A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

26. Of ST. SABA. Surius has given (De Probatis Sanctorum Vitis, a. d. 22 Nov.), professedly from Symeon Metaphrastes, an interpolated Latin version of a life of St. Gregory of Agrigentum, by Leontius, presbyter and abbot of St. Saba. The Greek original, which is extant in MS., bears the title Λεοντίον πρεσβυτέρου καὶ ἡγουμένου τῆς μονῆς τοῦ ἁγίου Σάβα τῆς Ῥωμαίων τόλεως εἰς βίον καὶ δαύματα τοῦ ὁσίου Πατρὸς ἡμῶν Γρηγοριου τοῦ Ἀκραγαντίνου, Leontii Presbyteri et Abbatis Coenobii S. Sabae (urbis Romae, sc. Novae s. CPoleos) Liber de Vita et Miraculis S. Patris nostri Gregorii Agrigentini. If the expression " Urbis Romae" is correctly referred to Leontius, it furnishes an argument for identifying him with Leontius of Byzantium [No. 5], who, in that case, must have embraced a monastic life in the monastery of St. Saba, near Jerusalem. (Surius, l.c. ; Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. viii. p. 322; Cave, Hist. Litt. vol. ii Dissert. 1. p. 12.)