Brief information about him

Saint Gregory was born in Constantinople to noble and distinguished parents. He lost his father very early and was raised by his mother, as were his brothers and sister. Upon completing his education, he expressed a desire to embrace monastic life. This desire was matched by that of his mother, brothers, and sister, and the entire family entered monasticism. Saint Gregory placed his mother and sister in a convent, while he and his brothers journeyed to Mount Athos, where he arranged for his brothers to live in a monastery. He himself submitted to the obedience of a certain wondrous and holy elder, Nicodemus, who ably instructed him in all monastic struggles and deeds, not by word but by deed, not for knowledge but for life. Soon he grew to a young man and was granted a vision of the Mother of God, who accepted him as her intercessor and protector.

After the death of his elder, St. Gregory entered the Athonite Lavra and lived there for several years in the fear of God, obedience to all, and love for all. Then, leaving the Lavra, he settled in the desert, where he lived an extremely harsh life, burning with love for God, to Whom he dedicated himself soul and body to service. For this reason, he conquered all demonic attacks, was granted divine revelations, and received the gift of healing the sick in soul and body, and performing signs and miracles. Having lived in the desert for many years, he was ordained to the priesthood by God’s command and, like an Angel of the Lord, performed the mysteries of God, bringing all who stood by to tenderness and weeping. All revered him as a holy man, a God-bearer, a prophet, and a banisher of demons. But troubles, misfortunes, and temptations did not escape him: from demons, from men, and especially from heretics. He endured all of these for twenty-three years, turning everything to the glory of God. Barlaam of Calabria, with his wickedness, particularly troubled the Church of God at that time, but he met a powerful opponent in St. Gregory, who victoriously repelled his attacks on the truth and struck him down as an enemy of God when, on this occasion, Emperor Andronicus convened a council to which St. Gregory was also invited. Having exposed Barlaam’s heretical wisdom and exposed its falsity to him, Gregory was the primary cause of his condemnation and exile. A certain Akindynos, his second in line for heresy, also suffered the same fate. The ringleaders were thus defeated, but a considerable number of their disciples remained, who continued to trouble the Church and seduce the Orthodox. A countermeasure was necessary. Finding Saint Gregory most suitable for this, the same council decided to consecrate him as Archbishop of Thessalonica and entrust him with this task, which he diligently and successfully carried out under three emperors and three patriarchs, rebuking and admonishing the erring through discourses, writings, and at many private councils. He continued this work throughout his 30 years as Archbishop. But his was not exceptional.

Zealous for spiritual advancement from childhood, he tirelessly sought to guide others in this pioneering Christian endeavor, encouraging and affirming them, pointing out paths and byways both through word and writing, of which there were many. His ascetic writings are included in the Greek Philokalia, from which we have transferred them in translation to our collection of Ascetical Writings.