Saint Gregory of Agrigento

Gregory (559–630) was a Sicilian Christian prelate who served as Bishop of Agrigento from 590 until at least 603 and was a correspondent of Pope Gregory I. He is the probable subject of two semi-legendary saint's lives and possible author of a commentary on Ecclesiastes, although both of these identifications have been questioned. According to his biography, Gregory was born near Agrigento on Sicily in 559. His mother's name was Theodote. At the age of eighteen, he went on a pilgrimage in the Holy Land, traveling via Carthage to Tripoli. He was almost sold into slavery by a naukleros (ship-owner) in Carthage. The account of his travels in his biography has a romantic character and seems to have been an influence on the 10th-century Life of Gregentios. While in Jerusalem, he was ordained a deacon by Patriarch Makarios II (c. 563 – c. 575). He returned to Agrigento via Constantinople and Rome. In 590, two factions with their respective candidates for the vacant see of Agrigento traveled to Rome to seek the pope's decision. Pope Gregory bypassed both candidates and consecrated Gregory of Agrigento. He was found hiding in a monastic garden out of reticence for high office when Gregory chose him. The biography attributes to Gregory an education in classics, rhetoric and theology. He is said to have read the Life of Basil of Caesarea many times and the Passion of the Holy Maccabees. At the request of a bishop, he interpreted the writings of Gregory of Nazianzus for a group of deacons. The biographer praises him as a second Chrysostom. By a miracle, he was able to fast constantly. He is also credited with performing healing miracles. By 591, Gregory had been falsely accused of wrongdoing and was imprisoned. According to the biography, the accusers were a certain Sabinus and Crescentius. A papal letter of August 591 ordered him to appear along with the bishops of Catania and Palermo before the sub-deacon Peter, a papal agent.