Gregory of Nicopolis

Gregory of Nicopolis (also called Gregory Makar, Makarios in Greek) was an Armenian bishop who ended his life as a hermit at Bondaroy, in the department of Loiret in France, between 992 and 16 March 999.

He led a life of prayer and great asceticism: he fasted three days a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday), on the other days ate only lentils or roots, and made a hundred prostrations a night in his church. He left his bishopric and, arriving in Gaul, lived seven years as a recluse in a tiny cave near Pithiviers, receiving few visitors.

His tomb of the 10th century is the church of Saint-⁠Martin-⁠le-⁠Seul at Bondaroy, a well-⁠preserved Carolingian church of the 9th century. The cave in which he lived and the church were much visited by pilgrims; on Easter Tuesday a great procession was held there, with all the clergy and many faithful from Pithiviers, carrying the relics and chanting the service on the way. A pilgrimage still takes place each year, organized by the Orthodox monastery of Saints Gregory the Armenian and Martin the Solitary. He used to share on Sundays with priests and Christians who came to him a cake made after the custom of his country, with rye flour, honey and spices; at Pithiviers there is a Brotherhood of the Gingerbread of Saint Gregory of Nicopolis.

He is honored as a blessed in France, in the undivided Church, by Catholic and Orthodox believers; no Orthodox synodal canonization is known.