Fathers of the Church: St. Gregory Thaumaturgus Life and Works

Born of an aristocratic pagan family at Neocaesarea in Pontus at the beginning of the third century, St. Gregory received his early training in literature and rhetoric in his birthplace. While visiting Caesarea in Palestine, he chanced to hear the Christian philosopher and theologian Origen and remained there for five years as his pupil. Deeply influenced by Origen, Gregory returned to Pontus a convinced Christian and became the first bishop of Neocaesarea. His dedication greatly influenced his people, and he became known as "Gregory the Great," "the Teacher," or "the Wonderworker." St. Gregory's influence is clear from the many Lives (or narrations) that circulated in the fourth and fifth centuries, the prayers and invocations that asked for his patronage, and his place in Eastern canon law. Of his life, however, not much is known. No manuscript collection of his writings was made in antiquity. This volume presents the earliest and most important life of Gregory Thaumaturgus, preached by St. Gregory of Nyssa, and all the works that can be attributed to Gregory Thamumaturgus himself. It includes his Address of Thanksgiving to his teacher Origen; his Christian adaptation and interpretation of the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes; his regulations restoring order in the Christian community after an invasion by the Goths; a remarkable treatise on God's ability to suffer and another on the Trinity; and two small texts that may or may not have been written by him. This is the first time that these texts have been brought together in any language. The extensive introduction and notes offer readers an unprecedented opportunity to learn about "The Wonderworker." Michael Slusser is associate professor of theology at Duquesne University. Cover THE FATHERS OF THE CHURCH CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ABBREVIATIONS BIBLIOGRAPHY Texts and Translations of Gregory Thaumaturgus Texts and Translations of Gregory of Nyssa's Vita Scholarship Related to the Life and Works of Gregory Thaumaturgus INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION St. Gregory Thaumaturgus, “the Wonderworker” Gregory's Theology Gregory of Nyssa's Life of Gregory the Wonderworker Address of Thanksgiving to Origen Metaphrase on Ecclesiastes Canonical Epistle To Theopompus, on the Impassibility and Passibility of God To Philagrius, on Consubstantiality To Tatian, on the Soul Glossary on Ezekiel Letter of Origen to Gregory THE LIFE OF GREGORY THE WONDERWORKER ON THE LIFE AND WONDERS OF OUR FATHER AMONG THE SAINTS, GREGORY THE WONDERWORKER I. Introduction. 2. Gregory's youthful dedication to virtue. 3. Gregory's return home and ordination. 4. Gregory's initiation through a heavenly vision. 5. Gregory's first conquest: a temple and its custodian. 6. Gregory enters Neocaesarea and builds a church. 7. Gregory settles a feud between two brothers over a lake. 8. Gregory sets a limit to the river floods. 9. Gregory gives Comana a bishop, Alexander. 10. Gregory not deceived by a sham “dead” man. 11. Gregory heals a possessed boy. 12. Gregory cannot be found by the persecutors. 13. Gregory's clairvoyance about the persecution is demonstrated. 14. How Gregory honored the martyrs' memory. 15. Gregory's departure from this life. 16. Another story from early in Gregory's career. THE GENUINE WORKS OF ST. GREGORY THAUMATURGUS ADDRESS OF THANKSGIVING TO ORIGEN METAPHRASE ON THE ECCLESIASTES OF SOLOMON CANONICAL EPISTLE TO THEOPOMPUS, ON THE IMPASSIBILITY AND PASSIBILITY OF GOD TO PHILAGRIUS [EVAGRIUS],1 ON CONSUBSTANTIALITY APPENDIX OTHER WORKS ASSOCIATED WITHST. GREGORY THAUMATURGUS TO TATIAN, ON THE SOUL By what criterion the soul can be comprehended. Whether the soul exists. Whether the soul is a substance. Whether the soul is incorporeal. Whether the soul is simple or composite. Whether our soul is immortal. Whether the soul is reasonable. GLOSSARY ON EZEKIEL LETTER OF ORIGEN TO GREGORY INDICES GENERAL INDEX INDEX OF HOLY SCRIPTURE Books of the Old Testament Born Of An Aristocratic Pagan Family At Neocaesarea In Pontus At The Beginning Of The Third Century, St. Gregory Received His Early Training In Literature And Rhetoric In His Birthplace. While Visiting Caesarea In Palestine, He Chanced To Hear The Christian Philosopher And Theologian Origen And Remained There For Five Years As His Pupil. Deeply Influenced By Origen, Gregory Returned To Pontus A Convinced Christian And Became The First Bishop Of Neocaesarea. His Dedication Greatly Influenced His People, And He Became Known As Gregory The Great, The Teacher, Or The Wonderworker. This Volume Presents The Earliest And Most Important Life Of Gregory Thaumaturgus, Preached By St. Gregory Of Nyssa, And All The Works That Can Be Attributed To Gregory Thaumaturgus Himself.--book Jacket. The Life Of Gregory The Wonderworker -- The Genuine Works Of St. Gregory Thaumaturgus -- Other Works Associated With St. Gregory Thaumaturgus. Translated By Michael Slusser. Includes Bibliographical References (p. Xiii-xix) And Indexes. Translated From The Greek And Syriac.