One day, during an exercise of mental prayer, a shining and magnificent man appeared before him. Gregory recognized him as the holy apostle and evangelist John the Theologian, the son of the Thunderer and the beloved disciple and friend of Jesus.
Looking at Gregory cheerfully, the apostle said, "From a passage, as a messenger of the Lady of All Saints, I have come to you to ask you for what reason you cry, day and night, almost always an hour, 'Light up my darkness, light up my darkness?' '.
Gregory answered, 'What else can I say in prayer before God, except to ask for mercy and enlightenment that I may know and apply myself to his will, for I am a man subject to passion and full of sins? '.
Then answered the beloved disciple of Jesus, 'The Lady of all has commanded you not to be carried away or hesitate, for I will be your helper. '.
Gregory then asked, 'Was it in this present or future life that you offered to help me as an ally of my master's mother? '.
Then the great evangelist of the sublime said joyfully and sweetly, 'I have helped you in the past and do now, and will do in the future! After the evangelist informed him of the supernatural and indescribable gift of the Mother of God, he disappeared. ".
- From the Lives of the Pillars of Orthodoxy, Saint Gregorius Palmas.