Gregory of Nazianzus, Letters. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (Schaff and Wace, 1894), public domain.
Passages · 98
Letters on the Apollinarian Controversy
- Letters Letter 202 — To Nectarius, Bishop of Constantinople. The Care of God, which throughout the time before us guarded the Churches, seems to have utterly forsaken this present life. And my soul is immersed to such a degree by…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 101 — To Cledonius the Priest Against Apollinarius. To our most reverend and God-beloved brother and fellow-priest Cledonius, Gregory, greeting in the Lord. I desire to learn what is this fashion of innovation in things…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 102 — Against Apollinarius; The Second Letter to Cledonius. Forasmuch as many persons have come to your Reverence seeking confirmation of their faith, and therefore you have affectionately asked me to put forth a brief…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 125 — To Olympius. Even hoar hairs have something to learn; and old age, it would seem, cannot in all respects be trusted for wisdom. I at any rate, knowing better than anyone, as I did, the thoughts and the heresy of the…vatican.va
Correspondence with Saint Basil the Great, Archbishop of Cæsarea
- Letters Letter 1 — To Basil His Comrade. Division II. (Perhaps about a.d. 357 or 358; in answer to a letter which is not now extant.) I have failed, I confess, to keep my promise. I had engaged even at Athens, at the time of our…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 2 — Ep. II. (Written about the same time, in reply to another letter now lost.) I do not like being joked about Tiberina and its mud and its winters, O my friend, who are so free from mud, and who walk on tiptoe, and…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 4 — Ep. IV. (In answer to Ep. XIV., of Basil, about 361.) You may mock and pull to pieces my affairs, whether in jest or in earnest. This is a matter of no consequence; only laugh, and take your fill of culture, and…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 5 — Ep. V. (Circa a.d. 361.) Since you do take my jokes kindly, I send you the rest. My prelude is from Homer. “Come now and change thy theme, And sing of the inner adornment.” —Od. viii. 492. Your roofless and doorless…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 6 — Ep. VI. (Written about the same time, in a more serious vein.) What I wrote before about our stay in Pontus was in joke, not in earnest; what I write now is very much in earnest. O that one would place me as in the…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 8 — (Written to S. Basil shortly after his Ordination as Priest, probably toward the end of a.d. 362.) I approve the beginning of your letter; but what is there of yours that I do not approve? And you are convicted of…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 19 — Ep. XIX. (This Epistle should be read in connection with the three addressed to Eusebius of Cæsarea, to which it refers. For the circumstances see General Prolegomena, § 1, p. 194.) It is a time for prudence and…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 16 — To Eusebius, Bishop of Cæsarea. Since I am addressing a man who does not love falsehood, and who is the keenest man I know at detecting it in another, however it may be twined in skilful and varied labyrinths; and,…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 13 — To Eusebius, Archbishop of Cæsarea. I did not write in an insolent spirit, as you complain of my letter, but rather in a spiritual and philosophical one, and as was fitting, unless this too wrongs “your most eloquent…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 18 — To Eusebius of Cæsarea. I was never meanly disposed towards your Reverence; do not find me guilty. But after allowing myself a little liberty and boldness, just to relieve and heal my grief, I at once bowed and…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 40 — To the Great Basil. (About the middle of the year 370. On the death of Eusebius Basil seems to have formed a desire that his friend Gregory should succeed to the vacant Metropolitanate; and so he wrote to him,…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 41 — To the People of Cæsarea, in His Father's Name. I am a little shepherd, and preside over a tiny flock, and I am among the least of the servants of the Spirit. But Grace is not narrow, or circumscribed by place.…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 43 — To the Bishops. (The comprovincial Bishops had notified the elder Gregory of their Synod, but without mentioning its date or purpose or inviting him to take part in it—probably because they knew how strongly he would…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 42 — To Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata. (There still seemed a probability that intrigues and party spirit would carry the day, and so the two Gregories determined to call in the aid of Eusebius of Samosata, though he did…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 45 — To Basil. (After the Consecration every one thought that Gregory would at once join his friend; and Basil himself much wished for his assistance. But Gregory thought it better to restrain his desire to see his friend…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 46 — To Basil. (The new Archbishop seems not to have been satisfied with the reasons given in Gregory’s last letter; so the