A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

314 GREGORIUS. GREGORIUS.
empire could furnish. Like his brother also, he came'the pupil and the convert of Origen, about
formed an early friendship with Gregory Nazi- A. D. 234. At the end of five years, during which
anzen. He did not, however, share in their reli- Origen instructed him in logic, physics, mathemagious views; but, having been appointed a reader tics, ethics, and the whole circle of philosophy, as
in some church, he abandoned' the office, and be- well as in the Christian faith and biblical science,
came a teacher of rhetoric. Gregory Nazianzen Gregory returned to his native place, where he
remonstrated with him on this step by letter (Epist. soon receivtd a letter from Origen, persuading him
43), and ultimately he became a minister of the to become a minister of the church. Gregory, howchurch, being ordained by his brother Basil to the ever, withdrew into the wilderness, whither he
bishopric of Nyssa, a small place in Cappadocia, was followed by Phaedimns, bishop of Amaseia,
about A. D. 372. As a pillar of orthodoxy, he was who wished to ordain him to the bishopric of Neoonly inferior to his brother and his friend. The caesareia. Gregory for a long time succeeded in
Arians persecuted him; and at last, upon a frivo- evading the search of Phaedimus, who at last, in
lous accusation, drove him into banishment, A. D. Gregory's absence, performed the ceremony of his
375, from which, on the death of Valens, he was ordination, just as if he had been present. Upon
recalled by Gratian, A, D. 378. In the following this Gregory came from his hiding-place, and underyear he was present at the synod of Antioch; and took the office, in the discharge of which he was so
after visiting his dying sister, Macrina, in Pontus successful, that whereas, when he became bishop,
[BASILUS], he went -into Arabia, having been there were only seventeen Christians in the city,
commissioned by the synod of Antioch to inspect at his death there were only seventeen persons
the churches of that country. From this tour he who were not Christians, notwithstanding the two
returned in 380 or 381, visiting Jerusalem in his calamities of the Decian persecution, about a. D.
way. The state of religion and morality there 250, and the invasion of the northern barbarians,
greatly shocked him, and he expressed his feelings about A. D. 260, from which the church of Neoin a letter against the pilgrimage to the holy city. caesareia suffered severely during his bishopric.
In 381 he went to the oecumenical council of Con- In the Decian persecution he fled into the wilderstantinople, taking with him his great work against ness, not, as it really appears, from fear, but to
the Arian Eunomius, which he read before Gregory preserve his life for the sake of his flock. He was
Nazianzen and Jerome. In the council he took a a warm champion of orthodoxy, and sat in the
very active part, and he had a principal share in council which was held at Antioch in A. D. 265, to
the composition of the creed, by which the Catholic inquire into the heresies of Paul of Samosata. He
doctrine respecting the Holy Ghost was added to died not long afterwards. The very probable
the Nicene Creed. On the death of Meletius, the emendation of Kuster to Suidas, substituting the
first president of the council, Gregory was chosen name of Aurelian for that of Julian, would bring
to deliver his funeral oration. down his life to A. D. 270.
He was present at the second council of Con- This is not the place to inquire into the miracles
stantinople in 394, and probably died shortly after- which are said to have been performed by Gregory
wards.' He was married, though he afterwards at every step of his life. One example of them
adopted the prevailing views of his time in favour is sufficient. On his: journey from the wilderof the celibacy of the clergy. His wife's name was ness to his see he spent a night in a heathen
Theosebeia. temple. The mere presence of the holy man exThe reputation of Gregory Nyssen with the orcised the demons, so that, when the Pagan priest
ancients was only inferior to that of his brother, came in the morning to perform the usual service,
and to that of Gregory Nazianzen. (See especially he could obtain no sign of the presence of his diviPhot. Cod. 6.) Like them, he was an eminent nities. Enraged at Gregory, he threatened to take
rhetorician, but his oratory often offends by its ex- him before the magistrates; but soon, seeing the
travagance. His theology bears strong marks of calmness of the saint, his anger was turned to adthe influence of the writings of Origen. miration and faith, and he besought Gregory, as a
His works may be divided, into: 1. Treatises further proof of his power, to cause the demons to
on doctrinal. theology, chiefly, but not entirely, return. The wonder-worker consented, and laid
relating to the Arian controversy, and including upon the altar a piece of paper, on which he had
also works against the Appollinarists and the Mani- written, "Gregory to Satan:-Enter." The acchaeans. 2.. Treatises on the practical duties of customed rites were performed, and the presence of
Christianity.. 3. Sermons and Orations. 4. Letters. the demons was manifested. The result was the.5. Biographies. The only complete edition of conversion of the Pagan priest, who became a deaGregory Nyssen is that of Morell and Gretser, con of Neocaesareia, and the most faithful follower of
2 vols. fol. Paris, 1615-161 8; reprinted 1638. the bishop. The following are the genuine works
There are several editions of his separate works. of Gregory Thaumaturgus:-1. Panegyricus ad
(Lardner's Credibility;. Cave, Hist. Lit. vol. i. p. Origenem, a discourse delivered when he was about
244; Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. ix. p. 98; Schriickh, to quit. the school of Origen. 2. Metaphrasis in
C/hristlicke Kirckengeschichte, vol. xiv.; F. Rupp, Ecclesiasten. 3. Expositio Fidei, a creed of the
Gregors von Nyssa Leben und Meinungen, Leipz. doctrine of the Trinity. 4. Epistola canonica, de
1834, 8vo.; Hoffmann, Lexicon Biblioqgraph. Script. iis, qui in Barbarorum Incursione idolothlyta comeG(aec.) [P. S.] derant, an epistle in which he describes the penances
GREGO'RIUS THAUMATURGUS, or to be required of those converts who had relapsed
THEODO'RUS, ST., received the surname of- into heathenism through the fear of death, and
Thaumaturgus from his miracles. He was a native who desired to be restored to the church. 4.
of Neocaesareia in: Cappadocia, and the son of1 Other Letters. The other works ascribed to him
heathen parents. He pursued' his studies, chiefly are either spurious or doubtful.
in Roman law, at Alexandria, Athens, Berytus, The following are the editions of Gregory's
and finally at Caesareia in Palestine, where he be- works:-: —l. That of Gerardus Vossius, Greek and