Gaudiosos 3 lived in Syria as a child and witnessed the destruction of icons by the caliph (Yezid 2): Mansi XIII 200 (κᾀγὼ παιδίον ἤμην ἐν Συρίᾳ, ὁπηνίκα ὁ τῶν Σαρρακηνῶν σύμβουλος τὰς εἰκόνας κατέστρεφεν). The date was c. 722/724. Bishop of Messana (in Sicily); in 787 he attended the Second Council of Nikaia (the Seventh Ecumenical Council) and was probably present at all eight sessions, from 24 September to 23 November 787: Mansi XII 994-XIII 486. In the lists of those present at the first and seventh sessions he is styled Γαυδιώσου ἐπισκόπου Μεσσήνης: Mansi XII 994, XIII 365. Elsewhere he is styled Γαυδιῶσος (Γάυδιος at XII 1095) ὁ ὁσιώτατος ἐπίσκοπος Μεσσήνης or similar: Mansi XII 1095, XIII 140, XIII 384. At the second session he spoke in favour of the traditional veneration of icons as described in statements from pope Hadrian I (Hadrianos 1) and condemned iconoclasts: Mansi XII 1095. At the fourth session he subscribed the statements read out from the Fathers in support of the veneration of icons: Mansi XIII 140. At the fifth session he mentioned his boyhood in Syria: Mansi XIII 200 (see above). At the seventh session he subscribed the statement of the faith adopted by the Council: Mansi XIII 384.

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