latter writes again.) How can any affairs of yours be mere grape-gleanings to me, O dear and…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 47 — To Basil. (The division of the civil Province of Cappadocia into two Provinces in the year 372 was followed by ecclesiastical troubles. Anthimus, the Bishop of Tyana, the civil metropolis of the new division of…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 48 — To Basil. (Shortly after the events described above, Basil determined to strengthen his own hands by creating a number of new Bishoprics in the disputed Province, to one of which, Sasima, he consecrated Gregory, very…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 49 — To Basil. (The Praises of Quiet.). You accuse me of laziness and idleness, because I did not accept your Sasima, and because I have not bestirred myself like a Bishop, and do not arm you against each other like a…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 50 — To Basil. (At the request of Anthimus it would appear that S. Gregory wrote to S. Basil a letter, not now extant, proposing a conference between the rival Metropolitans. Basil took umbrage at the well-meant proposal,…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 58 — To Basil. (An attack had been made in Gregory’s presence on the orthodoxy of Basil in respect of the Deity of God the Holy Ghost; and in this letter he gives his friend an account of the way in which he had defended…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 59 — To Basil. (The reply to Basil’s somewhat angry answer to the last.) This was a case which any wiser man would have foreseen; but I who am very simple and foolish did not fear it in writing to you. My letter grieved…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 60 — To Basil. (Gregory was not able, owing to the serious illness of his Mother, to carry out the promise at the end of Ep. LIX.; so he writes to explain and excuse himself.) The Carrying Out of your bidding depends…vatican.va
To His Brother Cæsarius
- Letters Letter 7 — Division III. Miscellaneous Letters. §1. Letters to His Brother Cæsarius. Ep. VII. (On the death of the Emperor Constantius the undisputed succession devolved on his cousin Julian the Apostate, who at once began to…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 14 — Ep. XIV. and XXIII. (Under the Emperor Valens Cæsarius returned to public life and was made Quæstor of Bithynia. While he was in this office the following letters were written to him by his brother on behalf of two…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 23 — Do not be surprized if I ask of you a great favour; for it is from a great man that I am asking it, and the request must be measured by him of whom it is made; for it is equally absurd to ask great things from a…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 20 — Ep. XX. (In a.d. 368 the City of Nicæa in Bithynia was almost entirely destroyed by a terrible earthquake. Cæsarius lost his house, and his personal escape was almost miraculous. Gregory writes (as also did Basil) to…vatican.va
To S. Gregory of Nyssa
- Letters Letter 1 — §2. To S. Gregory of Nyssa. (Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, was a younger brother of Basil the Great. Ordained a Reader at an early age he grew tired of his vocation, and became a professor of Rhetoric. This gave scandal…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 72 — (When S. Gregory was consecrated Bishop of Nyssa the Imperial Throne was occupied by Valens, an ardent Arian, whose mind was bent on the destruction of the Nicene Faith. He appointed, with this object, one…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 73 — As to the subject of your letter, these are my sentiments. I am not angry at being overlooked, but I am glad when I am honoured. The one is my own desert, the other is a proof of your respect. Pray for me. Excuse…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 74 — Although I am at home, my love is expatriated with you, for affection makes us have all things common. Trusting in the mercy of God, and in your prayers, I have great hopes that all will turn out according to your…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 76 — (Basil the Great died Jan. 1, a.d. 379. Gregory of Nazianzus was prevented by very serious illness from attending his funeral, and therefore wrote as follows to Gregory of Nyssa.) This, then, was also reserved for my…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 81 — You are distressed by your travels, and think yourself unsteady, like a stick carried along by a stream. But, my dear friend, you must not let yourself feel so at all. For the travels of the stick are involuntary,…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 182 — (Gregory after his resignation of the Patriarchal See of Constantinople had retired to Nazianzus, and had been persuaded to undertake the administration of the diocese then vacant, until the vacancy should be filled.…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 197 — A Letter of Condolence on the Death of His Sister Theosebia. (The writer of the article on Gregory Nyssen in the Dict. Biogr. supposes her to have been his wife, but produces no evidence of this beyond the ambiguous…vatican.va
To Eusebius Bishop of Samosata
- Letters Letter 42 — §3. To Eusebius Bishop of Samosata. (This letter, urging his friend to attend at Cæsarea for the election of a Metropolitan in succession to Eusebius, has been already given in the second division of this Selection.)vatican.va
