Preamble

¹ SYNODAL TOME WRITTEN CONCERNING THE GREAT COUNCILS THAT REFUTED AND CAST OUT THE IMPIETY OF BARLAAM AND AKINDYNOS;

² In which there were present not only the Church, but also the senate and the universal judges of the Romans, the most divine emperor likewise presiding, for as long as he was among the living.

³ 1. Truly praiseworthy is he who said that humility can be a spiritual philosophy, even one that is held in disrepute. For this man, feigning to be a learner, came once together with certain of the monks among us who, having chosen the life of stillness and having bidden farewell to all other things, devote themselves wholly to God. And to none of the more learned among these, but rather to the simpler ones, did he resort on purpose, altogether out of fear of being detected. After a little while, however, having withdrawn even from these, he charged them in writing with an abominable opinion, as though it were held by them. For having heard them say—holding it from the tradition of the holy Fathers—that those who through the commandments of God have purified their hearts receive divine illuminations that come to be in them mystically and ineffably, he accused them of saying that the essence of God is participable.