Gregory

Also known as: Pope Gregory / holy Father Gregory / holy Gregory / my lord Gregory / our lord Gregory / the blessed Pope Gregory / your Evangelist · Family: Roman Church · Role: pope · First appears: Book I · Chap. XXIII

In 582, Gregory was promoted to the Apostolic see of Rome and sent Augustine with other monks to preach to the English. He constituted Augustine abbot and instructed the monks to obey him, later placing the British bishops under his care: “When Augustine, your Superior, returns, whom we also constitute your abbot, humbly obey him in all things”. He asked Aetherius and Vergilius to receive Augustine kindly, transferred Candidus to administer a small Church patrimony, and sent Mellitus, Justus, Paulinus, and Rufinianus to assist the mission. He also sent Augustine the pall, church furnishings, vestments, relics, manuscripts, and directions for appointing bishops, while instructing Mellitus to convey his policy concerning the English temples and warning Augustine not to become proud of his miracles.

Gregory wrote to Ethelbert with gifts, urging him to spread Christianity, suppress idol worship, and heed Augustine’s counsel: “be eager to spread the Christian faith among the people under your rule; in all uprightness increase your zeal for their conversion; suppress the worship of idols”. In 596 and again in later accounts, Augustine and his companions were identified as those Gregory sent to Britain, where their preaching and heavenly signs brought the English to the faith; Edwin and Archbishop Honorius were later directed to follow Gregory’s teaching.

The account of Gregory’s life records that he was the son of Gordianus, descended from religious ancestors, and that Felix was among his forefathers. After leaving secular life he entered a monastery, was ordained, and served as the Apostolic see’s representative in Constantinople, where, with Tiberius Constantine’s help, he opposed Eutychius’s teaching about the resurrected body. He interpreted Job at the urging of Job, composed the Dialogues at Peter (deacon)’s request, and caused Masses to be celebrated at the churches of Peter and Paul. In 605, after governing the Roman Apostolic see for thirteen years, six months, and ten days, he died and was buried at the church of the blessed Apostle Peter, having made the English nation “the Church of Christ.”