Venerable Gregory of Sinai — August 8 / August 21 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, August 8 according to the Julian Calendar (August 21 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates Venerable Gregory of Sinai.

Venerable Gregory of Sinai was born about the year 1268 in the seaside village of Klazomenai (according to other sources, Koukoulos) near the city of Smyrna in Asia Minor, into a well-to-do family. In the year 1290 he was taken captive by the Agarenes and sent to Laodicea.

When he was set free, the venerable father made his way to the island of Cyprus, where he was tonsured a monk; afterward he crossed over to Mount Sinai to labor ascetically, and there he was clothed in the great schema. The blessed one fulfilled the obediences of cook and of baker, yet at the same time he was a skilled calligrapher, read much, and knew thoroughly the Holy Scriptures and the writings of the Fathers.

His strict, ascetic life — fasting, all-night vigils, psalmody, and prayer — amazed some and filled others with envy. The venerable Gregory left the monastery and set out to venerate the holy places of Jerusalem. For a certain time he lived on the island of Crete. Afterward he visited all the monasteries of Athos and partook of the many centuries of spiritual experience of the monastic life.

The holy father left us many works profitable to the soul. He is known also as an outstanding author of hymns. Well-pleasing to the Lord, the holy father departed this life in the year 1310 (according to some sources, in 1346) in the mountains of Macedonia, in a monastery which he himself had founded.