St Gregory the Dialogist, Pope of Rome (+604)

Saint Gregory the Dialogist, Pope of Rome (+604), was born in Rome around 540. Pope Felix was his grandfather. Gregory’s mother Silvia and his aunts Tarsilla and Aemiliana are numbered among the saints by the Church of Rome.

Gregory received a brilliant education and rose to high office in the state. After his father’s death he spent all his property on setting up six monasteries, founded the monastery of Saint Andrew the First-called in Rome, and was tonsured a monk. On the commission of Pope Pelagius II Saint Gregory lived for a long time in Byzantium. Here he wrote his “Commentary on the Book of Job”. After the death of Pelagius Saint Gregory was elected to the see of Rome. For seven months he refused this high honour, but at last the insistent entreaty of the clergy and the flock compelled him to consent.

Saint Gregory governed the Church wisely. He compiled in Latin the order of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, which until then had been known only by oral tradition. By decree of the Sixth Council this order became binding on the whole Orthodox Church.

Saint Gregory fought unsparingly against the heresy of the Donatists, and converted to the law of Christ the pagans living in Britain and the followers of Arius.

From Saint Gregory’s pen came the “Conversations, or Dialogues, on the Lives and Miracles of the Italian Fathers”, for which he was called “the Dialogist”. Of Saint Gregory’s works the “Pastoral Rule” is especially well known, in which he examines from every side the image of the true pastor. The holy father’s letters have also come down to us.

Saint Gregory led the Church of Rome for thirteen years and died in 604. His holy relics are kept in the Vatican, in the basilica of Saint Peter.