Saint Caesarius of Nazianzus
Encyclopedia
Caesarius of Nazianzus (also spelled Cæsarius [pronounced "Kesarios"] and Caesarios [Gr.] ) (c. 331 - 368) was a prominent physician and politician. He is best known as the younger brother of Gregory of Nazianzus
. He is recognized as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox and the Catholic Church
.
, and his wife, Nonna, Caesarius was born at the family villa
of Arianzus, near Nazianzus. He probably studied at Caesarea Mazaca in Cappadocia
in preparation for the elite schools of Alexandria
in Egypt; there his favourite studies were geometry, astronomy and especially medicine. In the last-named science he surpassed all his fellow students.
About 355 he came to the imperial capital Constantinople
, and had already acquired a great reputation for his medical skill, when his brother Gregory, homeward bound from Athens
, appeared there about 358. Caesarius sacrificed a remunerative and honourable post to return to his parents with Gregory. The capital soon proved to be too great an attraction for him, and he eventually became an eminent physician at the Byzantine court of Constantius II
and, much to the regret of his family, at that of Julian the Apostate
. Julian failed in his efforts to win him over to briefly restored Paganism
. Caesarius, more appreciative of his faith than of imperial favour, ultimately left the court, but returned to Constantinople after Julian's death in 363.
Under the Emperor Valens Caesarius became quaestor
of Bithynia
, a position which included treasury and tax collection responsibilities. After escaping from the earthquake which shook Nicaea
(11 October, 368), his brother wrote to him, pleading for him to leave his political position and withdraw to a religious life. However, Caesarius was suddenly killed by the widespread plague which followed the earthquake, shortly after having received baptism
, which he, like many others at the period, had deferred until late in life. After his death, his very considerable estate was rapidly pillaged by servants and creditors. His brother Gregory insisted that what remained of the estate be distributed to the poor and to surviving relatives. His remains were interred at Nazianzus, where his brother pronounced the funeral oration in the presence of his parents. In the oration, "On His Brother: St. Caesarius", Gregory portrays his brother as a model Christian and ascetic, providing the main source for the details of his life and setting the groundwork for his eventual canonization.
His modern biographer John McGuckin maintains that, while Caesarius and his brother Gregory were very close, they were very different characters. While Gregory pursued a religious life, his vivacious, outgoing brother was at home in the world of Byzantine politics. The two were complementary figures; Gregory relied on his brother to guide him through trouble, while Caesarius encouraged his brother's literary and rhetorical interests.
The assertion that this Caesarius was the same as that Caesarius, Prefect of Constantinople, who in 365 was thrown into the prison by Procopius
, rests on an assumption made by Godefroy, the editor of the Theodosian Code (Lyon, 1665), and not on any solid historical ground.
The four Dialogues of one hundred and ninety-seven questions and answers which were traditionally ascribed to Caesarius and are to be found in Migne
, Patrologia Graeca, XXXVIII, 851-1190, can hardly be from his pen, owing to their nature, contents and anachronisms. They are generally looked upon as spurious.
Gregory of Nazianzus
Gregory of Nazianzus was a 4th-century Archbishop of Constantinople. He is widely considered the most accomplished rhetorical stylist of the patristic age...
. He is recognized as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox and the Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
Biography
The younger son of Gregory the Elder, bishop of NazianzusNazianzus
Nazianzus is a Roman Catholic titular metropolitan see in the former Roman province of Cappadocia Tertia.-History:Nazianzus was a small town the history of which is completely unknown...
, and his wife, Nonna, Caesarius was born at the family villa
Roman villa
A Roman villa is a villa that was built or lived in during the Roman republic and the Roman Empire. A villa was originally a Roman country house built for the upper class...
of Arianzus, near Nazianzus. He probably studied at Caesarea Mazaca in Cappadocia
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in Nevşehir Province.In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine...
in preparation for the elite schools of Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
in Egypt; there his favourite studies were geometry, astronomy and especially medicine. In the last-named science he surpassed all his fellow students.
