Author: Deacon Andrei Hlandan (Publishing Houses of the Romanian Patriarchate)
Keywords: Jesus, prayer, hesychasm, name, divine power
Abstract:
The theme of the name is present in the history of all religions: saying a name represents the expression of someone’s presence. The name is also an instrument to transcend time, as shown by the clear ceremonial wishes expressed during name days. According to the Old Testament and Hebrew tradition, the name of the Lord was too frightening to be spoken. However, the first mention of calling the Name of the Lord, from the book of Genesis (4, 26), presents a certain degree of ambiguity: „And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos; then began men to call upon the name of the Lord”. The old reverence towards the divine name was inherited by the New Testament, since the Christians use the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to fulfil all their requests. For the early Christians, there was no reason for action outside „the name of the Lord”, and therefore they were named „those that call the name of the Lord” (Acts 9, 14). Afterwards, following the development of the theological conscience, the essence of the whole Christian faith was synthesized in a short prayer – the Jesus Prayer („Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”) – that became a method for the spiritual life, since it goes far beyond a simple and steadfast prayer, being part of a spiritual doctrine called Hesychasm.
Pages: 56-72