Saint Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica

Life

Gregory's father was a prominent official at the court of Emperor Andronicus II Palaeologus. The gifted Gregory, having completed secular studies, did not wish to enter court service but withdrew to the Holy Mountain and became a monk. He struggled ascetically in Vatopedi and the Lavra. He waged battle with the heretic Barlaam and finally defeated him. He was consecrated as Metropolitan of Thessalonica in the year 1347. He was celebrated both as an ascetic and as a theologian and as a hierarch and as a wonderworker. There appeared to him in turn: the Most Holy Theotokos, Saint John the Theologian, Saint Demetrius, Saint Anthony the Great, Saint Chrysostom, and the angels of God. He governed the Church of Thessalonica for thirteen years, of which one year he spent in captivity among the Saracens in Asia. He reposed peacefully in the year 1360 and passed into the Kingdom of Christ. His relics repose in Thessalonica, where there is also a beautiful church bearing his name.