From the Prologue of Ochrid
The son of the senator Gordianus; he himself afterward became a senator and prefect of the city of Rome. But as soon as his father reposed, he gave himself to the spiritual life. From his great wealth he built six monasteries in Sicily and a seventh in Rome itself in honor of the Apostle Andrew, in which he himself was tonsured. Silvia, his mother, was also tonsured in a women's monastery. After the death of Pope Pelagius, Gregory was elected pope. He fled from that honor and authority and hid in the mountains and ravines, but the Lord revealed him to those searching for him by causing a pillar of fire to appear from earth to heaven at the place where Gregory was hiding. He was extraordinarily compassionate. He used all his income for shelters for the poor and for hospitality. He frequently invited poor people and served them at table. He was also occupied with writing useful books. The Dialogist, or Interlocutor, he is called because he wrote a book under that name, in which he set forth the virtues and miracles of Italian saints. He also composed the holy Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, which is celebrated on Wednesdays and Fridays of the Great Fast. His archdeacon Peter saw a dove flying above his head whenever he sat and wrote. He presented himself to the Lord in the year 604.
“On account of his great purity and chastity, God granted him the gift of wonderworking, so that he healed all manner of illness — especially madness and insanity.”
