@Thusnelda @BowsacNoodle @bobbala @c00p @STP @Twig @inscius @Bunsen In his zeal to justify his attack of Traditional Orthodox Monasticism, Barlaam was trying to prove that God is “unknowable” in Essence (which is true). So when the Holy Transfiguration was brought up, St. Gregory argued that - while Man indeed cannot know the Essence of God, through Divine Grace we are invited in Christ to participate in His Energies - which are Divine Attributes God can and often has revealed to us - and therefore can be known - by being invited in.
This has been the whole justification for Orthodox Monasticism since before Egypt; that devoting oneself wholly to this practice (Hesychasm) is indeed a worthy and God-pleasing exercise.
Barlaam was denying this - and did so so overzealously, that he made a Theological change. And that wouldn’t have been such a problem if it didn’t immediately become Rome’s official position !! One guy can be wrong, but all of Rome ?!