- Letters Letter 44 — (Eusebius, having in response to the appeal referred to above, betaken himself to Cæsarea, the Elder Gregory, though in very feeble health, resolved to attend the Synod in person, that Basil’s Election might be…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 64 — (In the year 374 Eusebius and other orthodox Bishops of the East were banished by Valens and their thrones filled with Arian intruders. Eusebius was ordered to retire to Thrace, and his journey lay through…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 65 — Ep. LXV. (Eusebius having replied to the former letter Gregory wrote again, having an opportunity of communicating with his friend through one Eupraxius, a disciple of Eusebius, who passed through Cappadocia on his…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 66 — (The following letter is sometimes attributed to Basil, and is found in his works as well as in those of Gregory. The mss. however, with only a single exception, give it to the latter.) You give me pleasure both by…vatican.va
To Sophronius, Prefect of Constantinople
- Letters Letter 21 — §4. To Sophronius, Prefect of Constantinople. (Sophronius, a native of the Cappadocian Cæsarea, was an early friend and fellow-student of Gregory and Basil. He entered the Civil Service, and soon rose to high office.…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 22 — (Is for Amphilochius, written at the same time and in consequence of the same trouble as that which we have placed second of the letters to Cæsarius.) As we know gold and stones by their look, so too we may…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 29 — (Of the same year. Here Cæsarius had bequeathed all his property to the poor; but his house had been looted by his servants, and his friends could only find a comparatively small sum. Besides this a number of…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 37 — (A letter of recommendation for Eudoxius a Rhetorician for whom Gregory had a warm regard.) To honour a mother is a religious duty. Now, different individuals have different mothers; but the common mother of all is…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 39 — (About the same date. A recommendation of one Amazonius, whose learning was much respected by Gregory.) I wish well to all my friends. And when I speak of friends, I mean honourable and good men, linked with me in…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 93 — (Written soon after Gregory’s resignation of the Archbishopric.) Our retreat and leisure and quiet have about them something very agreeable to me; but the fact that they cut me off from your friendship and society is…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 135 — (About the middle of a.d. 382 Theodosius, on the recommendation of S. Damasus, summoned a new Synod of Eastern Bishops to meet at Constantinople, to try and heal the schism which had been embittered by the election…vatican.va
To Amphilochius the Younger
- Letters Letter 9 — §5. To Amphilochius the Younger. Ep. IX. (Constantine and Constantius had granted exemption from the military tax to all clerics. This privilege was, however, abolished by Julian, and was restored by Valentinian and…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 13 — (See the first letter to Sophronius. The nature of the trouble here alluded to is unknown. There are several letters to various persons in reference to his troubles and difficulties, many of them coming from his…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 25 — Ep. XXV. (Amphilochius was acquitted of the charges made against him, referred to in former letters; but the result of the accusation on his own mind was such that he resigned his office, and retired to a sort of…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 26 — What a very small quantity of vegetables you have sent me! They must surely be golden vegetables! And yet your whole wealth consists of orchards and rivers and groves and gardens, and your country is productive of…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 27 — You make a joke of it; but I know the danger of an Ozizalean starving when he has taken most pains with his husbandry. There is only this praise to be given them, that even if they die of hunger they smell sweet, and…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 28 — In visiting the mountain cities which border on Pamphylia I fished up in the Mountains a sea Glaucus; I did not drag the fish out of the depths with a net of flax, but I snared my game with the love of a friend. And…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 62 — (The Armenian referred to is probably Eustathius Bishop of Sebaste, the capital of Armenia Minor. He had been a disciple of Arius, but more than once professed the Nicene Faith, changing his opinions with his…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 59 — To Amphilochius the Elder. (In a.d. 374 Amphilochius was made Bishop of Iconium; and his father, a man of the same name, was deeply aggrieved at being thus deprived of his son, to whom he had looked to support him in…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 171 — Ep. CLXXI. To Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium. Scarcely yet delivered from the pains of my illness, I hasten to you, the guardian of my cure. For the tongue of a priest meditating of the Lord raises the sick. Do then…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 184 — (Bosporius, Bishop of Colonia in Cappadocia Secunda, who had apparently taken a prominent part in the election and consecration of Eulalius to the See of Nazianzus, was accused of heresy by Helladius Archbishop of…vatican.va
