Editing Gregory Palamas (section)

== Early life ==
Gregory was born in [[Constantinople]] around the year 1296. His father, Constantine, was a courtier of the [[Byzantine Emperor]] [[Andronikos II Palaiologos]] (1282–1328), but died when Gregory was still young. The Emperor himself took part in the raising and education of the fatherless boy and hoped that the gifted Gregory would devote himself to government service, but Palamas chose monastic life on Mt. Athos. Gregory's mother (Kalloni) and siblings (Theodosios, Makarios, Epicharis, and Theodoti) would also embrace monasticism, and the entire family was canonized by the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]] in 2009.

Before leaving for Mt. Athos, Gregory received a broad education at the [[University of Constantinople]], including the study of Aristotle, which he would display before [[Theodore Metochites]] and the Emperor.<ref>[[John Meyendorff]], A Study of Gregory Palamas, trans. George Lawrence (London: The Faith Press, 1964), pp. 28-41.</ref>