Silvia, Saint

SILVIA, saint. – Mother of s. Gregorio Magno, she is commemorated in the Roman Martyrology on 3 November, having been entered therein by order of Clement VIII.
Of noble lineage, she married Gordiano of the Anicii family, by whom she had two children. Having been widowed, she devoted a large part of her possessions to founding monasteries, especially in Sicily, whence arose the idea that S. was of Sicilian origin. She then withdrew to live in a small house near the church of S. Saba, where in the 9th century there existed an oratory dedicated to her. Through the intervention of her son, her image was painted, together with that of her husband, in the monastery of S. Andrea at the Clivus Scauri.