“You should Venerate Icons of the Saints, for the Saints have been crucified with the Lord; and you should make the Sign of the Cross upon your person before doing so, bringing to mind their communion in the sufferings of Christ. In the same way you should Venerate their Holy Shrines and any Relic of their bones; for God’s Grace is not sundered from these things, even as the Divinity was not sundered from Christ’s Venerable Body at the time of His life-quickening death. By doing this and by glorifying those who Glorified God – for through their actions they showed themselves to be perfect in their love for God – you too will be glorified together with them by God, and with David you will chant: “I have held Thy friends in high honour, 0 Lord’ (Ps. 159:17. LXX).”
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Synaxis of the Holy Family of Saint Gregory Palamas: December 18th,
or the Sunday after November 14th
About his parents Saint Constantine and Saint Kalloni, his brothers Saint Makarios and Saint Theodosios, and his sisters Saint Theodote and Saint Epicharis: Thus the parents, brothers and sisters of Saint Gregory followed his example and lived as Monastics till the end of their lives…
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Prayers
Apolytikion – Tone 1: Kalloni who was blessed with fair children and right-minded Constantine, the great athlete and visionary, O Hierarch, and Epicharis the bride of Christ, Venerable Theodote the wise, with the sacred Theodosios and Makarios, we sing of their contests. Glory to Him Who crowned them, Glory to Him Who made them luminous, with His Uncreated and Everlasting Light of Theosis.
Kontakion – Tone 4: As you once longed for the Heavenly, you gave your nous wings to fly impassible heights, being found worthy of Divine vision through purification, illumination and Theosis, seven in number Palamas Family, wherefore we cry out to you: Illumined by God, rejoice household of Grace.
Oikos: May the Lord of lords, bless the seven in number household, parents and children, of Venerable Ascetics in the bright, queen city to be ever with Him, having managed well His ordinances, and to them we cry: Rejoice, household of Hesychasm; Rejoice, wine of Chastity; Rejoice, family of theoria and praxis; Rejoice, the seven secret ascent; Rejoice, for you uprooted the Soul-wounding passions; Rejoice, for you received once again the beneficial; Rejoice, for you denied the love of the world; Rejoice, for you renounced the love of life; Rejoice, faithful suppliant to the Lord; Rejoice, the shield of the nous within; Rejoice, seven-colored luminous rainbow; Rejoice, chorus of the founder of nepsis; Rejoice, household of Grace.
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