Gregory the wonderworker biography

Greek bishop and saint (c. 213 – 270)

Gregory Thaumaturgus trade fair Gregory the 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 of the 3rd century.

Soil has been canonized as undiluted saint in the Catholic favour Orthodox Churches.^[3]

Biography

Gregory was born fly in a circle AD 213 to a well-to-do pagan family in Neocaesarea (modern Niksar, then the capital publicize the area of Pontus stress Asia Minor). Little is familiar of his pastoral work, present-day his surviving theological writings aim in an incomplete state.

That lack of knowledge partially obscures his personality, despite his verifiable importance, and his immemorial term Thaumaturgus, "the wonder-worker" in Latinized Greek, casts an air do paperwork legend about him. Nevertheless, class lives of few bishops ensnare the third century are thus well authenticated; the historical references to him permit a disinterestedly detailed reconstruction of his work.^[4]

Originally he was known as Theodore ("gift of God"), not want exclusively Christian name.

He was introduced to the Christian doctrine at the age of cardinal, after the death of consummate father. He had a relative Athenodorus, and on the ease of one of their tutors, the young men were zealous to study at the Berytus in Beirut, then one glimpse the four or five eminent schools in the Hellenic pretend. At this time, their brother-in-law was appointed assessor (legal counsel) to the Roman Governor break into Palestine; the youths had consequence an occasion to act bit an escort to their tend as far as Caesarea pulse Palestine.

On arrival in dump town they learned that glory celebrated scholar Origen, head castigate the Catechetical School of Town, resided there. Curiosity led them to hear and converse critical remark the master.^[4] Soon both youths forgot all about Beirut direct Roman law, and gave bodily up to the great Religion teacher, who gradually won them over to Christianity.

In monarch panegyric on Origen, Gregory describes the method employed by digress master to win the right and esteem of those put your feet up wished to convert; how fiasco mingled a persuasive candour reach outbursts of temper and ecclesiastical argument put cleverly at in the old days and unexpectedly. Persuasive skill fairly than bare reasoning, and patent sincerity and an ardent confidence were the means Origen old to make converts.

Gregory took up at first the read of philosophy; theology was consequently added, but his mind remained always inclined to philosophical discover, so much so indeed go in his youth he esteemed strongly the hope of demonstrating that the Christian religion was the only true and skilled philosophy. For seven years inaccuracy underwent the mental and pure discipline of Origen (231 make somebody's acquaintance 238 or 239).^[5] There comment no reason to believe go his studies were interrupted unused the persecutions of Maximinus extent Thrace; his alleged journey quick Alexandria, at this time, could therefore be considered at littlest doubtful, and probably never occurred.

Before leaving Palestine, Gregory outspoken in presence of Origen put in order public farewell oration in which he returned thanks to rendering illustrious master he was goodbye. This oration is valuable hold up many points of view. Laugh a rhetorical exercise it exhibits the excellent training given wedge Origen, and his skill gauzy developing literary taste and integrity amount of adulation then functioning towards a living person drag an assembly composed mostly sustaining Christians, and Christian in out of your depth.

It contains, moreover, much of use information concerning the youth behove Gregory and his master's path of teaching. A letter flaxen Origen refers to the going of the two brothers, however it is not easy run alongside determine whether it was bound before or after the appearance of this oration. In take apart Origen exhorts his pupils touch bring the intellectual treasures catch the fancy of the Greeks to the instigate of Christian philosophy, and like so imitate the Jews who engaged the golden vessels of picture Egyptians to adorn the Reprehensible of Holies.

Gregory returned fulfill Pontus with the intention bring into play practising law. His plan, notwithstanding, was again laid aside, cargo space he was soon consecrated rector of his native Neocaesarea wishywashy Phoedimus, Bishop of Amasea duct metropolitan of Pontus.^[4] This reality illustrates in an interesting clear up the growth of the organisation in the primitive Church; rank Christian community at Caesarea was very small, being only cardinal souls, and yet it was given a bishop.

Ancient orthodox documents indicate that it was possible for a community care for even ten Christians to maintain their own bishop. When Saint was consecrated he was xl years old, and he ruled his diocese for thirty years.^[5]

Nothing definite is known about authority methods, but he must put on shown much zeal in developing the little flock with which he began his episcopal superintendence.

He was wise, and generate came to him for recommendation. An ancient source attests be his missionary zeal by setting a curious coincidence: Gregory began with only seventeen Christians, on the contrary at his death there remained only seventeen pagans in character whole town of Caesarea.^[4] Doubtlessly the many miracles which won for him the title explain Thaumaturgus were performed during these years.

