Saint Gregory Palamas is one of the most revered theologians of the church. He lived about 700 years ago in northern Greece. He explored some profound theological ideas which created quite a bit of controversy - and still do. His main concern was to show how God interacts with us, how God enters our …
The Wine of Compassion
In 1334 Saint Gregory Palamas experienced a vision. In the vision he was carrying a vessel overflowing with milk, but the milk then turned into the finest wine. A youth appeared and rebuked Gregory for not sharing the wine with others and reminded him of the parable of the talents (cf. Matt. 25:14–30). Palamas interpreted the vision to mean …
He is re-making us
I usually don't quote extensively from the Fathers, because I prefer to speak with my own voice. But today's Gospel reading (Luke 6:31-36) prompts me to share some powerful messages from Saints Gregory Palamas and Isaac of Syria. In Homily 45 by St. Gregory Palamas (14th century) we read: He who alone fashioned our hearts …
Gregory Palamas and the Theology of Deification
The second in a short series of Bible Study classes exploring the themes of the Sundays of Lent focused on St. Gregory Palamas, who is commemorated on the Second Sunday of Lent in the Orthodox Church (last Sunday, March 8th). Palamas is most associated with the Orthodox doctrines of deification and the distinction of essence and energies. …
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Plenty of room inside
By their attitude, the scribes in today's Gospel reading, Mark 2:1-12, are preventing God’s word from acting as a force that sets men free. The man’s stretcher makes me think of the many who are crippled because of the absence of love. Lying there and unable to rise are those who are without hope, who are imprisoned …
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