Gregory Pakourianos, whose origins are a matter for scholarly dispute, is believed to have hailed from the region of Tao or Tayk, which had been annexed by Constantinople to the theme of Iberia in 1001.

According to the contemporary historian Anna Komnena, who knew Pakourianos personally, Gregory was "descended from a noble Armenian family," while the Armenian chronicler Matthew of Edessa, from the twelfth century, saying Pakourianos was of "Vrats'" origin, had in mind the religious affiliation of Pakourianos.

Gregory himself proclaimed that he belonged to "the glorious people of the Iberians" and insisted his monks of the Monastery of the Mother of God Petritzonitissa in Bachkovo, which he had founded, to know the Georgian language.

According Anna Komnena, Pakourianos was tiny of body but a mighty warrior.

In 1064, he had participated in the unsuccessful defense of Ani against the Seljuq leader Alp Arslan and his allies: the Caucasian Georgians headed by King Bagrat IV of Georgia and Albanians headed by King Goridzhan.

He has served afterwards under Michael VII Doukas in various responsible positions on both the eastern and the western frontiers of the empire.

Since 1071, he has been a governor of the Theme of Iberia.

As the Seljuq advance had forced the imperial forces to evacuate the eastern Anatolian fortresses and the Theme of Iberia, he cedes control over Kars to King George II of Georgia in 1072-1073.

This will not help to stem the Turkish advance, however, and the area will become a battleground of the Georgian-Seljuq wars.