St. Gregory, at last, that his end was approaching

[Mary Naeem]

St. Gregory, Thaumaturgus




After a long, well spent and holy life, he felt, at last, that his end was approaching, and visiting once more his whole diocese, he redoubled his zeal in instructing his flock, admonished all to constancy, and endeavored to practice more good works then ever before. Soon after, he fell sick, and ended his days by a happy death. Shortly before closing his eyes, he asked if there were yet some in the city who had not received holy baptism. " Seventeen," was the answer. The Saint, already in his agony, raised his eyes to heaven and said: " Thanks and praise to God ! When I took possession of my See, I found only seventeen Christians. May God preserve all in the true faith, and give to all infidels, in the whole world, the light of the Savior's divine Word!" The death of St. Gregory took place in the seventieth year of his age, and the 270th of the Christian Era