HESYCHAST Meaning and
Definition
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A Hesychast refers to a practitioner of Hesychasm, a Christian spiritual tradition that originated in the Eastern Orthodox Church. The term "Hesychast" comes from the Greek word hesychia, meaning "stillness" or "silence," and describes an individual who seeks inner peace, tranquility, and union with God through deep prayer and meditation techniques.
Primarily associated with monks and hermits, a Hesychast is someone who refrains from worldly distractions and dedicates themselves to focusing on the internal realm. They strive to cultivate a state of inner quietude and stillness, often employing techniques such as controlled breathing, repetitive prayers called the Jesus Prayer, and prolonged periods of contemplative prayer.
By entering into this state of inner stillness, a Hesychast seeks to connect with God and attain a direct experience of the divine presence. The goal is to achieve theoria, a term used to describe the contemplative vision of God, which is believed to bring about spiritual enlightenment and a closer relationship with the divine.
Hesychast practice traces its roots to the early Christian desert fathers and has been passed down through generations of Orthodox monastic communities. Its emphasis on stillness and silence as a means of spiritual transformation distinguishes it from other forms of Christian mysticism.
The Hesychast tradition continues to be influential in contemporary Eastern Orthodox spirituality, particularly among those seeking to deepen their prayer life, develop closer communion with God, and cultivate an inner peace that transcends the turbulence of the external world.
Common Misspellings for HESYCHAST
- gesychast
- besychast
- nesychast
- jesychast
- uesychast
- yesychast
- hwsychast
- hssychast
- hdsychast
- hrsychast
- h4sychast
- h3sychast
- heaychast
- hezychast
- hexychast
- hedychast
- heeychast
- hewychast
- hestchast
Etymology of HESYCHAST
The word "Hesychast" comes from the Greek term "hesychia", which means "stillness" or "silence". The word originated from the Greek root "hesychazo", which means "to keep still" or "to be quiet". In the context of religious and spiritual practices, "hesychasm" refers to a tradition of prayer and contemplation characterized by interior stillness and the cultivation of inner peace. A practitioner of hesychasm is called a "hesychast". The term is often associated with a particular form of Christian monasticism practiced in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
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