Saint Gregory the Great was also known as Pope Saint Gregory I or  Saint Gregory the Dialogist, He was Pope from 590-604 AD, at a time of crisis for the city of Rome. Saint Gregory lived in Rome at a time when it was no longer an important city. The Roman empire now had its capital in Constantinople in the east, and Rome was beset by plagues and wars with Germanic tribes from the north. Despite all these challenges, Saint Gregory is known as one of the greatest popes in the history of the church. He took charge of Rome's defenses when it was under siege and negotiated peace treaties, he wrote many important commentaries on scripture and other religious writings, and he was an influential liturgist. In the East, he is known for writing the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, and in the West the Gregorian Chant is so named in his honor. Saint Gregory also emphasized that the church should meet the physical as well as spiritual needs of the poor and sick, and under his leadership the church's charity saved many from starvation.