Overcoming Bounds of Knowledge in Theosis: Spiritual Perception in Isaac of Nineveh and Gregory Palamas

 I will discuss two approaches in describing the ways of surpassing bounds of human knowledge in theosis by gaining spiritual perception, both having a great impact on the Christian East. One was formulated by Plotinus and later by Maximus the Confessor or Gregory Palamas, having as a major concern theorizing the outlines of spiritual perception. The other one gained its expression starting from practice, from the very experience in questing/acquiring spiritual perception, the most influential author being Isaac of Nineveh. Both accounts had an exceptional role in terming supra-intellectual knowledge, the deified perception.