Hesychia
{{Short description|Philosophical concept of stillness}}
{{other uses}}
{{Christian mysticism}}
The Greek term hesychia ({{lang|grc|ἡσυχία}}, {{IPA|el|isiˈçia}}) is a concept that can be translated as "stillness, rest, quiet, silence".{{cite book | title=The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity | last=Parry | first=Ken | location=Malden, MA | publisher=Blackwell Publishing | year=1999 | isbn=0-631-23203-6|pages=230}}
In Christianity
{{Further|Hesychasm}}
In the Eastern Orthodox Christian mystical tradition of hesychasm, hesychia refers to a state of stillness and peace that is obtained through extreme ascetical struggle, prayer, and the constant contemplation of God. The attainment of hesychia is a central theme discussed in hesychast literature.
Chapter 2 of the Systematic Sayings of the Desert Fathers is dedicated to the topic of hesychia.{{cite book|last=Wortley|first=John|title=The Book of the Elders – sayings of the Desert Fathers: the systematic collection|publisher=Cistercian Publications Liturgical Press|publication-place=Trappist, KY; Collegeville, MN|year=2012|isbn=978-0-87907-201-8}}
In Neoplatonism
{{Further|Henosis}}
The term is also used in Neoplatonic texts such as the Enneads.{{cite book|editor-last=Gerson|editor-first=Lloyd P.|title=The Enneads|publisher=Cambridge University Press|publication-place=Cambridge|year=2018|isbn=978-1-107-00177-0|oclc=993492241}}
Other languages
Equivalent terms in other languages include Syriac shelya (šelya).{{cite journal | last=Brock | first=Sebastian | author-link=Sebastian Brock | title=Stages in the Spiritual Life According to Isaac the Syrian and Syriac Tradition | journal=Orthodox Theology in Dialogue | publisher=Mitropolia Olteniei | volume=6 | issue=6 | date=2020 | issn=2668-5353 | pages=85–95 | url=https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=952155 | access-date=2024-02-19}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Ancient Greek philosophical concepts}}
Category:Christian contemplation
Category:Christian terminology
{{Christianity-stub}}
{{Philosophy-stub}}