Light in Eastern theology

[Aefensang]

Precious souls,

I have always been fascinated, as a Westerner, by the Eastern proclivity for centering on the abstract symbol of light.

Basil of Casarea has his famous description of the Holy Ghost as a pure ray or beam of light shooting down upon us from the Father. The Tabor Light of the Transfiguration seems to figure heavily into your thoughts and meditations. Only the Orthodox & Eastern Churches kept the hymn Phos hilarion, that beautiful “Hail, gladsome light”, in their liturgy over the last 1900 years.

Do Eastern Catholics practice Palamas’ Hesychasm, and how does that relate to The Light?

Is there something unique to the East that drives this on? Any ideas, quotes of the Fathers, essays, articles, papers, or commentaries on light-hymns and Scriptures about light, would be appreciated.

 

[Vico]

Precious souls,

I have always been fascinated, as a Westerner, by the Eastern proclivity for centering on the abstract symbol of light.

Basil of Casarea has his famous description of the Holy Ghost as a pure ray or beam of light shooting down upon us from the Father. The Tabor Light of the Transfiguration seems to figure heavily into your thoughts and meditations. Only the Orthodox & Eastern Churches kept the hymn Phos hilarion, that beautiful “Hail, gladsome light”, in their liturgy over the last 1900 years.

Do Eastern Catholics practice Palamas’ Hesychasm, and how does that relate to The Light?

Is there something unique to the East that drives this on? Any ideas, quotes of the Fathers, essays, articles, papers, or commentaries on light-hymns and Scriptures about light, would be appreciated.

I am a Byzantine Catholic and we do use this prayer in Vespers and the Vigil Divine Liturgies (of St. Basil or St. John Chrysostom) and in the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts:O Joyful Light of the holy glory of the Father Immortal, the heavenly, holy, blessed One, O Jesus Christ, now that we have reached the setting of the sun, and see the evening light, we sing to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (+). It is fitting at all times to raise a song of praise in measured melody to you, O Son of God, the Giver of Life. Therefore, the universe sings your glory.

Also in the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is, holding a candle the priest says this just before a reading from the Old Testament:Wisdom! Be attentive! The light of Christ enlightens everyone!
That is from John 1:9.

 

[ByzCathCantor]

[BIBLEDRB]Genesis 1:1-4[/BIBLEDRB]

[BIBLEDRB]John 8:12[/BIBLEDRB]

Christ refers to Himself as the light of the world.

The very first act of creation brings forth light.

Our Eastern Churches face East, toward the rising sun (ad orientem).

God first creates the light, and further illuminates the world by sending his only begotten Son, the light of the world.

The hymn quoted by Vico recants the analogy and belief - that God sent His Son, the Joyful Light, to guide us toward Him.

 

[Bakmoon]

Precious souls,

I have always been fascinated, as a Westerner, by the Eastern proclivity for centering on the abstract symbol of light.

Basil of Casarea has his famous description of the Holy Ghost as a pure ray or beam of light shooting down upon us from the Father. The Tabor Light of the Transfiguration seems to figure heavily into your thoughts and meditations. Only the Orthodox & Eastern Churches kept the hymn Phos hilarion, that beautiful “Hail, gladsome light”, in their liturgy over the last 1900 years.

Do Eastern Catholics practice Palamas’ Hesychasm, and how does that relate to The Light?

Is there something unique to the East that drives this on? Any ideas, quotes of the Fathers, essays, articles, papers, or commentaries on light-hymns and Scriptures about light, would be appreciated.

I would say that it is a reference to the Tabor light, which in Eastern Orthodox Theology is held to be nothing other than the uncreated energies of God himself. This light is taught to be able to be seen through the practice of Hesychastic prayer. This is why the image of light is so important in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

[Edit] I only use the term Eastern Orthodox Church in this post because I am not entirely sure what the Eastern Rite Catholics believe on the matter because this theological point was settled after much controversy the Eastern Orthodox Fifth Council of Constantinople, which is not accepted by the Catholic Church.

 

[rdorseyhsd]

In our Italo Greek Church we use the exact same practices as described by Vico. Our Saturday evening service is a Vesper Divine liturgy. When we get to the lamp lighting Psalms, the Church lights which were dimmed are raised.

 

[rciadan]

I love the Douay!
The light of the Transfiguration being the uncreated energies of God himself makes perfect sense, since the Transfiguration changed all things for all time, transfiguring Judaism to Christianity: making all things new throughout space and time and for all eternity. Only the uncreated energy of God, Himself could accomplish this…
The Transfiguration has always held a special place in my thinking, and here, yet again I find myself thinking in Byzantine concepts…

 

[Aramis]

Do Eastern Catholics practice Palamas’ Hesychasm, and how does that relate to The Light?

Some, not all. Even amongst the Orthodox, Hesychasm is a bit of an outlier practice. A practice of certain monastic communities, a smattering of non-monastic clerics, and a rare few laymen.

It’s a respected praxis, but it’s not suitable for everyone, and is actively discouraged without a firm spiritual guidance from a practicing Hesychast who is one’s spiritual father.