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 GREGOEY OF NYSSA years of Arian domination. Some of the prin- cipal sees were in a deplorable condition, and in Constantinople especially the Christians were without a pastor, or even a place where they might assemble for worship. Gregory was liv- ing in retirement at Seleucia, but many of the bishops desired to place him in the episcopal chair of Constantinople. He finally yielded to their joint entreaties and appeared upon his new field of labor. His lowly and penitential exterior made an unfavorable impression upon the citizens of the proud and wealthy capital Df the East. The Arians and Apollinarists de- rided, and even pelted him with stones. Still lis great patience and zeal acted favorably ipon the people, aided, as we are told, by sveral miracles. Many were converted from >aganism, heresy, and dissolute lives through lis eloquence and learning. Gregory, how- jver, soon became weary of the growing cares )f his great see ; and although the emperor "leodosius and Pope Damasus and the bishops ipported him against his persecutors, especial- against an intruded bishop named Maximus, id although even a council called at Constan- lople declared him patriarch, he insisted upon signing all his honors, and retired again to lazianzus, and withdrew from thence to a soli- iry abode near Arianzus. Worn out by age id unremitting austerities, he died in his re- 3at. The Latins honor him on May 9. His shes were conveyed from Nazianzus to Con- intinople, and thence during the crusades to >me, where they repose under an altar in- 3ribed to his memory in the Vatican church, [is works consist chiefly of 55 sermons, 235 itters, and 158 pieces of poetry. Twenty 3ms are to be found in Tollius, Insignia Itinerarii Italici (4to, Utrecht, 1696), called by the editor Carmina Cygnea. Muratori pub- lished 228 unedited epigrams of Gregory's in 'ilsAnecdota Grceca (Padua, 1709). The prin- cipal editions of his works are those of Basel, "ol., 1550, with life by Suidas and by Gregory he Presbyter; De Billy, 2 vols., Paris, 1609- 11 ; the Benedictine Dom Maran, Paris, 1T88 (only vol. i. ; vol. ii., Paris, 1840, edited by the Benedictine Caillau) ; and vols. xxxv. to xxxviii. Migne's Patrologie grecque, Paris, 1856-'66 (Greek text with Latin translation). A selec- tion of his works was published by Goldhorn ipsic, 1854). See Ullmann's Gregorius von Vazianz (Darmstadt, 1825), and Villemain, Tableau de ^eloquence chretienne au quatrieme siecle (Paris, 1846). GREGORY OF NYSSA, a saint and father of the church, born in Cappadocia about 331, died about 400. He was a younger brother of Basil the Great, studied with him at Athens and Constantinople, was married, then embraced the ecclesiastical profession, and was ordained lector. Yielding to his passion for literature, he opened a school of eloquence, but was in- duced by Gregory Nazianzen to dedicate his talents to the ministry. In 370 he became as- sistant to his brother at Csesarea, and in 372 GREGORY OF TOURS 247 was chosen bishop of Nyssa. He was exiled under Valens by the Arians, was deputed in October, 379, by the council of Antioch, to visit the churches of Palestine and Arabia, was present at the council of Constantinople in 381, and again in 382 and 383. Gregory of Nyssa's works contain the most complete philosophical exposition of Christian dogma given before St. Augustine. He follows Origen in his scientific methods, combats expressly his heterodox the- orems, and has been accused of leaning toward his theory of the final salvation of all beings. His works were published in part by Sifanus (Basel, 1562-'71); by the Jesuit Fronton du Due (2 vols., Paris, 1615; vol. iii. edited by Claude Morel in 1638) ; and by Migne (Patro- logie grecque, vols. xliv.-xlvi., Paris, 1857-'66). A selection of his works is found in Ohler's Eiblioihek der Kirchenvater, vols. i.-iv. (Leip- sic, 1858). GREGORY THAUMATURGUS (the wonder work- er), a saint of the church, born in Neo-Ca3sa- rea about 210, died there about 270. He is also called Gregory of Neo-Caesarea. He was educated a pagan until his 14th year, studied the law at Alexandria and Athens, and in 234 entered the school of Origen at Csesarea, where he remained for five years. He was chosen first bishop of his native city at a time when it only numbered 17 Christians; but, accord- ing to historians, he labored so faithfully that at his death only 17 pagans were to be found in his place. Gregory of Nyssa, his biographer, relates from the local traditions the miracles said to have been wrought by him, and which obtained him his surname. His feast is cele- brated in the Latin church on Nov. 17. His works, which contain " A Panegyrical Oration on Origen " and " A Paraphrase on the Book of Ecclesiastes," are found in vol. x. of Migne's Patrologie grecque. See also Eusebius, "Ec- clesiastical History," books vi., vii. GREGORY OF TOURS (GEORGIUS FLORENTIFS GEEGOEIUS), a saint of the Roman Catholic church, born in Auvergne about 540, died in Tours probably on Nov. 17, 595. He is called the father of French history, was descended from a senatorial family, and educated under St. Gall, bishop of Clermont. In 573 he was elected bishop of Tours ; and in 575 he refused to surrender Duke Gontran, who had sought an asylum in the church of St. Martin, to Chil- peric and Fredegonda. For this his property was confiscated and his diocese laid waste. Later, Chilperic's son Meroveus having taken refuge there, the king besieged the city of Tours; but Gregory would not give up the fugitive. After the assassination of Chilperic, Gregory displayed on many occasions the same intrepidity in vindicating the rights of the op- pressed. In 587 he negotiated the treaty of Andelot between Childebert, Brunehaut, and Gontran, which gave a brief peace to France. His complete works were published by Dom Ruinart (fol., Paris, 1699); and a translation of his Historia Francorum by Guizot (2 vols.,