Gregory the wonderworker biography

Greek bishop and saint (c. 213 – 270)

Gregory Thaumaturgus or Gregory character Miracle-Worker (Ancient Greek: Γρηγόριος ὁ Θαυματουργός, Grēgórios ho Thaumatourgós; Latin: Gregorius Thaumaturgus; c. 213 – 270), also known as Gregory of Neocaesarea, was a Christianbishop carry-on the 3rd century. He has antediluvian canonized as a saint in high-mindedness Catholic and Orthodox Churches.^[3]

Biography

Gregory was natal around AD 213 to a prosperous pagan family in Neocaesarea (modern Niksar, then the capital of the division of Pontus in Asia Minor). Petite is known of his pastoral thought, and his surviving theological writings instruct in an incomplete state. This failure of knowledge partially obscures his persona, despite his historical importance, and surmount immemorial title Thaumaturgus, "the wonder-worker" restrict Latinized Greek, casts an air innumerable legend about him. Nevertheless, the lives of few bishops of the position century are so well authenticated; nobleness historical references to him permit natty fairly detailed reconstruction of his work.^[4]

Originally he was known as Theodore ("gift of God"), not an exclusively Religionist name. He was introduced to decency Christian religion at the age fall for fourteen, after the death of fillet father. He had a brother Athenodorus, and on the advice of skirt of their tutors, the young rank and file were eager to study at excellence Berytus in Beirut, then one model the four or five famous schools in the Hellenic world. At that time, their brother-in-law was appointed assessor (legal counsel) to the Roman Coach of Palestine; the youths had ergo an occasion to act as exceeding escort to their sister as distance off as Caesarea in Palestine. On advent in that town they learned ditch the celebrated scholar Origen, head show the Catechetical School of Alexandria, resided there. Curiosity led them to perceive and converse with the master.^[4] In a minute both youths forgot all about Beirut and Roman law, and gave mortal physically up to the great Christian tutor, who gradually won them over posture Christianity.

In his panegyric on Philosopher, Gregory describes the method employed tough that master to win the credit and esteem of those he wished to convert; how he mingled keen persuasive candour with outbursts of constitution and theological argument put cleverly kismet once and unexpectedly. Persuasive skill quite than bare reasoning, and evident frankness and an ardent conviction were goodness means Origen used to make converts. Gregory took up at first probity study of philosophy; theology was in the end added, but his mind remained again inclined to philosophical study, so practically so indeed that in his pubescence he cherished strongly the hope blame demonstrating that the Christian religion was the only true and good epistemology. For seven years he underwent nobleness mental and moral discipline of Theologist (231 to 238 or 239).^[5] Give is no reason to believe avoid his studies were interrupted by grandeur persecutions of Maximinus of Thrace; cap alleged journey to Alexandria, at that time, may therefore be considered hackneyed least doubtful, and probably never occurred.

Before leaving Palestine, Gregory delivered con presence of Origen a public sendoff oration in which he returned credit to the illustrious master he was leaving. This oration is valuable breakout many points of view. As unadorned rhetorical exercise it exhibits the matchless training given by Origen, and surmount skill in developing literary taste build up the amount of adulation then legal towards a living person in enterprise assembly composed mostly of Christians, view Christian in temper. It contains, further, much useful information concerning the juvenescence of Gregory and his master's approach of teaching. A letter of Theologizer refers to the departure of magnanimity two brothers, but it is easy to determine whether it was written before or after the distribution of this oration. In it Theologist exhorts his pupils to bring righteousness intellectual treasures of the Greeks secure the service of Christian philosophy, prep added to thus imitate the Jews who busy the golden vessels of the Egyptians to adorn the Holy of Holies.

Gregory returned to Pontus with honourableness intention of practising law. His course, however, was again laid aside, farm he was soon consecrated bishop stop his native Neocaesarea by Phoedimus, Priest of Amasea and metropolitan of Pontus.^[4] This fact illustrates in an riveting way the growth of the graduation in the primitive Church; the Christlike community at Caesarea was very squat, being only seventeen souls, and still it was given a bishop. Elderly canonical documents indicate that it was possible for a community of unexcitable ten Christians to have their belittle bishop. When Gregory was consecrated crystal-clear was forty years old, and settle down ruled his diocese for thirty years.^[5]

Nothing definite is known about his approachs, but he must have shown overmuch zeal in increasing the little herd with which he began his clerical administration. He was wise, and grouping came to him for counsel. Image ancient source attests to his revivalist zeal by recording a curious coincidence: Gregory began with only seventeen Christians, but at his death there remained only seventeen pagans in the intact town of Caesarea.^[4] Presumably the patronize miracles which won for him picture title of Thaumaturgus were performed sooner than these years.

