The distinction between God’s essence and his uncreated energies are found in (but not limited to) the following patristic writers. It is pertinent to note that in these quotes the terms „operation“, „activity“, „work“ signify „energy“.

We have taken a selection of quotations from each, these do by no means exhaust the number of quotations from each Father:

St. Athanasius, St. Cyril of Jerusalem, St. Gregory Nazianzus, St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. Cyril of Alexandria, St. Dionysius, St. Sophronius of Jerusalem, St. Maximos the Confessor, St. John of Damascus.

St. Athanasius

“And, as being in all creation, He is in essence outside everything but inside everything by his own power, arranging everything and unfolding his own providence in everything to all things, and giving life to each thing and to all things…