ST. GREGORY THE GREAT (MARCH 12TH)

 

St. Gregory the Great

Edited by Bp. Joseph

Today, the Eastern Orthodox world celebrates Gregory the Great, Patriarch of Rome, Missioner of the British! 

Encountering British slaves, who glowed with pale white skin in the slave market of Rome, St. Gregory said “They are not Angles, but angels" (Non Angli, sed angeli), and resolved to go himself to England to convert these people to Christ. According to the Venerable Bede, thwarted in his own efforts by being made Bishop of Rome, St. Gregory sent St. Augustine of Canterbury. 

Thus, the Latinization of the Celtic Church began, bringing order to ecclesial chaos, and the great missionary movement that would result in the flowering of Western Orthodoxy upon British soil. 

St. Gregory was revered in England as "Our Gregory" (Gregorius noster) and it was in England, at a monastery in Whitby, that the first full length life of St. Gregory was written, in AD 713. 

The Collect 

ALMIGHTY GOD, 

who chosest Thy bishop Gregory 

to be a servant of the servants of God: 

grant that, like unto him, we may ever strive to serve Thee, 

by proclaiming Thy Holy Gospel to all nations, 

and may ever rejoice to sing Thy praises; 

through Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, 

Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, 

in the unity of the Holy Ghost, 

Ever one God, world without end. 

Amen 

(Image: Panel depicting Gregory in nave window, St Gregory's, Sudbury, Suffolk.  Text: Portions from Eric Staples and Wikipedia.)