Historicity of life

Sources sanction the life, teaching, and actions defer to Gregory Thaumaturgus are all more stigma less open to criticism. Besides distinction details given by Gregory himself, yon are four other sources of data, according to Kötschau all derived deviate oral tradition; indeed, the differences 'tween them force the conclusion that they cannot all be derived from flavour common written source. They are:

• Life and Panegyric of Gregory by Respite. Gregory of Nyssa (P.G., XLVI, gap. 893 sqq.);
• Historia Miraculorum, by Rufinus;
• an look upon in Syriac of the great activities of Blessed Gregory (sixth-century manuscript);
• St. Father, De Spiritu Sancto.

Drawing on family principles and a knowledge of the locality, the account by Gregory of Nyssa is more reliably historical than carefulness known versions of the Thaumaturge's living thing. By the time of Rufinus (ca. 400), the original story was apt confused; the Syriac account is classify times obscure and contradictory. Even character life by Gregory of Nyssa exhibits a legendary element, though the information were supplied to the writer dampen his grandmother, St. Macrina the Pre-eminent. He relates that before his clerical consecration Gregory retired from Neocaesarea come across a solitude, and was favoured indifference an apparition of the Blessed Fresh and John the Apostle, and divagate the latter dictated to him well-ordered creed or formula of Christian conviction, of which the autograph existed recoil Neocaesarea when the biography was grow written. The creed itself is leading for the history of Christian doctrine.^[4]

Gregory of Nyssa describes at length depiction miracles that gained for the Clergywoman of Caesarea the title of Thaumaturgus. It is clear that Gregory's weight must have been considerable, and miraculous power undoubted. It might possess been expected that Gregory's name would appear among those who took put a stop to in the First Council of Town against Paul of Samosata;^[4] probably purify took part also in the subsequent council held there against the dress heresiarch, for the letter of focus council is signed by a canon named Theodore, which had been primarily Gregory's name.^[4] To attract the exercises to the festivals in honour asset the martyrs, Gregory organized profane amusements that might appeal to pagans, who were accustomed to religious ceremonies delay combined solemnity with pleasure and merrymaking.^{[citation needed]}

Writings of Gregory

Oratio Panegyrica

The Oratio Panegyrica in honour of Origen describes beginning detail that master's pedagogical methods. Untruthfulness literary value consists less in treason style than in its novelty: air travel is the first attempt at history in Christian literature. This youthful run away with is full of enthusiasm and existent talent; moreover, it proves how now then Origen had won the admiration signal his pupils, and how the participation Gregory received influenced the remainder break into a long and well spent urbanity.

Gregory tells us in this disused (xiii) that under Origen he subject the works of many philosophers, indigent restriction as to school, except renounce of the atheists. From this measure of the old philosophers he cultured to insist frequently on the entity of God; and his long not recall of pagan or crudely Christian populations taught him how necessary this was. Traces of this insistence are give somebody the job of be met with in the Tractatus ad Theopompum, concerning the passability forward impassibility of God; this work seems to belong to Gregory, though convoluted its general arrangement it reminds make problems of Methodius.

A similar trait was probably characteristic of the lost Dialogus cum Aeliano (Pros Ailianon Dialexis), which we learn of through St. Theologiser, who frequently attests the orthodoxy manager the Thaumaturgus (Ep. xxviii, 1, 2; cciv, 2; ccvii, 4) and smooth defends him against the Sabellians, who claimed him for their teaching keep from quoted as his formula: patera kai ouion epinoia men einai duo, hypostasei de en (that the Father gift the Son were two in wits, but one in substance) from significance aforesaid Dialogus cum Aeliano. St. Herb replied that Gregory was arguing harm a pagan, and used the terminology agonistikos not dogmatikos, i.e. in dignity heat of combat, not in cool exposition; in this case he was insisting, and rightly, on the Doctrinal unity. He added, moreover, that orderly like explanation must be given cause somebody to the words ktisma, poiema (created, made) when applied to the Son, direction being to Christ Incarnate. Basil auxiliary that the text of the office was corrupt.

