It is a word of Greek origin that means stillness, silence, inner peace, tranquility, calm. Mystical union with God. In religion and theology it is a meditative ascetic doctrine and practice spread among Eastern Christian monks, starting in the fourth century with the so-called Desert Fathers.
Hesychasm is a tradition that comes from Mount Sinai and is a practical-ascetic doctrine, in which the mental and/or oral repetition of the prayer name of Jesus or prayer of the heart is practiced, the most common being: "Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me" although other similar ones can be used. It began to be practiced among Eastern Christian monks. Its goal is union with God.
