Imiaslavie

Imiaslavie (imyaslavie, Russian: Имяславие, literally "name-praisingness" or "name-glorification"), among critics also known as imyabozhie (Russian: Имябожие) or imyabozhnichestvo (Russian: Имябожничество), and also referred to as onomatodoxy (Greek: ονοματοδοξία) was a mystical-dogmatic movement in Russian Orthodoxy, the main position of which was the statement of the indissoluble connection between the name of God as the energy and action of God and God Himself.^[1] The imiaslavie movement emerged early in the 20th century, but both proponents and opponents cite alleged antecedents throughout the history of Christianity. Advocates claim that the idea is traceable to the Church Fathers, while opponents claim to trace it to ancient heresiarchs.

In 1913 the teachings of the imyaslavites were officially condemned as heretical by the Most Holy Synod, and the turmoil that arose in the Russian monasteries on Mount Athos due to disputes over this teaching was suppressed using Russian armed force. The theological controversy that arose in connection with the teachings of the Imiaslavie revived interest in the legacy of St Gregory Palamas and the Hesychasts in Russia and had a noticeable impact on the development of Russian religious and philosophical thought in the first half the 20th century.

Although no authentic groups of imyaslavites have survived (they were defeated by the Soviet power), nevertheless, interest in the imiaslavie theme revived at the turn of the 1990s – 2000s. Some Russian religious thinkers and theologians of the Russian Orthodox Church expressed a certain sympathy for some of the ideas of the imyaslavites. Several True Orthodox jurisdictions of different ideological orientations expressed their categorical support for imiaslavie, considering the denial of the imiaslavie teaching as heresy.^[2]