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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center

Saint Gregory Palamas

The Second Sunday of Great Lent commemorates the Holy Relics of the Saints and Saint Gregory Palamas.

St. Gregory Palamas is a controversal theologian. This is my current understanding. I am researching this issue.

Gregory Palamas is Commemorated on the Second Sunday of Great Lent

In 1971, the Holy Synod approved commemorating Gregory Palamas on the Second Sunday of Great Lent. The reason was that Gregory Palamas' theology is the basis for many prayers. Also, that Holy Synod wrote a Kontakion and a Troparion for Gregory Palamas.

This decision of the Holy Synod is mentioned in a footnote in a book published in 1992. The book was written in Arabic by the Liturigical Committee of the Patriarchate. A rough translation of the title is "The Holy Divine Liturgy".

In 1359, Gregory Palamas died.
One of Gregory Palamas' followers, Philotheus, Patriarch of Constantinople declared him a saint in the year 1368, established a feast day on 14 November, and ordered a special commemoration on the Second Sunday of Great Lent.
Melkites did not officially honor Gregory Palamas on the Second Sunday of Great Lent until the Holy Synod made its decision in 1971.
(My understanding is that for centuries some Melkites followed the Greek Orthodox pratice and honored Gregory Palamas on the Second Sunday of Great Lent.)
Melkites do not commemorate Gregory Palamas on 14 November.

Is Gregory Palamas a Saint of the Melkite Catholic Church?

This issue is controversal. Some Melkite thologians say "yes", some say "no", and some are "unsure".

Is Gregory Palamas a "Doctor" of the Melkite Catholic Church

Is Gregory Palamas a "Church Father " of the Melkite Catholic Church?

This issue is controversal. Some Melkite thologians say "yes", some say "no", and some are "unsure".

Some Melkite theologians consider Gregory Palamas to be a "Church Father " because in some areas he developed accepted, strong theology .
Gregory Palamas' writings can be studied as spiritual writings. A person can benefit from them for his/her spiritual life. However, Gregory Palamas is NOT authoritative in ALL his teaching.
Gregory Palamas was a great mystical theologian who wrote extensively about the Uncreated Light or Uncreated Energies of Holy God.
Unlike the Divine Essence, the very Being of Holy God, which is not visible or accessible to human beings, the Divine Light or Divine Energies of Holy God, like grace, are visible and accessible to us. The great Byzantine mystical tradition of Hesychasm -- silent contemplation of God -- is built upon St Gregory's theology of the Uncreated Light.
The Catholic Church has some questions concerning Gregory Palamas' teaching about Seeing God though the exercise of long meditation, strong Lenten activities, less movement, closed in a darken cell or in a Church until you feel the energy of your body, then the energy of the nature, and then the energy of God.
This energy is expressed in form of light. This light is the knowledge; The Grace; the space where God manifests to Humanity, and make Himself known to humans.

Does Gregory Palamas have a special standing in the Melkite Catholic Church?

It would seem that the commemoration of Georgy Palamas on a Sunday gives him a special standing.

His Holiness Pope Ioannes Paulus II's (John Paul II) position on Gregory Palamas

Supposely, His Holiness, Pope Ioannes Paulus II (John Paul II) recognized Gregory Palamas as a saint in the months following his assasination attempt in 1981.
In Father Dennis C. Smolarski, S.J.'s book, "How Not to Say Mass", His Holiness Pope Ioannes Paulus II (John Paul II) refered to Gregory Palamas as Saint Gregory Palamas when speaking before a group of Orthodox and Catholics. Father Smolarski ,S.J. states that this did action more to bring about reunion between Orthodox and Catholics than any theological discussion.

Supposedly, His Holiness, Pope Ioannes Paulus II (John Paul II) ordered the reinstitution of Georgy Palamas' memory on the Second Sunday of Great Lent.

Kontakion, Troparion, Exapostilarion, and Vespers Sticheron or Doxastikon

VESPERS STICHON OF ST GREGORY PALAMAS (TONE 6)
Your lips are full of grace, O Holy Father Gregory. You have become a shepherd of the Church of Christ, teaching your spiritual flock to believe in the Trinity, consubstantial in one Godhead.

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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is dedicated to my cousins: Bucky (Richard C. Liles), Shirley (Shirley Jean Liles Buck), and Donna (Donna Bertha Liles Campbell). Bucky fell asleep in the Lord on Dec. 12, 2000, Shirley fell asleep in the Lord on Nov. 8, 2001, and Donna fell asleep in the Lord on March 9, 2020.
O God of all spirits and of all flesh, who have destroyed death, overcome the devil, and given life to the world: grant, O Lord, to the souls of your servants Bucky and Shirley, who has departed from this life, that it may rest in a place of light, in a place of happiness, in a place of peace, where there is no pain, no grief, no sighing. And since You are a gracious God and the Lover of Mankind, forgive him/her every sin he/she has committed by thought, or word, or deed, for there is not a man who lives and does not sin : You alone are without sin, your righteousness is everlasting, and your word is true. You are the Resurrection and the Life, and the repose of your departed servants Bucky and Shirley. O Christ our God, and we send up glory to You, together with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and always and for ages upon ages. Amen.

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