GREGORY TRAIIMATURVITS, Wonder-worker, originally called THEODORE'S, SArrr, b. at Ncomsarea, in Pontus, between 210 and 215. Sprung from an illustrious and wealthy heathen family, he was educated for a rhetorician or advocate; but an acquaint ance which he formed with Origen at Caesarea, in Palestine, allured him to the field of sacred science. Gregory forgot Roman law, applying himself instead, under his new master, with zeal and fervor to the study of the Holy Scriptures and of profane phil osophy. Several years had thus passed, when Maximin's persecutions forced Origen to leave Cwsarea. Gregory then went to Alexandria, and stayed there for three years (235 –238). Gordian having succeeded Maximin. Origen returned to Cresarea, and Gregory went to join him there, and to renew his former studies under him. Most probably it was at that period also that he was baptized, and changed his heathen name of Theo dorus. Recalled to his family, Gregory, instead of striving for those posts of honor for which lie had been destined, retired into solitude; but was so often besought to return ntid labor for the church, that he allowed himself to be consecrated about 240. Installed n' bishop at Neoeresarea, a wealthy and populous, but utterly unchristian city, Gregory applied himself to his holy work with the utmost zeal. He wrought, according to ancient testimony, many miracles, such as recalling devils, whom be had frightened out of a heathen temple, at his will, and thereby' converting its chief functionary to Chris tianity; moving a stone, staying a river, killing a Jew by his mere wish, changing a lake—a matter of contest between two brothers—into solid earth, and thus'contrived to change the unbelieving population of his see into devout Christians.
During the persecution of Decius, which broke out in 250, Gregory fled with a great part of his flock, whom lie would not see exposed to the danger of having either to change their faith, or to die the death of martyrs, and during this flight, he, once when hard pressed by his pursuers, transformed himself and his deacon—the heathen priest whom he had converted by recalling the devils—into trees. In 251 the emperor Decius
died, and Gregory returned to Neocresarea. Ile now instituted :1 general festival for those Christians Who bad falldn during the persecution, and permitted the faithful to celebrate it with banquets and sports like those which accompanied heathen festivals— a proceeding by which he intended to draw over the pagan multitude to Christianity, but which has been severely blamed, and which, indeed, was fraught with great mis chief for the church in later times.
In 264 we find him, together with his brother Anthem:m(10ms, at the council of Antioch, which had been convoked for the purpose of condemning the heresies of Paul, bishop of Samosata, their signatures occurring first in the acts of the council. Whether or not Gregory also took part in the second council (269), necessitated by Paul's refusal to abdicate, is very uncertain. Of his own extraordinary piety, devotion, truthfulness, and modesty, of his "prophetic and apostolic temper," the best testimony lies in the fact that St. Basil. St. Maximus, and other great luminaries of the church, call him a second Moses or Paul.
The only genuine works of Gregory are a panegyrical discourse on Origen, which he delivered in public before his return to his native place; the above•mentioned creed ; a metaphmsis on Eech:siastes, often and wrongly attributed to Gregory of Nazianzus, in twelve chapters; and a canonical Epistle, setting forth the punishments and penances to be undergone by such Christians as had bought booty from pagan soldiers, a practice very common in those times of constant invasions of Goths and gcythiaus iu Asia, prin cipally in Pontus. All other writings shown under his name are spurious The first collected edition of his works was published by Ger. Vossius at Mayeuce iu 1604; a more complete edition appeared in Paris, 1622, in folio.