圣格列高利一世(约540～604年)

Gregory I, St.

别名Gregory the Great

教宗（590～604）和教会的教义师。身为罗马贵族，到三十岁时，他已经担任长官，即罗马地位最高的文官。後来，他感到宗教生活的召唤，建造了好几所修道院，并充当教宗代表，後在590年当选为教宗而勉强同意。他成为中世纪教宗制度的建立者。他实行教宗集权以遏止腐败。598年他与伦巴底人达成暂时的和平，也允许拜占庭篡位者福卡斯在602年与他们达成永久的和平。格列高利一世渴望使俗世人民改宗，他派坎特伯里的圣奥古斯丁出使英格兰（596）。在格列高利一世统治下，哥德时期阿里乌派（参阅Arianism）西班牙与罗马达成和解。他为教廷国奠定基础。他强烈反对奴隶制度，也对犹太人和异教徒施予更多宽容。他写下了教会管理指引《神职人员条例》和其他作品。他大幅重修祈祷书和圣咏，导致後来格列高利圣咏取用他名字。对後世而言，他可说是中世纪最伟大的教宗。

English version：

约540～604年

Gregory I, St.

Pope (590-604) and doctor of the church. A Roman patrician, by age 30 he had attained the office of prefect, Rome's highest civil office. He then felt called to the religious life; he built several monasteries and served as a papal representative before being elected pope in 590, to which only reluctantly assented. He became the architect of the medieval papacy. He strove to curb corruption by centralizing the papal administration. In 598 he won temporary peace with the Lombards, and he allowed the Byzantine usurper Phocas to make permanent peace with them in 602. Eager to convert pagan peoples, Gregory sent Augustine of Canterbury on a mission to England (596). Under Gregory, Gothic Arian Spain (see Arianism) became reconciled with Rome. He laid the basis for the Papal States. He was a strong opponent of slavery, and he extended tolerance to Jews and heathens. He wrote the Pastoral Rule, a guide for church government, and other works. His extensive recodification of the liturgy and chant led to his name being given to Gregorian chant. He is remembered as perhaps the greatest of all the medieval popes.