Saint Gregory Palamas

Commemorated on November 14

This zealous defender of the faith was unwavering, and we owe great thanks to his righteous stance. Saint Gregory’s father was an eminent official at the court of Emperor Andronicus II Palaeologus. The gifted Gregory, completing his secular studies, did not want to enter the service of the imperial court, but withdrew to the Holy Mountain and was tonsured a monk. He lived a life of asceticism in the Monastery of Vatopedi and the Great Lavra.

He led the struggle against the heretic Barlaam and finally and finally defeated him. He was consecrated as Metropolitan of Thessalonica in the year 1347. Saint Gregory is glorified as an ascetic, a theologian, a hierarch and a miracle-worker. The Most-holy Theotokos, St. John the Theologian, St. Dimitirios, St. Anthony the Great, St. John Chrysostom and the angels of God appeared to him at different times.

He governed the Church in Thessalonica for thirteen years, of which he spent one year in slavery under the Saracens in Asia. Saint Gregory entered peacefully into rest in the year 1360, and took up his habitation in the Kingdom of Christ. His relics repose in Thessalonica, where a beautiful church is dedicated to him.

Troparion & Kontakion

Troparion — Tone 8

O luminary of Orthodoxy, support and teacher of the Church, / ideal of monks and invincible champion of theologians, / O wonderworker Gregory, boast of Thessalonika and herald of grace, / always intercede for all of us that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion — Tone 8

(Podoben: “O Victorious Leader…”)
Holy and divine instrument of wisdom, / radiant and harmonious trumpet of theology, / we praise you in song, O divinely-speaking Gregory. / As a mind standing before the Primal Mind, guide our minds to Him, Father, / so that we may cry aloud to you: “Rejoice, herald of grace.”