To Nectarius Archbishop of Constantinople
- Letters Letter 88 — §6. To Nectarius Archbishop of Constantinople. (Gregory, having failed to persuade the Council of a.d. 381 to end the schism at Antioch by recognizing Paulinus as successor to Meletius, thought it best for the sake…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 91 — Ep. XCI. (A letter of no great importance, except as shewing the friendly feelings which Gregory continued to maintain towards his successor.) Affairs with us go on as usual: we are quiet without strifes and…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 151 — Ep. CLI. (Written about a.d. 382, commending his friend George, a deacon of Nazianzus, to the good offices of the Archbishop and the Count of the Domestics, or Master of the Imperial Household, on account of his…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 185 — (See Introduction to Ep. CLXXXIV. above, p. 469. Bosporius was to be sent to Constantinople that his cause might there be tried in the Civil Courts. Gregory therefore writes to the Archbishop to point out what a…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 186 — (A letter of introduction for a relative.) What would you have done if I had come in person and taken up your time? I am quite certain you would have undertaken with all zeal to deliver me from the slander, if I may…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 202 — (An important letter on the Apollinarian controversy has already been given above.)vatican.va
To Theodore, Bishop of Tyana
- Letters Letter 77 — §7. To Theodore, Bishop of Tyana. (Theodore, a native of Arianzus, and an intimate friend of Gregory, accompanied him to Constantinople a.d. 379, and shared his persecution by the Arians, who broke into their church…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 115 — Ep. CXV. (Sent about Easter a.d. 382 with a copy of the Philocalia, or Chrestomathy of Origen’s works edited by himself and S. Basil.) You anticipate the Festival, and the letters, and, which is better still, the…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 121 — (Written a little later, as a letter of thanks for an Easter Gift. Theodore had quite recently been made Archbishop of Tyana.) We rejoice in the tokens of love, and especially at such a season, and from one at once…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 122 — You owe me, even as a sick man, tending, for one of the commandments is the visitation of the sick. And you also owe to the Holy Martyrs their annual honour, which we celebrate in your own Arianzus on the 23rd of the…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 123 — (To excuse himself for postponing his acceptance of an invitation.) I reverence your presence, and I delight in your company; although otherwise I counselled myself to remain at home and philosophize in quiet, for I…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 124 — (A little later on, when the weather was more settled, Gregory accepts the invitation and proposes to come at once, but declines to attend the Provincial Synod.) You call me? And I hasten, and that for a private…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 152 — (On his retirement from Constantinople Gregory had at the request of the Bishops of the Province, and especially of Theodore of Tyana the Metropolitan, and Bosporius Bishop of Colonia (see letters above) and at the…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 75 — To Bosporius, Bishop of Colonia. (S. Gregory had to carry out his threat. He resigned the care of Nazianzus, and nothing would induce him to withdraw his resignation. Bosporius wrote him an urgent letter with this…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 157 — To Theodore, Archbishop of Tyana. (S. Gregory succeeded at the end of a.d. 382 in convincing the Metropolitan and his Comprovincials of his sincerity in desiring to retire; and so they began to cast about for a…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 163 — (George a layman of Paspasus, was sent by Theodore of Tyana to Saint Gregory that the latter might convince him of his error and sin in repudiating an oath which he had taken, on the ground that it was taken in…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 183 — (Helladius, Archbishop of Cæsarea, contested the validity of the election of Eulalius to the Bishopric of Nazianzus, and accused Bosporius of heresy. S. Gregory here throws the whole weight of his authority into the…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 139 — (This letter is written at a somewhat earlier date in reference to the consent he had been induced to give to remaining for some time longer as administrator of the See of Nazianzus. It is certainly not addressed to…vatican.va
To Nicobulus
