St Gregory the Righteous of Decapolis

Commemorated November 20

St Gregory the Decapolite was born in the city of Isaurian Decapolis (ten cities) in the eighth century. From his childhood, he loved the temple of God and church services. He read the Holy Scripture constantly and with reverence. In order to avoid the marriage which his parents had intended for him, he secretly left home. He spent all his life wandering in Constantinople, Rome, Corinth, and he pursued asceticism for a certain while on Olympos. St Gregory preached the Word of God everywhere, denouncing the Iconoclast heresy, strengthening the faith and fortitude of the Orthodox, whom the heretics in those times oppressed, tortured and imprisoned.

Through his ascetic effort and prayer, God gifted St Gregory with prophecy and wonderworking. Having attained purity of heart, he was granted to hear angelic singing in praise of the Holy Trinity. To better contend against the Iconoclast heresy, St Gregory left the monastery of St Menas where he had laboured for a long while, and he went again to Constantinople. At the capital, a grievous illness undermined his strength, and he departed to the Lord in 816 AD.