Akathist to Saint Gregory Palamas

Kontakion 1

In songs of godly tidings let us hymn the most excellent pastor of Thessalonica and beacon of the Church; for he has been shown to be the dwelling place of the never-waning Light and imparts enlightenment and bountiful grace to those who cry:

Rejoice, O father Gregory, preacher of grace!

Ikos 1

As a beholder of things sublime, in the world you were shown to be an angel, O most blessed Gregory, and by your God-seeing life obtained angelic gifts; wherefore, marveling at your brilliance, O father, we cry out:

Rejoice, through you the divine Light shines!
Rejoice, by you the darkness is driven away!
Rejoice, most fragrant garden of wisdom!
Rejoice, you shared in sublime instruction!
Rejoice, height of exalted visions not easily perceived!
Rejoice, impassible abyss of spiritual gifts!
Rejoice, you are the splendor of the Church!
Rejoice, you have been shown to be the might of the Orthodox!
Rejoice, most radiant lamp of the Faith!
Rejoice, inextinguishable beacon of grace!
Rejoice, for your sake they who speak foolishness fall silent!
Rejoice, for your sake theologians exult!
Rejoice, O father Gregory, preacher of grace!

Kontakion 2

From your youth directing the eyes of your soul to Christ the King, O father, you avoided the palace of the emperor and left earthly glory behind; and following the Lord by ascetic labors, you chanted: Alleluia!

Ikos 2

As one intelligent and quick of understanding, O most blessed one, you mastered all outward knowledge; therefore, you were shown to be a lover of the beauty of the wisdom of God, O Gregory, with your divine discourses making wise those who reverently cry to you:

Rejoice, vessel of cherished values!
Rejoice, receptacle of immaterial Light!
Rejoice, most fruitful root of a right noble tree!
Rejoice, fragrant cinnamon of piety!
Rejoice, unfading blossom of mystic cultivation!
Rejoice, most fruitful palm tree of spiritual plentitude!
Rejoice, you disdained earthly falsehood!
Rejoice, you received God-given grace!
Rejoice, most fervent servant of Christ!
Rejoice, you transcended all corruptible things!
Rejoice, enlivener of the powers of the soul!
Rejoice, you suppressed the uprisings of the passions!
Rejoice, o father Gregory, preacher of grace!

Kontakion 3

Receiving the monastic habit on Athos, you were invested with holy power, and in the weakness of the flesh you prepared yourself for ascetic labors, O blessed Gregory, crying out to Him Who strengthened you: Alleluia!

Ikos 3

You shone forth in stillness and mystically united yourself to the Savior by all manner of diligent struggles of mental activity and noetic prayer, being filled with divine Light and illumining those who cry to you:

Rejoice, luminary of stillness!
Rejoice, paragon of moderation!
Rejoice, doer of noetic prayer!
Rejoice, treasury of the active way of life!
Rejoice, precious vessel of the inspiration of the Comforter!
Rejoice, God-bearing mouth with a spiritual voice!
Rejoice, you transcended the bounds of corruption!
Rejoice, you gazed upon the glory of God!
Rejoice, you behold the Light divine!
Rejoice, you see God and are seen by Him!
Rejoice, you refute the reasoning of the foolish!
Rejoice, you repel grievous assaults!
Rejoice, O father Gregory, preacher of grace!

Kontakion 4

Living in solitude like an angel, O father, you received heavenly effulgence and truly full of divine Light, you traversed Athos like the sun, O divinely wise Gregory, setting aflame those who chant: Alleluia!

Ikos 4

With divine discourse, the power of wisdom and holy dogmas, you denounced the heresy of Barlaam, O divinely wise one, amazing all with your grace; for you were shown to be a divine teacher of those who cry out:

Rejoice, psaltery of piety!
Rejoice, downfall of heresy!
Rejoice, great teacher of the Church!
Rejoice, you were full of the immaterial radiance of God!
Rejoice, most wise rhetor of right dogmas!
Rejoice, two-edged sword against all enemies!
Rejoice, uprooter of noetic tares!
Rejoice, planter of heavenly virtues!
Rejoice, you are great in the discourse of grace!
Rejoice, you are meek and guileless in all things!
Rejoice, you make steadfast the hearts of the faithful!
Rejoice, you consume the guilt of passions!
Rejoice, O father Gregory, preacher of grace!

Kontakion 5

At the divine Council, O father Gregory, as one full of heavenly wisdom and of one soul with the Fathers, you truly expounded the holy dogmas of Orthodoxy with a divinely eloquent tongue, and there you cried out: Alleluia!

