March 28, 2021

Sunday St Gregory Palamas
Prayer is the Nearness of Him

- Fr. Micah Hirschy -


Today on the 2nd Sunday of Lent the Gospel lesson comes to us from Mark 2:1-12. In this pericope we encounter the love of four men who struggle but succeed in bringing their friend before Christ. Father Micah shares with us both a warning and practical message about prayer. Prayer is perhaps the most difficult thing we will ever attempt and if we truly wish to live a life of prayer we will struggle. Our eyes will be opened to the suffering around us but at the same time we will experience a joy and nearness to God as we remember Him. Orthodox Christians pray out of an abundance of gratitude fulfilling the purpose of lives. We should pray at all times and in all places with humility. We should know to whom we speak because He makes Himself present in the Mysteries and scripture. May we emulate the four friends in today’s Gospel by bringing others before Christ, not through the roof of a house, but in prayer.



Fr. Micah Hirschy grew up in St. Paul, MN and attended St. George Greek Orthodox Church. He graduated from Hellenic College in 2004 and continued his studies at Holy Cros

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Photography Credits: Beth Hontzas - Music: Presbytera Katerina Makiej





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Fr. Micah Hirschy grew up in St. Paul, MN and attended St. George Greek Orthodox Church. He graduated from Hellenic College in 2004 and continued his studies at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, where he graduated with an M. Div. in 2007. Upon graduating, he began working at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Memphis, TN as Pastoral Assistant. He was married in 2011 to Anastasia Hartzes of Mobile, AL and was ordained to the Deaconate and Priesthood by Metropolitan ALEXIOS of Atlanta in December of 2012. He currently serves as Ephemerios at the Holy Trinity Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Birmingham, AL.