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Commemorated on April 10
The PriestMartyr
Gregory V, Patriarch of Constantinople, thrice occupied the cathedra-chair
(1797-1799, 1806-1808, 1819-1821). During these times Greece found itself under
the harsh Turkish yoke. many Greek patriots lived in the hope to again win
national independence. They found active and authoritative support in a brave
champion for freedom of their native land – in the holy Patriarch Gregory V.
His connections with the Greek patriots came to light only when Alexander
Ipsilanti with his army crossed over the River Prut against sultan Makhmul. One
of the companions of the saint advised him to flee from Constantinople to
Moreia. The saint answered him thus: "I sense, that the fishes of the
Bosphorus will nibble at my body, but I shall die happy in the name of saving
my nation".
On the day of Holy
Pascha, 10 April 1821, they arrested the holy Patriarch and led him out of the
doors of the Patriarchate, and then they threw his body into the sea.
Greek sailors noted
the spot where the body of the saint was thrown, they found it, and on a ship
of the Cephalonian captain Mark Sklabos under a Russian flag they sailed to
Odessa. There, in the Greek church of the Most Holy Trinity, the body of the
saint was buried on 19 June 1821. For dressing the remains of the priestmartyr,
there was sent from Moscow vestments and a mitre with cross, which had belonged
to His Holiness Patriarch Nikon (1652-1658).
In 1871 at the request
of the Greek authorities it was decided to transfer the relics of Sainted
Gregory from Odessa to Athens for the celebration of fifty years of Greek
independence. In honour of the PriestMartyr Gregory, at Athens was compiled a
special service. His deed contributed to the triumph of Christianity in the
rebirth of Hellas.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.
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