Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas
This divine Father, who was from Asia Minor, was from childhood reared in the royal court of Constantinople, where he was instructed in both religious and secular wisdom. Later, while still a youth, he left the imperial court and struggled in asceticism on Mount Athos, and in the Skete at Beroea. He spent some time in Thessalonica being treated for an illness that came from his harsh manner of life. He was present in Constantinople at the Council that was convened in 1341 against Barlaam of Calabria, and at the Council of 1347 against Acindynus, who was of like mind with Barlaam; Barlaam and Acindynus claimed that the grace of God is created. At both these Councils, the Saint contended courageously for the true dogmas of the Church of Christ, teaching in particular that divine grace is not created, but is the uncreated energies of God which are poured forth throughout creation: otherwise it would be impossible, if grace were created, for man to have genuine communion with the uncreated God. In 1347 he was appointed Metropolitan of Thessalonica. He tended his flock in an apostolic manner for some twelve years, and wrote many books and treatises on the most exalted doctrines of our Faith; and having lived for a total of sixty-three years, he reposed in the Lord in 1359.
His holy relics are kept in the Cathedral of Thessalonica. A full service was composed for his feast day by the Patriarch Philotheus in 1368, when it was established that his feast be celebrated on this day. Since works without right faith avail nothing, we set Orthodoxy of faith as the foundation of all that we accomplish during the Fast, by celebrating the Triumph of Orthodoxy the Sunday before, and the great defender of the teachings of the holy Fathers today.
New York - His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America will preside over commemorations of the Bicentennial of the Greek Revolution of 1821. The event will take place on March 25, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time, and will be live streamed on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America social media channels and also broadcast on TV.
Join Fr Panagiotis Boznos, Nick Lionas, and Steve Christoforou for their weekly Orthodox Christian Bible Study, "3 Men and a Bible."
On the latest episode of "Pop Culture Coffee Hour," a podcast from Y2AM - Orthodox Christian Youth and Young Adult Ministries, the girls discuss the Netflix series, Firefly Lane. They touch on issues of self-discovery, the importance of friendship, and what constitutes a real relationship.
A few years back I asked a class of students to explain the details surrounding Greek Independence Day. The students went on to tell me about specific heroes and even the religious significance of the day. Most of them discussed how March 25th was a religious holiday and that they go to church on that day. I was surprised to find that children were not aware of the historical significance of that day. The rest of the discussion showed their confusion between OXI Day and Greek Independence Day.
On this week's episode of "Live with the Louhs," a radio ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, hosts Fr. Nicholas and his wife, Dr. Roxanne, a Clinical Psychologist, discuss the history of celebrating Greek Independence Day in the United States. The Louhs are joined by Ambassador Tom Korologos, Andy and Mike Manatos and Fr. Alex Karloutsos, who were all instrumental in having this day of celebration at the White House over the last 35 years.