Ikos 5

As a treasury of the virtues and an initiate of divine ascents, you were chosen by divine lot to be the God-seeing and all-wise pastor of Thessalonica, a holy hierarch of godly wisdom, hearing from us such things as these:

Rejoice, mouth of the theologians!
Rejoice, might of Orthodoxy!
Rejoice, most exacting rule of priests!
Rejoice, model of pastors, sealed by God!
Rejoice, clarion of sacred doctrines, heralding God!
Rejoice, divinely flowing wellspring pouring forth fresh water!
Rejoice, right glorious chief shepherd of Salonica!
Rejoice, divinely eloquent intercessor for Orthodoxy!
Rejoice, servant of the Light divine!
Rejoice, teacher of the blameless life!
Rejoice, you wash away defilement of soul!
Rejoice, you inspire zeal in the faithful!
Rejoice, O father Gregory, preacher of grace!

Kontakion 6

As preacher of the divine Light, in that you were a partaker during your lifetime, O Gregory, with the brilliance of your discourses you darkened those who raised their voice against it, and move all to cry to God: Alleluia!

Ikos 6

Shining forth at the Council as a splendid theologian and unspeakable mouth of wisdom, O father, with godly preaching you proclaimed the divine Essence to be wholly transcendent, whereas Its energies are accessible to those who cry to you:

Rejoice, great revealer of sacred things!
Rejoice, you divinely manifest that which is godly!
Rejoice, herald of sublime radiance!
Rejoice, radiant expounder of the mysteries of deification!
Rejoice, godly leader of noetic vigilance!
Rejoice, sure guide to inner prayer!
Rejoice, you were filled with heavenly grace!
Rejoice, you shared in divine effulgence!
Rejoice, you beheld the splendor of God!
Rejoice, you drive away the darkness of the passions!
Rejoice, foundation of Orthodox dogmas!
Rejoice, fountain of divinely flowing streams!
Rejoice, O father Gregory, preacher of grace!

Kontakion 7

You were shown to be truly great among holy hierarchs, O wise Gregory revealed of God, as one adorned with an apostolic life and wondrous virtues, O venerable one; and you move all to chant: Alleluia!

Ikos 7

The utterances of your discourses exude an immaterial-divine nectar, manna that feeds the soul and honey that streams forth from a rock, as the sacred David said, O most wondrous Gregory, gladdening those who cry out:

Rejoice, tongue most sweet!
Rejoice, most godly countenance!
Rejoice, image and imitator of the Savior!
Rejoice, zealot and companion of the Fathers!
Rejoice, heavenly breeze that cools the soul!
Rejoice, dew of spiritual joy that moistens us!
Rejoice, holy fragrance of a pure life!
Rejoice, perfect sustenance of the banquet of the soul!
Rejoice, cup of the nectar of immortality!
Rejoice, denouncer of heretical reasoning!
Rejoice, splendor of wise God-bearers!
Rejoice, leader of the Orthodox people!
Rejoice, O father Gregory, preacher of grace!

Kontakion 8

Strange grace was contained in the rich outpouring of your lips, O Gregory revealer of God; wherefore, like a great river flowing from Eden you water the whole Church that cries out to the Lord: Alleluia!

Ikos 8

Mount Athos and Salonica proclaim your splendid struggles, O father, and the whole Church of the faithful honor you as a divinely illumined revealer of the Light that is past understanding, where you illumine those who cry:

Rejoice, God-bearing mouth!
Rejoice, vessel-bearing myrrh!
Rejoice, instrument of the effulgence of the threefold Sun!
Rejoice, field of perfect stillness!
Rejoice, divinely radiant dwelling place of the energies of God!
Rejoice, riches that cannot be stolen, which is life in the Spirit!
Rejoice, you received divine gifts!
Rejoice, you rejected the vain words of Barlaam!
Rejoice, by you, Athos is magnified!
Rejoice, by you, delusion is dispelled!
Rejoice, splendid glory of Salonica!
Rejoice, steadfast dominion of Orthodoxy!
Rejoice, O father Gregory, preacher of grace!

Kontakion 9

Rivers flow within you with mystic rain from heaven, as says the Savior, O all wise father Gregory, and give drink with streams of life to thirsty hearts that cry to God: Alleluia!

Ikos 9

You readily bore diverse afflictions for your goodly confession, O father, and like gold tried in the fire you shone forth through them all, uplifting to things sublime those who reverently cry out to you:

Rejoice, rock of goodly courage!
Rejoice, rock of patience!
Rejoice, you did not fear the assault of temptations!
Rejoice, you quenched the furnace of the passions!
Rejoice, unshakable bulwark of the Church of Christ!
Rejoice, lamp of many lights for the divinely wise people!
Rejoice, you endured tribulations with joy!
Rejoice, you stand before the Lord in glory!
Rejoice, you proclaimed the mysteries of God!
Rejoice, you set forth the things of salvation for the faithful!
Rejoice, godly steward of souls!
Rejoice, most divine friend of Christ!
Rejoice, o father Gregory, preacher of grace!

Kontakion 10

By the words of your mouth is the Orthodox Faith established in the divine Spirit; for as one equal in soul and conduct to the godly Fathers of old, O venerable one, you head their choir, chanting: Alleluia!

