patron
Saint Martyr Gregory (Peradze) as a patron of the Orthodox Pastoral Point was chosen in 2006. From the very beginning he seemed particularly close to young people gathered around the Point - as many of them, he was a young scientist, passionate about his work, strongly associated with Orthodoxy. He lived in Warsaw, walked the same paths and went by the same trams. He is a Polish-Georgian, contemporary saint, who was also a good candidate for patron saint of the parish.
Born on September 13, 1899 in Tbilisi. His father was a priest. Following his ancestors, he enrolled in the spiritual school, and then in the seminary in Tbilisi. He graduated in 1918 as the best student and he studied at the Faculty of Philology at University of Tbilisi. His education was interrupted by the conscription.
In 1921, the Council of the Georgian Orthodox Church sent him to study theology in Berlin. There he learned German language (he also knew several others). Then he studied and lead research work mainly about Georgian monasticism. In 1927 he received his PhD in philosophy.
Two years later, while still a lay person, Peradze established in Paris a Georgian parish. In 1931 he became a monk, was ordained priest and became its first parish priest. In 1933 the Metropolitan Dionysius (Waledyński) invited father Gregory to Warsaw to teach patrology at the section of Orthodox Theology at Warsaw University. Along with the teaching activities he continued scientific work. He did this until the outbreak of World War II.
May 5, 1942, the Germans, who occupied Poland then, arrested Archimandrite Gregory. The reasons for this are not entirely clear. Probably it was caused by his support shown to the Jewish people and cooperation with the Polish underground army. Interrogated, beaten, he was transported to Auschwitz in mid-November. After eighteen days on December 6, 1942 he was killed. The reasons are still not fully explained. According to the eyewitness, the priest voluntarily reported himself to death instead of other prisoners. He was placed him barefoot in the snow, the soldiers let dogs at him, billet petrol and set alight. What happened to the body of the martyr is not known.
In 1995 Gregory was canonised by the Georgian Orthodox Church.
Born on September 13, 1899 in Tbilisi. His father was a priest. Following his ancestors, he enrolled in the spiritual school, and then in the seminary in Tbilisi. He graduated in 1918 as the best student and he studied at the Faculty of Philology at University of Tbilisi. His education was interrupted by the conscription.
In 1921, the Council of the Georgian Orthodox Church sent him to study theology in Berlin. There he learned German language (he also knew several others). Then he studied and lead research work mainly about Georgian monasticism. In 1927 he received his PhD in philosophy.
Two years later, while still a lay person, Peradze established in Paris a Georgian parish. In 1931 he became a monk, was ordained priest and became its first parish priest. In 1933 the Metropolitan Dionysius (Waledyński) invited father Gregory to Warsaw to teach patrology at the section of Orthodox Theology at Warsaw University. Along with the teaching activities he continued scientific work. He did this until the outbreak of World War II.
May 5, 1942, the Germans, who occupied Poland then, arrested Archimandrite Gregory. The reasons for this are not entirely clear. Probably it was caused by his support shown to the Jewish people and cooperation with the Polish underground army. Interrogated, beaten, he was transported to Auschwitz in mid-November. After eighteen days on December 6, 1942 he was killed. The reasons are still not fully explained. According to the eyewitness, the priest voluntarily reported himself to death instead of other prisoners. He was placed him barefoot in the snow, the soldiers let dogs at him, billet petrol and set alight. What happened to the body of the martyr is not known.
In 1995 Gregory was canonised by the Georgian Orthodox Church.