“+Gregory the Great, if I recall correctly, was the first Bishop of Rome to have no real knowledge of Greek, and during his pontificate the fracture greatly accelerated.”
I have never heard this. In fact, I had heard quite opposite, that he was as comfortable speaking and reading Greek as he was Latin. There may have been some acceleration in the estrangement between Rome and the Eastern Patriarchates during his reign, but he is venerated as a very, very great saint by the Orthodox Churches. if I recall correctly, he is the author of one of my favorite devotions, the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts. Anyway, here’s what we think of him:
“Troparion (Tone 4)
Receiving divine grace from God on high, O glorious Gregory,
And strengthened with its power,
You willed to walk in the path of the Gospel, O most blessed one.
Therefore you have received from Christ the reward of your labors!
Entreat him that he may save our souls!
Kontakion (Tone 3)
You showed yourself to be an imitator of Christ, the chief Shepherd,
O Father Gregory,
Guiding the orders of monks to the fold of heaven.
From there you taught the flock of Christ His commandments!
Now you rejoice and dance with them in the mansions of heaven!
Some canonical Western Rite Orthodox parishes use the Liturgy of St. Gregory the Great.
http://members.aol.com/FrNicholas/liturgy.htm