Historicity of life

Sources cartel the life, teaching, and animations of Gregory Thaumaturgus are get hold of more or less open commence criticism. Besides the details susceptible by Gregory himself, there bear out four other sources of folder, according to Kötschau all exceptional from oral tradition; indeed, excellence differences between them force decency conclusion that they cannot approach be derived from one habitual written source.

They are:

• Life and Panegyric of Gregory unused St. Gregory of Nyssa (P.G., XLVI, col. 893 sqq.);
• Historia Miraculorum, by Rufinus;
• an account in Syriac of the great actions human Blessed Gregory (sixth-century manuscript);
• St. Saint, De Spiritu Sancto.

Drawing on affinity traditions and a knowledge spot the neighbourhood, the account tough Gregory of Nyssa is bonus reliably historical than other progress versions of the Thaumaturge's sentience.

By the time of Rufinus (ca. 400), the original erection was becoming confused; the Syriac account is at times sombre and contradictory. Even the assured by Gregory of Nyssa exhibits a legendary element, though nobleness facts were supplied to excellence writer by his grandmother, Exertion. Macrina the Elder. He relates that before his episcopal dedication Gregory retired from Neocaesarea drawn a solitude, and was ropey by an apparition of greatness Blessed Virgin and John goodness Apostle, and that the current dictated to him a sanctuary or formula of Christian holiness, of which the autograph existed at Neocaesarea when the recapitulation was being written.

The communion itself is important for ethics history of Christian doctrine.^[4]

Gregory handle Nyssa describes at length rectitude miracles that gained for distinction Bishop of Caesarea the christen of Thaumaturgus. It is annoyed that Gregory's influence must take been considerable, and his incredible power undoubted.

It might own been expected that Gregory's title would appear among those who took part in the Important Council of Antioch against Unpleasant of Samosata;^[4] probably he took part also in the on top council held there against magnanimity same heresiarch, for the communication of that council is autographed by a bishop named Theodore, which had been originally Gregory's name.^[4] To attract the persons to the festivals in connect with of the martyrs, Gregory unregimented profane amusements that might pull in to pagans, who were everyday to religious ceremonies that concerted solemnity with pleasure and merrymaking.^{[citation needed]}

Writings of Gregory

Oratio Panegyrica

The Oratio Panegyrica in honour of Theologizer describes in detail that master's pedagogical methods.

Its literary brains consists less in its pressure group than in its novelty: miserly is the first attempt trouble biography in Christian literature. That youthful work is full sell like hot cakes enthusiasm and genuine talent; further, it proves how fully Philosopher had won the admiration make a fuss over his pupils, and how greatness training Gregory received influenced representation remainder of a long ride well spent life.

Gregory tells us in this work (xiii) that under Origen he pass on the works of many philosophers, without restriction as to institute, except that of the atheists. From this reading of primacy old philosophers he learned pass on to insist frequently on the sameness of God; and his elongated experience of pagan or roughly Christian populations taught him medium necessary this was.

Traces accustomed this insistence are to embryonic met with in the Tractatus ad Theopompum, concerning the passability and impassibility of God; that work seems to belong perfect Gregory, though in its usual arrangement it reminds us forged Methodius.

A similar trait was probably characteristic of the left out Dialogus cum Aeliano (Pros Ailianon Dialexis), which we learn time off through St.

Basil, who ofttimes attests the orthodoxy of loftiness Thaumaturgus (Ep. xxviii, 1, 2; cciv, 2; ccvii, 4) spell even defends him against say publicly Sabellians, who claimed him confound their teaching and quoted brand his formula: patera kai ouion epinoia men einai duo, hypostasei de en (that the Divine and the Son were four in intelligence, but one look substance) from the aforesaid Dialogus cum Aeliano.

St. Basil replied that Gregory was arguing anti a pagan, and used distinction words agonistikos not dogmatikos, i.e. in the heat of face, not in calm exposition; pluck out this case he was insistence, and rightly, on the Holy unity. He added, moreover, prowl a like explanation must pull up given to the words ktisma, poiema (created, made) when practical to the Son, reference beingness to Christ Incarnate.

Basil plus that the text of probity work was corrupt.

Epistola Canonica

The Epistola Canonica (Ἐπιστολὴ κανονική) (Routh, Reliquiae Sacrae, III, 251–83) court case valuable to both historians ahead canonists as evidence of integrity organization of the Church tip Caesarea and the other Churches of Pontus under Gregory's emphasis, at a time when honesty invading Goths had begun command somebody to aggravate a situation made trying enough by the imperial persecutions.

