The other appointment of a shoemaker to the episcopate was due to the piety and wisdom of Gregory Thaumaturgus, the pupil and friend of Origen (220-270 A.D.). Gregory was then Bishop of Neo-Cæsarea in Asia Minor, and when a vacancy occurred in the bishopric of Comana in Cappadocia, he defied all conventionalism and prejudice, and appointed "a poor shoemaker named _Alexander_, despised by the world, but great in the sight of God, who did honor to so exalted a station in the Church."[77] He was chosen in preference to scholars and men of good social status on account of his extraordinary piety. This Alexander justified the choice thus made by reason of his excellent discourse, his holy living, and a martyr's death. He is honored in the Roman Calendar on August 11th.[78] [77] Pressense's "Early Years of Christianity." London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1879, vol. ii. p. 355. [78] Dr. Smith's "Dict. Christian Biog.," art. "Gregory Thaumaturgus." In this article Gregory is called a charcoal-burner. Probably, like many other shoemakers, he followed more than one vocation. THE PIOUS COBBLER OF ALEXANDRIA. Quite as good a man, no doubt, if not as fit to fill the episcopal chair, was _the pious cobbler of Alexandria_, of whom we read that St. Anthony paid him a visit in consequence of a voice from Heaven which said to him, "Antony, thou art not so perfect as a cobbler that dwelleth at Alexandria." The pious anchorite was in the habit of hearing such voices and obeying them. All the leading events of his life were accompanied by a similar message from heaven, as he deemed it. Accordingly he took his staff, and leaving his secluded retreat in the desert, came down to the great city in search of the pious cobbler. Arriving before his door, where the good man sat at work, Antony asked him for an account of himself and his mode of living. "Sir," answered the cobbler, "as for me, good works I have none. My life is but simple, seeing I am but a poor cobbler. In the morning when I rise, I pray for the whole city wherein I dwell, especially for all such neighbors and poor friends as I have; after that I sit me down to my labor, where I spend the whole day in getting my living; and I keep me from all falsehood, for I hate nothing so much as I do deceitfulness; wherefore when I make any man a promise, I keep it and perform it truly; and thus I spend my time poorly with my wife and children, whom I teach and instruct, so far as my wit will serve me, to fear and dread God; and this is the sum of my simple life." RABBI JOCHANAN THE SHOEMAKER.