St. Gregory Palamas Cathedral

METROPOLIA, the cathedral of St. Gregory Palamas, is located in the center of the city, near the embankment of Thessaloniki

About St. Gregory Palamas

St. Gregory Palamas was born in 1292. His father was a member of the Imperial Senate, a close friend, and advisor to the Emperor Andronicus II. The boy was guaranteed to get a good education and a place at court. At the age of 20, he realized that it is not enough, and went to Mount Athos with his brothers. There he indulged in ascetic life and practicing theology. After 8 years on the mountain, he left it to hide from the Turks. Then he took the priesthood In Thessaloniki. 

As an Archbishop of Thessalonica, he was a philosopher, Christian mystic and a theologian of the 14th century. He made a great contribution to the development of Orthodox theology, which stood up for the protection of the traditions of hesychasm. The inhabitants of the Thessaloniki honor him alongside St. Dimitri, as the patron of the city. 

There are some periods of controversy in the biography St. Gregory Palamas. The most famous dispute with Varlaam lasted six years from 1335 to 1341. Gregory responded to the request of the Athos monks to persuade Varlaam of Calabria to stop verbal and written attacks and not insult the holy men who worship the divine fire. During this polemic, opponents of Palamas at one time were Grigory Akindin and Nikifor Grigor. Palamas and Athos monks defended the opinion that the light shining on Favor is a manifestation of the Divine essence, the natural property, and energy of the Godhead

Gregory died on November 14, 1359, from a disease that bothered him for many years at the age of 63 years (or 61 years). His last words were: “To the Heights!” Cancer with the relics of St. Gregory rests in beautiful silver cancer to the right of the entrance of the Metropolitan Cathedral. 

Construction and restoration of the cathedral

The Metropolitan Cathedral stands at the intersection of the streets of St. Sofia and Mitropoleos, one block from the coast. The cathedral was built almost 20 years, from 1891 to 1914, according to the project of the famous architect Ernst Tsiler. It became the first cross-domed church erected when Thessaloniki was occupied by the Turks. It was built in neo-Romanesque style in the 20th century and consecrated in honor of St Gregory. The Cathedral of St. Gregory Palamas, from the architect's point of view, is based on the Byzantine octagonal type of construction. 

The earthquake of 1978 damaged the temple and it was again painted with frescoes. But during this work, a secret crypt under the altar was found. It is assumed that this room was used as a secret shelter during the struggle of the Macedonians for liberation in the early 20th century. Now, there is an exhibition in the crypt.