Today is the feast of Saint Gregory Palamas.
According to the Life of Palamas, written by Saint Philotheos Kokkinos, Patriarch of Constantinople, there was an experienced monk in Berea, named Job, who believed that the gift of noetic prayer was given only to monastics. Saint Gregory knew from experience that this was not true, because his own parents, Constantine and Kallonē, had attained to the unceasing prayer of the heart while living in the world and raising a large family – Gregory was one of five siblings.
In order to correct the aged Job of his false doctrine, our loving Lord sent an angel to Job, who instructed him to believe “only those things which Gregory believes and teaches” Palamas, at this time, was only 30 years of age. At the end of his life, Job confessed with humble gratitude that he had indeed been blessed “to learn many things thanks to [his] friendship with Gregory”.
Let no one deceive or mislead you, therefore. Unceasing noetic prayer – as the Apostle Paul teaches (1 Thess. 5:17) – can be attained by everyone, by the grace of God: rich or poor, learned or unlearned, monastics or laypersons. This is the authentic teaching of the Holy Orthodox Church.
Those who deny this are they who do not truly believe that the goal of the Christian is deification (theosis), which is nothing less than acquiring the likeness of God in us and becoming Christlike by grace; and that this sanctification begins in this life and continues unendingly in the life to come.
St. Gregory Palamas, pray to God for us!
