Saint
Gregory Palamas
November 14th & 2nd Sunday in Lent
Troparion (Tone 8)
O Gregory the Wonderworker, light of
Orthodoxy, support and teacher of the Church, glory of monks and
invincible protector of theologians, pride of Thessalonica and
preacher of grace, pray without ceasing for the salvation of our
souls.
St. Gregory's father was an official in the
imperial court in Constantinople and he educated his gifted son
in law, philosophy and statecraft. He died when Gregory was just
a boy. His pious mother continued to rear Gregory and his sisters
in the law of the Lord. Gregory determined at age 12 to become a
monk. He persuaded his mother and his sisters to become monastics
as well. So they gave the family's wealth away to the poor and
joined monasteries. Gregory went to Vatopedi on Mount Athos. He
then retreated to the Great Lavra, then into the wilderness. A
controversy arose in the Church over the practice of Hesychasm.
There were heretics from the West who claimed it was impossible
to behold the "uncreated light". They said it was a
created light and Barlaam of Calabria even asserted that Jesus
Christ was a created being and not God from eternity past.
Gregory did battle with these heretics in numerous local and
Patriarchal councils, defending the Faith before three Patriarchs
and three Emperors. He was consecrated Metropolitan of Salonica
in 1347. He suffered persecution from the East, as well, spending
one year of his time as bishop in slavery to the Saracens in
Asia. He entered into eternal life peacefully in 1359.
In his hands is a scroll which reads: "There is only one
reality that transcends all things."
This icon is by the hand of Nicholas Papas. This icon is one of the "cloud of witnesses" at St. Philip's Antiochian Orthodox Church, Souderton, Pennsylvania.
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