This saint medal commemorates Pope Gregory I, commonly known as Gregory the Great. A thumbnail sketch of Gregory's accomplishments make quite an impressive resume: though a promising secular career beckoned, Gregory instead embraced the religious life, turning his personal estate into a monastery and establishing six others on land he owned on Sicily. Pope Pelagius II ordained Gregory, and he became the Pope's representative (papal nuncio) in Turkey shortly thereafter. When he returned to Rome he served as an abbott until the Pope died from a plague. Gregory was unanimously elected as Pelagius' successor, despite his reluctance to take on such a massive burden.

Gregory proceded to introduce reforms of the clergy and clerical affairs, established guidelines of religious practice, promoted monasticism and sent monks to England, thereby beginning the process of conversion there. An invasion forced Gregory to assume temporal duties, among which were ransoming captives and designing a peace agreement to spare Rome from seige. He rebuilt Rome after several natural disasters and launched programs to feed the hungry. He wrote many books including a comprehensive volume on the saints; and he also created the form of worship we know today as Gregorian chant, all the while remaining deeply holy and sincerely humble, adopting the title 'servant of the servants of God'. St Gregory is patron of musiciams, singers and teachers; his feast day is September 3.

This St Gregory medal depicts the Pope with a dove, symbolizing his successful peacemaking efforts; a book reflects his authorship. The finely detailed sterling silver medal sparkles with diamond cut accents and hangs on an 18 inch stainless steel clasped chain, rhodium plated to maintain shine. The medal measures 3/4 inch in diameter (penny size); packaged in a lovely green velvet hinged box.