St Gregory (+593)

Saint Gregory, Patriarch of Antioch (+593), was abbot of the Pharan monastery near Mount Sinai. The Orthodox, kind, obedient and humble venerable father was loved by all.

Once, while he was abbot, Saint Gregory visited a desert-dwelling monk who laboured in a cave. The desert-dweller received the holy father with honour and washed his feet. When Saint Gregory asked the reason for such an honourable welcome, the desert-dweller answered: “By God’s revelation, a future patriarch stands before me.” And indeed, after Anastasius the Sinaite was driven from the patriarchal see of Antioch, Saint Gregory was elected to the hierarchal throne.

The venerable father worthily bore the heavy yoke of the patriarchate until the end of his life (+593).