About 355 he came to the imperial capital Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, and had already acquired a great reputation for his medical skill, when his brother Gregory, homeward bound from Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, appeared there about 358. Caesarius sacrificed a remunerative and honourable post to return to his parents with Gregory. The capital soon proved to be too great an attraction for him, and he eventually became an eminent physician at the Byzantine court of Constantius II
Constantius II
Constantius II , was Roman Emperor from 337 to 361. The second son of Constantine I and Fausta, he ascended to the throne with his brothers Constantine II and Constans upon their father's death....
and, much to the regret of his family, at that of Julian the Apostate
Julian the Apostate
Julian "the Apostate" , commonly known as Julian, or also Julian the Philosopher, was Roman Emperor from 361 to 363 and a noted philosopher and Greek writer....
. Julian failed in his efforts to win him over to briefly restored Paganism
Paganism
Paganism is a blanket term, typically used to refer to non-Abrahamic, indigenous polytheistic religious traditions....
. Caesarius, more appreciative of his faith than of imperial favour, ultimately left the court, but returned to Constantinople after Julian's death in 363.
Under the Emperor Valens Caesarius became quaestor
Quaestor
A Quaestor was a type of public official in the "Cursus honorum" system who supervised financial affairs. In the Roman Republic a quaestor was an elected official whereas, with the autocratic government of the Roman Empire, quaestors were simply appointed....
of Bithynia
Bithynia
Bithynia was an ancient region, kingdom and Roman province in the northwest of Asia Minor, adjoining the Propontis, the Thracian Bosporus and the Euxine .-Description:...
, a position which included treasury and tax collection responsibilities. After escaping from the earthquake which shook Nicaea
Iznik
İznik is a city in Turkey which is primarily known as the site of the First and Second Councils of Nicaea, the first and seventh Ecumenical councils in the early history of the Church, the Nicene Creed, and as the capital city of the Empire of Nicaea...
(11 October, 368), his brother wrote to him, pleading for him to leave his political position and withdraw to a religious life. However, Caesarius was suddenly killed by the widespread plague which followed the earthquake, shortly after having received baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
, which he, like many others at the period, had deferred until late in life. After his death, his very considerable estate was rapidly pillaged by servants and creditors. His brother Gregory insisted that what remained of the estate be distributed to the poor and to surviving relatives. His remains were interred at Nazianzus, where his brother pronounced the funeral oration in the presence of his parents. In the oration, "On His Brother: St. Caesarius", Gregory portrays his brother as a model Christian and ascetic, providing the main source for the details of his life and setting the groundwork for his eventual canonization.
His modern biographer John McGuckin maintains that, while Caesarius and his brother Gregory were very close, they were very different characters. While Gregory pursued a religious life, his vivacious, outgoing brother was at home in the world of Byzantine politics. The two were complementary figures; Gregory relied on his brother to guide him through trouble, while Caesarius encouraged his brother's literary and rhetorical interests.
The assertion that this Caesarius was the same as that Caesarius, Prefect of Constantinople, who in 365 was thrown into the prison by Procopius
Procopius
Procopius of Caesarea was a prominent Byzantine scholar from Palestine. Accompanying the general Belisarius in the wars of the Emperor Justinian I, he became the principal historian of the 6th century, writing the Wars of Justinian, the Buildings of Justinian and the celebrated Secret History...
, rests on an assumption made by Godefroy, the editor of the Theodosian Code (Lyon, 1665), and not on any solid historical ground.
The four Dialogues of one hundred and ninety-seven questions and answers which were traditionally ascribed to Caesarius and are to be found in Migne
Migné
Migné is a commune in the Indre department in central France.-References:*...
, Patrologia Graeca, XXXVIII, 851-1190, can hardly be from his pen, owing to their nature, contents and anachronisms. They are generally looked upon as spurious.