Barlaam of Seminara
Barlaam of Calabria (Greek Βαρλαὰμ Καλαβρός, * 1290 in Seminara, Calabria, † 1348 in Avignon ) was a southern Italian cleric and scholar, who worked in the 14th century. He played briefly a significant role in the church policy of the Byzantine Empire as well as in orthodox theology, but fell in the dispute over Hesychasts the Byzantine Emperor in disgrace. He later became Bishop of Gerace in southern Italy.
Life
Barlaam was born in Calabria in southern Italy in Seminara, where he grew up in a Greek-speaking and Orthodox context. From a young age he became a monk in the Basilian monastery of S. Elia di Galatro, where he adopted a comprehensive education. He studied Greek and Latin, as well as ancient philosophy (especially Plato and Aristotle ), and the streams of scholasticism ( Thomas Aquinas, John Duns Scotus ). He was regarded early on as a leading expert on Greek and also taught Dante Alighieri in this area. To deepen his knowledge, he moved to Aetolia and Thessaloniki.
Between 1325 and 1330 he went to Constantinople Opel where he challenged the most important Byzantine scholar Nikephoros Gregoras. Although he lost to his opponent in a public debate on philosophy and astronomy, he thus acquired a reputation as a scholar and the confidence of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos III. So he negotiated 1334/35 on behalf of the emperor with the legate of Pope John XXII. Apparently encouraged by his dealings with the Catholics, he published subsequently a number of theological writings, in which he criticized the Western Church as the " Filioque " and the primacy of the Pope. The Emperor sent him as ambassador in 1339 to Avignon, where he. Pope Benedict XII overcoming the Oriental schism negotiated. Barlaam should provide the Papists the unity of the Christian Church in view, and demand for support in the fight against the Byzantine Empire threatening Turks. The negotiations failed, however.
Barlaam played in this dispute is a very ambiguous role by the Catholic Church praised in his writings as well as criticized. The legend of Pope Joan was spread about by the writings Barlaams. Otherwise, he published many theological, philosophical and mathematical works well as a music theory book, in which he refuted the thesis of Nikephoros Gregoras Harmonics of Claudius Ptolemy. Barlaam fell since about 1336 in a theological dispute with Gregory Palamas and Hesychasm out of this, a mystical- spiritual movement that arose on Mount Athos and emphasized especially by special prayer and breathing techniques. Palamas was entered into Barlaams sight, as he had subjected his writings a critical reading and published his criticism. Barlaam was informed then about Palamas and the Hesychasts to their methods of prayer and theology, he took offense.
Both scholars published in the subsequent period polemics against the other and its teaching. Barlaams posts in this theological dispute, however, are not obtained, and can only be inferred from the works of Palamas. Emperor Andronikos III. tended the side of the Hesychasts to what in 1341 was significantly later than: On June 10th of the year Barlaams were officially declared complaints about the Hesychasts at a synod, who chaired the Emperor void. Barlaam was condemned and revoked his teaching. Then he left Constantinople Opel and returned to the West, where he went to Roman Catholicism.
When Pope in Avignon and in general in Italy during the Renaissance humanism had his nominalist better opportunities. Initially working as a librarian in Naples, he was soon to Avignon, where he was ordained a priest. 1342 appointed him to the Pope as Bishop of Gerace in Calabria. There he had other contacts with Francesco Petrarca, which he taught, and Paolo da Perugia. 1346/47 he returned in order of Pope Clement VI. again to Constantinople Opel back to renegotiate the Church Union. However, the situation was unfavorable and Barlaam returned to Avignon, where he died in July 1348. 1351 another prohesychastische synod took place in Byzantium, where the opponents of Palamas were finally convicted. The remaining followers were excommunicated Barlaams.