Interfaith Days: Sunday of Saint Gregory Palamas

Today is the Second Sunday of Lent in Orthodox Christianity, the Sunday of Gregory Palamas (1296–1359). He was a monk of Mount ethos and later Archbishop of Thessalonica. He defended the tradition of prayer called Hesychasm against an Orthodox leader named Barlaam. Palamas' views were finally upheld by the Fifth Council of Constantinople. The vindication of his views are considered a second triumph of Orthodoxy; last week we thought about the iconodules who were vindicated by the Second Nicene Council. The day's scripture lessons are Hebrews 1:10-14; 2:1-3 and Mark 2:1-12. See more at this site.

In the Western church, this is the third Sunday of Lent. In  some churches it is called Oculi Sunday, so named because the first Latin word of the day’s introit from Psalm 24:15 is oculi, or “eyes”.