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E06112: Eucherius of Lyon refers to the miracles of *Gregory the Miracle-Worker/Thaumatourgos (bishop and missionary in Pontus, S00687), in his treatise On Contempt for the World, written in Gaul, probably at Lérins, c. 432.

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posted on 2018-08-16, 00:00 authored by dlambert

Eucherius, On contempt for the world and secular philosophy (De contemptu mundi et saecularis philosophiae), lines 371-377

Gregorius e Ponto sacerdos, philosophia primus apud mundum et eloquentia praestans, sed postea maior praestantiorque virtutibus, adeo ut, sicut de hoc historiae nostrae fides loquitur, inter reliqua admirabilium signa meritorum precibus huius atque orationibus mons referatur secessisse, lacus exaruisse.

'Gregory, Bishop of Pontus, was first in the world in philosophy and outstanding in eloquence; but afterwards greater and more outstanding in his miracles, to the extent that—as the faith of our history relates—among the other signs of his extraordinary merits, through his prayers and supplications a mountain is said to have moved and a lake to have dried up.'

Text: Pricoco 1990, p. 80. Translation: David Lambert.

History

Evidence ID

E06112

Saint Name

Gregory the Miracle-Worker (Taumatourgos), bishop and missionary in Pontus, ob. c. 270 : S00687

Saint Name in Source

Gregorius

Related Saint Records

https://oxford.figshare.com/articles/Gregory_the_Miracle-Worker_Thaumatourgos_bishop_and_missionary_in_Pontus_ob_c_270/13730908

Type of Evidence

Literary - Theological works Literary - Letters

Language

Latin

Evidence not before

432

Evidence not after

432

Activity not before

250

Activity not after

275

Place of Evidence - Region

Gaul and Frankish kingdoms

Place of Evidence - City, village, etc

Lérins

Place of evidence - City name in other Language(s)

Lérins Tours Tours Toronica urbs Prisciniacensim vicus Pressigny Turonorum civitas Ceratensis vicus Céré

Cult Activities - Miracles

Miracle during lifetime Power over elements (fire, earthquakes, floods, weather)

Cult Activities - Protagonists in Cult and Narratives

Ecclesiastics - bishops

Source

Eucherius (380/390-c. 452) was a member of the senatorial aristocracy in Gaul, who settled with his family (his wife and two sons) at Lérins, the site of the monastic community founded c. 400-410 by *Honoratus (S00438). Eucherius and his family settled on an island neighbouring Honoratus', probably at some point in the decade from 410 to 420, and formed a kind of satellite community. It is not clear whether Eucherius ever joined the main, cenobitic community on the other island. In the mid 430s, Eucherius became bishop of Lyon; he died c. 451. Eucherius was a major literary figure in 5th century Gaul: his surviving works comprise a tract on monasticism, In Praise of the Desert (De laude eremi); two books on the Bible, the Instructiones, containing basic reference information, and the Formula spiritalis intellegentiae, a guide to interpretation; and the first known account of the martyrdom of the *Theban Legion, the Passion of the Agaunensian Martyrs (E06108). On contempt for the world and secular philosophy (De contemptu mundi et saecularis philosophiae, CPL 493) is a tract in the form of a letter addressed to a relative of Eucherius named Valerianus. It argues that ascetic renunciation is a suitable life to be adopted by someone of an upper-class, educated background. Eucherius mentions (De contemptu, ed. Pricoco, p. 94) that he is writing in the 1185th year since the founding of Rome, which implies the year 432. At that point, Eucherius had not yet become bishop of Lyon and was probably still resident at Lérins.

Discussion

In part of De contemptu mundi (ed. Pricoco, lines 361-406), Eucherius lists a succession of 'noble' and educated predecessors whom he believes should inspire Valerianus, and it is in this context that he refers to Gregory Thaumaturgus. The other individuals mentioned are Clement of Rome, Gregory of Nazianzus, Basil of Caesarea, Paulinus of Nola, Hilary of Arles, and Petronius of Bologna. These figures, some of whom were alive when Eucherius wrote, are presented as role models rather than saints to be venerated; only in the case of Gregory is there any reference to miracles. The miracle performed by Gregory is taken from Rufinus ’ Latin version of the Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius. The passage is an addition by Rufinus; it is not in Eusebius’ original (Rufinus’ text can be found in GCS, n.F. 6,2, pp. 953-5).

Bibliography

Edition: Pricoco, S., Il Rifiuto del Mondo (Florence, 1990), with Italian translation.

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Keywords

S00687 History

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