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Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas

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St. Gregory Palamas

The Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas is the Second Sunday of Great Lent, it is the commemoration of St Gregory Palamas (+1359) .

Spiritual theme

Each of the Sundays of Great Lent has its own special theme. This Sunday’s theme is that men can become divine through the grace of God in the Holy Spirit. It was St. Gregory who bore witness that by prayer and fasting human beings can become participants of the uncreated light of God's divine glory even in this life.

This Sunday was originally dedicated to St Polycarp of Smyrna (February 23). After his glorification in 1368, a second commemoration of St Gregory Palamas (November 14) was appointed for this Second Sunday of Great Lent as a second Triumph of Orthodoxy.

Hymns

Troparion (Tone 8)

O light of Orthodoxy, teacher of the Church, its confirmation,
O ideal of monks and invincible champion of theologians,
O wonder-working Gregory, glory of Thessalonica and preacher of grace,
Always intercede before the Lord that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion (Tone 4)

Now is the time for action!
Judgment is at the doors!
So let us rise and fast,
Offering alms with tears of compunction and crying:
"Our sins are more in number than the sands of the sea;
But forgive us, O Master of All,
So that we may receive the incorruptible crowns."

Kontakion (Tone 8)

Holy and divine instrument of wisdom,
joyful trumpet of theology,
together we sing your praises, O God-inspired Gregory.
Since you now stand before the Original Mind, guide our minds to Him, O Father,
So that we may sing to you: "Rejoice, preacher of grace."