SILVIA, SANTA

SILVIA, Saint. — Mother of St. Gregory the Great, she is commemorated in the Roman Martyrology on November 3, as written by order of Clement VIII.
Of noble birth, she married Gordian of the Anicii family, by whom she had two sons. After becoming a widow, she gave away much of her wealth to found monasteries, especially in Sicily, whence arises the idea that St. Silvia was of Sicilian origin. She then retired to live in a small house near the church of St. Sabas, where in the 9th century there existed an oratory dedicated to her. Through the efforts of her son, her image was painted, together with that of her husband, in the monastery of St. Andrew on the Clivus Scauri.