compiled by the two friends from the writings of Origen. But the events
which were stirring the political and ecclesiastical life of Cappadocia,
and indeed of the whole Roman world, made a career of learned leisure
difficult if not impossible to a man of Gregory's position and
temperament. The emperor Constantius, having by intrigue and
intimidation succeeded in thrusting a semi-Arian formula upon the
Western bishops assembled at Ariminum in Italy, had next attempted to
follow the same course with the Eastern episcopate. The aged bishop of
Nazianzus having yielded to the imperial threats, a great storm arose
among the monks of the diocese, which was only quelled by the influence
of the younger Gregory, who shortly afterwards (about 361) was ordained
to the priesthood. After a vain attempt to evade his new duties and
responsibilities by flight, he appears to have continued to act as a
presbyter in his father's diocese without interruption for some
considerable time; and it is probable that his two _Invectives_ against
Julian are to be assigned to this period. Subsequently (about 372),
under a pressure which he somewhat resented, he allowed himself to be
nominated by Basil as bishop of Sasima, a miserable little village some
32 m. from Tyana; but he seems hardly, if at all, to have assumed the
duties of this diocese, for after another interval of "flight" we find
him once more (about 372-373) at Nazianzus, assisting his aged father,
on whose death (374) he retired to Seleucia in Isauria for a period of
some years. Meanwhile a more important field for his activities was
opening up. Towards 378-379 the small and depressed remnant of the
orthodox party in Constantinople sent him an urgent summons to undertake
the task of resuscitating their cause, so long persecuted and borne down
by the Arians of the capital. With the accession of Theodosius to the
imperial throne, the prospect of success to the Nicene doctrine had
dawned, if only it could find some courageous and devoted champion. The
fame of Gregory as a learned and eloquent disciple of Origen, and still
more of Athanasius, pointed him out as such a defender; nor could he
resist the appeal made to him, although he took the step reluctantly.
Once arrived in Constantinople, he laboured so zealously and well that
the orthodox party speedily gathered strength; and the small apartment
in which they had been accustomed to meet was soon exchanged for a vast
and celebrated church which received the significant name of Anastasia,
the Church of the Resurrection. Among the hearers of Gregory were to be
found, not only churchmen like Jerome and Evagrius, but also heretics
and pagans; and it says much for the sound wisdom and practical tact of
the preacher that he set himself less to build up and defend a doctrinal
position than to urge his flock to the cultivation of the loving
Christian spirit which cherishes higher aims than mere heresy hunting or
endless disputation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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