A parish of the Orthodox Church in America

A parish of the Diocese of the West of the Orthodox Church in America, Portland, Oregon

This Weekend

St. Gregory Palamas

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT, March 8, 2026

The second Sunday of Lent commemorates Saint Gregory Palamas as a second “Triumph of Orthodoxy.”

Saint Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica, was born in 1296 in Constantinople to an influential family. He was well educated, and at age twenty became a monk on Mount Athos. After years of spiritual growth and advancement in the monasteries, he went to a monastery that focused on unceasing prayer and mental activity.

Around 1330, the learned, well-spoken monk Barlaam arrived in Constantinople from Italy. He took issue with the hesychasts, saying that it was impossible to know the essence of God and declaring mental prayer a heretical error. He tried to demonstrate the created, material nature of the light of Tabor (that is, at the Transfiguration) and ridiculed the teachings of the monks about their methods of prayer and about the uncreated light seen by the hesychasts.

Saint Gregory wrote the “Triads in Defense of the Holy Hesychasts” (1338), and the Athonite ascetics compiled a response as well.The Constantinople Council, 1341, accepted the position of Saint Gregory Palamas, that God, unapproachable in His Essence, reveals Himself through His energies, which are directed towards the world and are able to be perceived, like the light of Tabor, but which are neither material nor created. The teachings of Barlaam were condemned as heresy, and he himself was anathemized and fled to Calabria.

The controversy continued over years, with Patriarch John XIV Kalekos (1341-47) and the emperor Andronicus III Paleologos (1328-41) agreeing with Barlaam. The patriarch called Saint Gregory the cause of all disorders and disturbances in the Church (1344) and had him locked up in prison for four years. In 1347, when John the XIV was replaced on the patriarchal throne by Isidore (1347-49), Saint Gregory Palamas was set free and named Archbishop of Thessalonica.

Theophany 2026

Even after the Council of Blachernae in 1351 solemnly upheld the Orthodoxy of Saint Gregory’s teachings, he was compelled to live in various places. On one of his travels to Constantinople the Byzantine ship fell into the hands of the Turks. Even in captivity, Saint Gregory preached to Christian prisoners and even to his Moslem captors. Some of the Moslems beat him and would have killed him if they had not expected to obtain a large ransom for him. A year later, Saint Gregory was ransomed and returned to Thessalonica.

Saint Gregory performed many miracles in the three years before his death, healing those afflicted with illness. Saint Gregory Palamas fell asleep in the Lord on November 14, 1359. In 1368 he was canonized at a Constantinople Council under Patriarch Philotheus (1354-55, 1364-76), who compiled the Life and Services to the saint.

Scripture readings: Hebrews 7:26-8:2; John 10:9-16; Hebrews 1:10-2:3; Mark 2:1-12

Commemorated feasts and saints: SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT — Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas. Synaxis of the Venerable Fathers of the Kiev Caves Lavra. St. Theophylactus, Bishop of Nicomedia (842-845). Ven. Lazarus (1391) and Athanasius (15th c.), of Múrom. Apostle Hermes of the Seventy (1st c.). Hieromartyr Theodoretus of Antioch (4th c.). Ven. Dometius (363). The “KURSK-ROOT” Icon of theMother of God.

Regular weekly schedule*

Saturday
6 p.m. Great Vespers

Sunday
8:30 a.m. Matins
9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Confessions are heard after Great Vespers on Saturdays or by appointment during the week.

*This is the usual schedule; midweek services vary from week to week. Check the calendar for updates.

Church School

Church School for children 6–13 is now in session. Classes for middle- and high-school students meet the first three Sundays every month.

Charities

Continuous Food Drive, supporting the Oregon Food Bank. Food can be dropped off on the brown shelves downstairs in the hall. This month’s food-drive theme is beans in bags or cans or any nonperishable items.

The Charities Committee is sponsoring an online donation drive to Casa Cuna Orphanage in Mexico. Click this link to go to the Amazon Donation webpage to donate. Cash donations are also being accepted. For cash or check donation, make the check payable to St. Nicholas, marked a note “Casa Cuna Orphanage.” Fr. John will purchase items through Amazon at the end of the drive. For questions see Cheri Wilson or Matushka Eva.

Opportunities for Spiritual Growth

Bible Study

Bible study every Tuesday evening at 7 p.m.

Inquirers’ Class

Inquirers’ classes have begun. Due to the number of inquirers this year, we will meet in the church, Saturdays at 4 p.m.

Confession

Confessions are heard after Great Vespers on Saturdays, or by appointment during the week. Please see the complete Calendar.

Prayer (Zoom)

Every weekday we offer a short (15- to 20-minute) morning prayer by Zoom. This is a great way to start the day together with fellow Orthodox Christians. We meet at 8:15 a.m. Everyone is welcome to join!

To join the meeting, please follow the link: Join Zoom Morning Prayer
Zoom Meeting ID: 850 3708 1187
Passcode: 009791

Russian Bible Study / Discussion Group (Zoom)

For Russian-speaking people, we offer a weekly evening Bible Study/Discussion Group Thursdays at 7 p.m. If you would like to participate in the group, please contact Dn. Igor Beskorovaynyy

Russian-Language Divine Liturgy

Russian-language Divine Liturgy happens the third Sunday of the month at Annunciation Church in Milwaukie. See the Annunciation Church calendar for detailed information.

Schedule Highlights

Wednesday, March 4 — Pan-Orthodox Presanctified Liturgy followed by a Lenten meal, 2101 NE 162nd Ave., Portland 6 p.m.
Friday, March 6 — Presanctified Liturgy followed by Lenten potluck 6 p.m.
Saturday, March 7 — Memorial Saturday Hours and Liturgy 9:10 a.m. Great Vespers 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 8 — Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas. Matins 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, March 11 — Morning Presanctified Liturgy 9:40 a.m.
Friday, March 13 — Presanctified Liturgy followed by Lenten Potluck 6 p.m.
Saturday, March 14 — Memorial Saturday Hours and Liturgy 9:10 a.m. Great Vespers 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 15 — Sunday of the Veneration of the Precious Cross. Matins 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m.

See the online calendar for further details.