The monograph reconstructs the church-political activity of St. Theoliptus, Metropolitan of Philadelphia (1250-1325), his theological, ascetic and social views. St. Theoliptus is presented as the founder and apologist of the hesychast movement in Byzantium at the beginning of the 14th century, as a constant fighter against the Arsenite schism throughout the entire period of its existence, as a church-political figure who on a number of issues predetermined the position of representatives of the Constantinople political elite. Based on texts St. Theoliptus’s picture of the Arsenite movement was supplemented with new facts, as well as the circumstances of the genesis of the upcoming Palamite disputes. The reconstructed teaching of Theoliptus about the church made it possible to give a new explanation of the reasons and driving motives for the cessation of the Philadelphia metropolitan canonical communication with the Patriarch of Constantinople in 1310. The book includes a translation into Russian of two anti-Arsenite and two monastic teachings of St. Theoliptus.

Contents: From the author.............. ........................................................ ........................................................ ................................5Introduction............. ........................................................ ........................................................ ................................9History of studying the heritage of Metropolitan Theoliptus.................. ...................................................14Methodological priorities when working with genres of religious writing in general, and with the legacy of Theoliptus in in particular........................................................ .......................25Source base of the study............................ ........................................................ ...................28Chapter 1: Church and political activities of Theoliptus.1.1. The life of Theoliptus before the episcopacy (about 1250-1283) and his elevation to the see of Philadelphia.......................... ........................................................ ..........341.2. The church-political activities of Metropolitan Theoliptus under the Patriarchs of Constantinople Gregory II and John XII...................................... ...........................411.3. Theoliptus of Philadelphia and Athanasius I of Constantinople (1289-1293, 1303-1309).................................................. ........................................................ ...................471.4. The pastoral activity of Theoliptus as a prerequisite for his political significance.................................................... ........................................................ ...................521.5. Activities of Theoliptus in Philadelphia.................................................... ...............................581.6. Church peace of 1310 and Theoliptus’s attitude towards it.................................... ................611.7. Circumstances that predetermined the social significance of Theoliptus’s ideological and political views.................................................... ........................70Chapter 2: The written heritage of Theoliptus of Philadelphia: source studies aspects.2.1. General remarks................................................ ........................................................ ...................732.2. Treatises of ascetic orientation.................................................... ................................742.3. Epistolary heritage................................................... ........................................................ .......832.4. Two treatises against the Arsenites, addressed to the Philadelphian congregation.2.5. Two exhortations to the Philadelphians and hymnographic works...85Chapter 3: Arsenite schism in the depiction of Theoliptus of Philadelphia and the ecclesiology of Theoliptus in the light of his opposition to the Arsenites.3.1. Arsenite movement as an internal political factor................................................. ......883.2. Images of arsenites in the image of Theoliptus.................................................... ........................943.3. Testimony of Theoliptus about the struggle of the Arsenites for power in the context of the circumstances of the Blachernae Council of 1285................................................... ........................................963.4. About the problem of the unity of the Church and schisms among the Arsenites themselves....................................................983.5. Theoliptus about the arsenite program.................................................... ...................................................1023.6. The essence of the Arsenite schism and measures to overcome it as presented by Theoliptus.................... 1093.7. Non-recognition of the act of 1310 by Theoliptus in the light of anti-Arsenite treatises: ecclesiology Theolipt......................................................... ...................................................1143.8. Conclusion: the origins and prospects of Theoliptus’s anti-Arsenite policy....................................119Chapter 4: Theoliptus’ ascetic ideals and his apology for hesychasm in 1307.4.1. Statement of the problem................................................... ........................................................ .......1234.2. Theoliptus’s teaching on the dignity of primordial man in connection with his teaching on mental prayer.................................................... ........................................................ ...............1264.3. The essence of the Fall in the understanding of Theoliptus: division in the human race as a prerequisite fall......................................................... ...................1314.4. “Smart prayer” according to the teachings of Theoliptus.................................................... ........................................1364.5. Hesychia as a calling παντὶ χριστιανῶ in the works of Theoliptai in the tradition of late Byzantine hesychasm................................................... .........................................1434.6. Theoliptus as an apologist for hesychasm.................................................... ................................................1534.7. Features and ideological and political significance of Theoliptus hesychasm....................................164Chapter 5: The socio-economic reality of the era as reflected by Theoliptus of Philadelphia (labor didactics of Theoliptus).5.1. Staging Problems................................................. ........................................................ ...............1685.2. Agricultural labor................................................................... ........................................................ ......1705.3. The realities of craft labor and labor didactics.................................................... .......................1725.4. Trading business................................................ ........................................................ ........................1775.5. Monastery as a small social group................................................. .................................181Conclusion................ ........................................................ ........................................................ .....................................187Appendices......... ........................................................ ........................................................ ...............................................190Appendix 1: Saint Theoliptus , Metropolitan of Philadelphia. The teaching [that] it is necessary to avoid those who separate from Orthodox Christians, zealously attend the churches of God, obey bishops and honor the servants of the Lord. Appendix 2: Saint Theoliptus, Metropolitan of Philadelphia. A word addressed to the true Christian fullness of Philadelphia, praising and approving spending their days in church, listening to the Holy Scriptures and approaching the Divine Sacraments with fear; at the same time, condemning and exhorting to conversion those who withdraw from communion with Orthodox Christians and separate themselves from the Church. Appendix 3: Saint Theoliptus, Metropolitan of Philadelphia. Teaching on the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ. Appendix 4: Saint Theoliptus, Metropolitan of Philadelphia. [Word] on Pentecost: On the descent of the All-Holy Spirit. List of abbreviations................................................... ........................................................ ........................................................ ......220List of sources and literature........................................................ ........................................................ ....................221