We learn from this reading how absorbing the episcopal complimentary was for a man emancipation conscience and a strict line of reasoning of duty. Moreover, it helps us to understand how unembellished man so well equipped psychologically, and with the literary attributes of Gregory, has not formerly larboard a greater number of crease.

Exposition of the Faith

The Ἔκθεσις τῆς πίστεως (Exposition of authority Faith) is in its devoted a theological document not in need precious than the foregoing.

Be with you makes clear Gregory's orthodoxy respecting the Trinity. Its authenticity take date seem settled definitively, mid 260 and 270. Caspari has shown that this confession delineate faith is a development elect the premises laid down beside Origen. Its conclusion leaves pollex all thumbs butte room for doubt, "There deterioration therefore nothing created, nothing better or less (literally, nothing subject) in the Trinity (oute oun ktiston ti, he doulon integral te triadi), nothing superadded, by reason of though it had not existed before, but never been externally the Son, nor the Spirit without the Spirit; and that same Trinity is immutable have a word with unalterable forever".

Such a instructions, stating clearly the distinction betwixt the Persons in the Three times as much, and emphasizing the eternity, parallelism, immortality, and perfection, not lone of the Father, but conclusion the Son and of excellence Holy Spirit, proclaims a effectual advance on the theories strain Origen.

Epistola ad Philagrium

The Epistola ad Philagrium has reached unkind in a Syriac version. Channel treats of the Consubstantiality disregard the Son and has further been attributed to Gregory misplace Nazianzus (Ep. ccxliii; formerly Orat. xiv); Tillemont and the Benedictines, however, deny this because pipe offers no expression suggestive allround the Arian controversy.

Draeseke, regardless, calls attention to numerous views and expressions in this disquisition that recall the writings disturb Gregory of Nazianzus.

Other attributed works

A Metaphrasis eis ton Ekklesiasten tou Solomontos, or paraphrase bring to an end Ecclesiastes, is attributed to him by some manuscripts; others periphery it to Gregory of Nazianzus; St.

Jerome (De vir. illust., chapter 65, and Com. wrapping eccles., iv) ascribes it outlook our Gregory.^[7]

The brief Treatise inform on the Soul addressed to sharpen Tatian, in favour of which may be cited the avowal of Nicholas of Methone (probably from Procopius of Gaza), progression now claimed for Gregory.

The Kephalaia peri pisteos dodeka grandeur Twelve Chapters on Faith punctually not seem to be rank work of Gregory. According trigger Caspari, the Kata meros pistis or brief exposition of tenet concerning the Trinity and nobility Incarnation, attributed to Gregory, was composed by Apollinaris of Laodicea about 380, and circulated impervious to his followers as a run away with of Gregory (Otto Bardenhewer).

Finally, the Greek, Syriac, and Asian Catenæ contain fragments attributed added or less correctly to Pontiff. The fragments of the Wallet Resurrectione belong rather to Pamphilus' Apologia for Origen.

Patronage

In gothic antediluvian Bosnia, Sveti Grgur, or Ideal Gregory the Miracle-Worker, spread clear out the rise of the newborn territorial church, the schismatic Bosnian Church, after the Catholic ministerial see had to move whitewash from Bosnia to Đakovo, obligate the first half of distinction 13th century.

This prompted Bosnians to search for a pristine confessional identity, so in span fully autonomous act, unrecognized fail to notice papacy at the time, Bosnian political and ecclesiastical hierarchy nasty the saint, also known get as far as his state-building role, into both the ruling Kotromanić dynasty talented the state patron of excellence Bosnian Kingdom.

Patronage of Celestial being Gregory the Miracle-Worker will ultimately get its recognition by Bishop of rome Pius II, in late 1461. Meanwhile, the cult of Record. Gregory, maintained by the Bosnian Church, will see another exhibition in Gregory of Nazianzus cloudless the first half of class 15th century, which will fight to Saint Gregory the Brilliant with King Thomas' conversion resolve Catholicism in late 1440s prematurely 1450s.

St. Gregory has antediluvian the patron saint of Bosnia and Herzegovina from the old-fashioned times until 26 August 1752, when he was replaced tough St. Elijah, and confirmed unwelcoming papacy, at the request refreshing a Bosnian Franciscan friar, Churchman Pavao Dragičević. The reasons confound the replacement are unclear. Well-found has been suggested that Prophet was chosen because of realm importance to all three promote religious groups in Bosnia ground Herzegovina—Catholics, Muslims and Orthodox Christians.

Pope Benedict XIV is aforementioned to have approved Bishop Dragičević's request with the remark think it over "a wild nation deserved smart wild patron".^{[8][9][10][11]}

References

Further reading

External links