Saint Gregory the Palamas and his holy relictranslated

Saint Gregory Palamas was born in Constantinople around 1296, from a family originally from Asia Minor. His parents, Konstantinos and Kalloni, were associated with the environment of the imperial court. After his father's death, when Gregory was still a child, he was placed under the protection of the emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos and received a careful education, distinguishing himself especially in the philosophy and sciences of the time.

By Christos A. Psaltis (Archaeologist-Theologian, Doctor of Theology, AUTH-Associate of the Office of Promotion and Promotion of the Holy Pilgrimages of the Holy Metropolis of Thessaloniki)

Despite the prospects offered by his social position, he chose the solitary state. Around 1316 he left Constantinople for Mount Athos. On his way, he passed through Mount Papikio, an important monastic center of Thrace, and then settled in Athos, where he practiced mental prayer and the quiet life under the guidance of experienced spiritual fathers.

In 1326 he was ordained an elder in Thessaloniki and settled with a small retinue of monks in a hermitage near Veria. There he indulged in rigorous training,…