Ikos 10

Delighting in the beams of uncreated Light that shone forth on Tabor, O holy one, in sacred manner you describe in words the glory, beauty, and radiance and to acquire it, you move those who cry:

Rejoice, initiate of the mysteries of the nectar of light!
Rejoice, deliverer from soul-corrupting passions!
Rejoice, harbinger of the goodly glory that is to come!
Rejoice, consolation of souls in sorrow!
Rejoice, you have shown the wisdom of Barlaam to be foolishness!
Rejoice, you proclaim the grace of the Spirit!
Rejoice, divine adornment of hierarchs!
Rejoice, shining treasury of theology!
Rejoice, mirror of the immaterial Light!
Rejoice, scythe mowing down strange dogmas!
Rejoice, joy and gift to the Orthodox!
Rejoice, you cast down the horn of the enemy!
Rejoice, O father Gregory, preacher of grace!

Kontakion 11

Having proclaimed the mighty works of God with high consideration and divine wisdom, you disclose the grace of the divine fruits of the Spirit to those pure of spirit who share with you in crying: Alleluia!

Ikos 11

Your life was shown to be radiant with the beams of the virtues, O blessed Gregory, and your teaching to be truly full of light; and by all manner of doctrines you lead to God those who cry:

Rejoice, source of doctrine!
Rejoice, confirmation of Orthodoxy!
Rejoice, model of the holy life!
Rejoice, crown of the divine Church!
Rejoice, wondrous herald of life most pure!
Rejoice, sacred preacher of the word of grace!
Rejoice, you wash away all defilement from men’s souls!
Rejoice, you guide them to the path of salvation!
Rejoice, beacon of immaterial radiance!
Rejoice, lamp of exalted mystic teachings!
Rejoice, for your sake the Church joins chorus!
Rejoice, for your sake all the faithful rejoice in godly manner!
Rejoice, O father Gregory, preacher of grace!

Kontakion 12

For those who reverently have recourse to you and honor your splendid struggles, ask divine joy and salvation of soul, O Gregory, wise and holy hierarch; for as a servant of the Light you illumine those who cry: Alleluia!

Ikos 12

Hymning your labors and godly struggles, which you undertook for the sake of the Church, the choirs of the pious continually hymn you, O Gregory, and with grateful mouths cry out to you without ceasing:

Rejoice, might of the Church!
Rejoice, garden of piety!
Rejoice, you put the empty words of Acindynus to shame!
Rejoice, you showed forth God-given power!
Rejoice, you as an imitator of the apostles, dwell with them!
Rejoice, you share and partake of the radiance emitted by God!
Rejoice, radiant daystar of Thessalonica!
Rejoice, divinely eloquent champion of Orthodoxy!
Rejoice, delight of our souls!
Rejoice, confirmation of every Orthodox Christian!
Rejoice, splendor of your honored temple!
Rejoice, gladness of your faithful people!
Rejoice, O father Gregory, preacher of grace!

Kontakion 13

(To be read three times)

O godly father Gregory, initiate of ineffable mysteries, most sublime father, accept the cries of your people and grant your intercession to all; for with faith we flee to you and cry out to the Trinity: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

(Repeat the above Kontakion 13, 3 times)
(Then continue below)

Ikos 1

As a beholder of things sublime, in the world you were shown to be an angel, O most blessed Gregory, and by your God-seeing life obtained angelic gifts; wherefore, marveling at your brilliance, O father, we cry out:

Rejoice, through you the divine Light shines!
Rejoice, by you the darkness is driven away!
Rejoice, most fragrant garden of wisdom!
Rejoice, you shared in sublime instruction!
Rejoice, height of exalted visions not easily perceived!
Rejoice, impassible abyss of spiritual gifts!
Rejoice, you are the splendor of the Church!
Rejoice, you have been shown to be the might of the Orthodox!
Rejoice, most radiant lamp of the Faith!
Rejoice, inextinguishable beacon of grace!
Rejoice, for your sake they who speak foolishness fall silent!
Rejoice, for your sake theologians exult!
Rejoice, O father Gregory, preacher of grace!

Kontakion 1

In songs of godly tidings let us hymn the most excellent pastor of Thessalonica and beacon of the Church; for he has been shown to be the dwelling place of the never-waning Light and imparts enlightenment and bountiful grace to those who cry:

Rejoice, O father Gregory, preacher of grace!

Prayer to the Holy Hierarch Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica

O thrice-blessed, truly honorable and most desired one, might of stillness, glory of monastics, common adornment of theologians, fathers and teachers, converser with the apostles, unbloodied imitator of confessors and the martyrs, who is crowned with words and deeds, champion of piety and chosen commander, exalted expounder and teacher of divine dogmas, destroyer of the most diverse heresies, intercessor, guardian and deliverer of the whole Church of Christ! Standing before Christ, from On High you, therefore, look down now upon your flock and the whole Church, healing diverse illnesses and setting all aright by your words, dispelling heresies and bringing deliverance from the multifarious passions. Accept this our supplication, and deliver us from sufferings and temptations, from upheavals and misfortunes, and grant us ease, peace and length of days with His unoriginate Father and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.