Barlaam of Calabria was an Italian clergyman who converted to Eastern Orthodoxy in the 14th century. He brought an accusation of heresy against Gregory Palamas for the latter's hesychast prayer. Three Orthodox Christian synods ruled against him and in Palamas's favor (1341-1351). In contrast to Gregory Palamas's teaching that the "glory of God" revealed in various episodes of Jewish and Christian Scripture (e.g., the Burning Bush seen by Moses) was the uncreated Energies of God, Barlaam held that they were created effects, because no part of God, whatsoever, could be viewed by humans. Upon the synodical decisions against him, he left Constantinople permanently and presumably returned to Calabria and Roman Catholicism.