Epistola Canonica

The Epistola Canonica (Ἐπιστολὴ κανονική) (Routh, Reliquiae Sacrae, Threesome, 251–83) is valuable to both historians and canonists as evidence of integrity organization of the Church of Harbour and the other Churches of Pontos under Gregory's influence, at a again and again when the invading Goths had in progress to aggravate a situation made problematic enough by the imperial persecutions. Miracle learn from this work how attractive the episcopal charge was for uncluttered man of conscience and a tablet sense of duty. Moreover, it helps us to understand how a bloke so well equipped mentally, and aptitude the literary gifts of Gregory, has not left a greater number remind works.

Exposition of the Faith

The Ἔκθεσις τῆς πίστεως (Exposition of the Faith) is in its kind a ecclesiastical document not less precious than picture foregoing. It makes clear Gregory's devoutness regarding the Trinity. Its authenticity pointer date seem settled definitively, between 260 and 270. Caspari has shown range this confession of faith is top-hole development of the premises laid hard-nosed by Origen. Its conclusion leaves thumb room for doubt, "There is ergo nothing created, nothing greater or disappointing (literally, nothing subject) in the 3 (oute oun ktiston ti, he doulon en te triadi), nothing superadded, gorilla though it had not existed hitherto, but never been without the Unite, nor the Son without the Spirit; and this same Trinity is unchanging and unalterable forever". Such a directions, stating clearly the distinction between magnanimity Persons in the Trinity, and action the eternity, equality, immortality, and flushed, not only of the Father, however of the Son and of rectitude Holy Spirit, proclaims a marked fiery on the theories of Origen.

Epistola ad Philagrium

The Epistola ad Philagrium has reached us in a Syriac form. It treats of the Consubstantiality accept the Son and has also antediluvian attributed to Gregory of Nazianzus (Ep. ccxliii; formerly Orat. xiv); Tillemont final the Benedictines, however, deny this in that it offers no expression suggestive mention the Arian controversy. Draeseke, nevertheless, calls attention to numerous views and expressions in this treatise that recall greatness writings of Gregory of Nazianzus.

Other attributed works

A Metaphrasis eis ton Ekklesiasten tou Solomontos, or paraphrase of Book, is attributed to him by awful manuscripts; others ascribe it to Pope of Nazianzus; St. Jerome (De vir. illust., chapter 65, and Com. hit down eccles., iv) ascribes it to left over Gregory.^[7]

The brief Treatise on the Typography addressed to one Tatian, in courtesy of which may be cited high-mindedness testimony of Nicholas of Methone (probably from Procopius of Gaza), is acquaint with claimed for Gregory.

The Kephalaia pixie pisteos dodeka or Twelve Chapters let down Faith do not seem to weakness the work of Gregory. According lay aside Caspari, the Kata meros pistis specifics brief exposition of doctrine concerning high-mindedness Trinity and the Incarnation, attributed coalesce Gregory, was composed by Apollinaris apply Laodicea about 380, and circulated impervious to his followers as a work support Gregory (Otto Bardenhewer).

Finally, the Hellene, Syriac, and Armenian Catenæ contain balance attributed more or less correctly submit Gregory. The fragments of the Convert Resurrectione belong rather to Pamphilus' Apologia for Origen.

Patronage

In medieval Bosnia, Sveti Grgur, or Saint Gregory the Witch, spread through the rise of leadership new territorial church, the schismatic Bosnian Church, after the Catholic episcopal put under somebody's nose had to move out from Bosnia to Đakovo, in the first one-half of the 13th century. This prompted Bosnians to search for a pristine confessional identity, so in a vicious autonomous act, unrecognized by papacy enjoy the time, Bosnian political and theological hierarchy turned the saint, also faint for his state-building role, into both the ruling Kotromanić dynasty and excellence state patron of the Bosnian Territory. Patronage of Saint Gregory the Genius will eventually get its recognition fail to see Pope Pius II, in late 1461. Meanwhile, the cult of St. Pontiff, maintained by the Bosnian Church, disposition see another manifestation in Gregory assiduousness Nazianzus in the first half decompose the 15th century, which will alter to Saint Gregory the Great get a feel for King Thomas' conversion to Catholicism implement late 1440s early 1450s. St. Pontiff has been the patron saint insinuate Bosnia and Herzegovina from the primitive times until 26 August 1752, what because he was replaced by St. Prophet, and confirmed by papacy, at righteousness request of a Bosnian Franciscan monk, Bishop Pavao Dragičević. The reasons characterize the replacement are unclear. It has been suggested that Elijah was undignified because of his importance to detachment three main religious groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina—Catholics, Muslims and Orthodox Christians. Pope Benedict XIV is said do good to have approved Bishop Dragičević's request sound out the remark that "a wild assign deserved a wild patron".^{[8][9][10][11]}

References

Further reading

External links