- Letters Letter 12 — §8. To Nicobulus. (See the introduction to the first letter to Sophronius above.) Ep. XII. (About a.d. 365). You joke me about Alypiana as being little and unworthy of your size, you tall and immense and monstrous…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 51 — Ep. LI. (An answer to a request made by Nicobulus for a treatise on the art of writing letters. Benoît thinks this and the following ones were written to the Younger Nicobulus.) Of those who write letters, since this…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 52 — Ep. LII. (Nicobulus asked Gregory to publish a collection of his letters. Gregory forwards a copy.) You are asking flowers from an autumn meadow, and arming Nestor in his old age, in demanding from me now something…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 53 — (Gregory put a collection of Basil’s letters with his own, and gave them the first place. Nicobulus seems to have been surprised at this, and asked the reason. Gregory explains as follows.) I have always preferred…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 54 — Ep. LIV. On Laconicism. To be laconic is not merely, as you suppose, to write few words, but to say a great deal in few words. Thus I call Homer very brief and Antimachus lengthy. Why? Because I measure the length by…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 55 — Ep. LV. An Invitation. You flee when I pursue you: perhaps in accordance with the laws of love, to make yourself more valuable. Come then, and fill up at last the loss I have suffered by your long delay. And if any…vatican.va
To Olympius
- Letters Letter 104 — §9. To Olympius. (Olympius was Prefect of Cappadocia Secunda in 382. One letter to him against the Apollinarians, has already been given; the rest, which are to follow are mainly recommendations of various persons to…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 105 — Ep. CV. The time is swift, the struggle great, and my sickness severer, reducing me almost to immovability. What is left but to pray to God, and to supplicate your kindness, the one, that He will incline your mind to…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 106 — Ep. CVI. Here is another laying before you a letter, of which, if the truth may be said, you are the cause yourself, for you provoke them by the honour you do them. Here too is another petitioner for you, a prisoner…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 126 — (While Gregory was at Xantharis an opportunity presented itself for seeing Olympius, but a return of illness prevented him from taking advantage of it. He writes to express his regret, and takes the opportunity also…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 131 — (In 382 Gregory was summoned to a Synod at Constantinople; he wrote to Procopius, the Prefectus Urbi, and declined to go, on the ground of his great dislike to Episcopal Synods, from which, he said, he had never…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 140 — Ep. CXL. Again I write when I ought to come: but I gain confidence to do so from yourself, O Umpire of spiritual matters (to put the first thing first), and Corrector of the Commonweal—and both by Divine Providence:…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 141 — (The people of Nazianzus had in some way incurred the loss of civic rights; and the Order for the forfeiture of the title of City had been signed by Olympius. This led to something like a revolt on the part of a…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 142 — Though my desire to meet you is warm, and the need of your petitioners is great, yet my illness is invincible. Therefore I am bold to commit my intercession to writing. Have respect to our gray hair, which you have…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 143 — What does much experience, and experience of good do for men? It teaches kindness, and inclines them to those who entreat them. There is no such education in pity as the previous reception of goodness. This has…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 144 — (Verianus, a citizen of Nazianzus, had been offended by his son-in-law, and on this account wished his daughter to sue for a divorce. Olympius referred the matter to the Episcopal arbitration of S. Gregory, who…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 145 — Ep. CXLV. To Verianus. Public executioners commit no crime, for they are the servants of the laws: nor is the sword unlawful with which we punish criminals. But nevertheless, the public executioner is not a laudable…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 146 — To Olympius. This is what I said as if by a sort of prophecy, when I found you favourable to every request, and was making insatiable use of your gentleness, that I fear I shall exhaust your kindness upon the affairs…vatican.va
- Letters Letter 154 — To me you are Prefect even after the expiry of your term of office—for I judge things differently from the run of men—because you embrace in yourself every prefectoral virtue. For many of those who sit on lofty…vatican.va
Scripture cited · 60 verses
Genesis 8:21 · Genesis 18:5 · Genesis 27:28 · Exodus 2:12 · Exodus 3:2 · Exodus 7:1 · Numbers 12:7 · Numbers 17:8 · Numbers 17:10 · Numbers 24:7 · 2 Chronicles 33:12 · 2 Chronicles 33:13 · Job 5:26 · Job 9:9 · Job 29:2 · Psalm 20:7 · Psalm 26:4 · Psalm 43:1 · Psalm 44:2 · Psalm 45:4 · Psalm 47:8 · Psalm 65:2 · Psalm 80:12 · Psalm 145:21 · Isaiah 53:7 · Baruch 3:37 · Hosea 6:4 · Jonah 3:10 · Habakkuk 2:1 · Matthew 6:22 · Matthew 12:36 · Matthew 18:21 · Matthew 18:28 · Matthew 23:25 · Matthew 23:26 · Luke 9:54 · Luke 13:7 · Luke 18:1 · Luke 22:50 · John 1:3 · John 1:14 · John 2:25 · John 3:13 · John 11:34 · John 11:43 · John 17:2 · Acts 7:14 · 1 Corinthians 1:29 · 1 Corinthians 2:16 · 1 Corinthians 3:6 · 1 Corinthians 7:40 · 1 Corinthians 15:47 · 1 Corinthians 15:49 · 2 Corinthians 5:21 · Galatians 3:13 · Galatians 5:10 · Galatians 5:12 · Ephesians 3:17 · Philippians 2:7 · Hebrews 4:15