In 2026, the church remembers one of the important figures of the early Byzantine period — St. Gregory, who headed the Antiochian cathedra from 573 to 593. Since his death, exactly 1433 years have passed.
Before the patriarchate, he led the Pharaoh’s monastery at the foot of Sinai. There is a legend about the fateful meeting of the abbot with a hermit who lived in a cave. The deserter gave the guest extraordinary honors — he washed his feet. The elder explained to the astonished abbot that he saw in him the future head of the Church of Antioch.
The prophecy came true after the removal of Anastasia Sinaita from the throne. Despite his own reluctance, Gregory was elected patriarch. For two decades, until 593, he ran one of the largest pulpits of the Christian East.
The chroniclers noted his sincere faith, gentle disposition and ability to forgive. It is these traits, manifested at the height of church authority, that have consolidated his reputation as an example of humility. Fourteen centuries later, the image of the saint remains an example of how inner silence can be combined with active service.
Memorial Days
May 3
The Holy Land Charitable Foundation
Lives of Saints
