological or epistemological status of a theological statement. In conclusion, an attempt was made to provide a historical explanation of the peculiarity of the contribution to the study of Byzantine theology carried out by Russian scholars and theologians.