GREGORY OF NYSSA. 266 GREGORY THAUMATURGUS. Cbeed.) But his influence upon the final formu- lation of the doctrine of the Trinity was con- siderahle, especially in drawing a distinction be- tween the one divine essence, or substance, and the three hypostases, or jjersons. (See Arius; Hypostasis; Homoousion.) He also emphasized the attributes of the three persons in the Trin- ity — viz. that the Father is eternally Father, un- begotten ; that the Son is eternally begotten; and that the Holy Spirit eternally proceeds (from the Father). In addition to these funda- mental articles of the faith. Gregory maintained certain ideas, derived from Origen. which never met with favor in the Church, notably the theory of a final restoration of all men to harmony with God (the apokataslcisis) . He visited Constanti- nople three times after the Council of 381. On one of these occasions he delivered funeral ora- tions over the Princess Pulcheria and the Em- press Flacilla. We hear of him for the last time in 394. Gregory had none of those accidental marks of distinction which attach to pojies and patri- archs. His episcopal see was insignificant, ex- cept as he himself shed lustre upon it. His place in history depends upon his service to the de- velopment of Catholic theology, and in particu- lar to the formulation of the trinitarian dogma. His doctrinal views may be read in his extensive work Agaivit Eunomius (who was a pronoimced Arian) ; in his book Aijainst ApoUiiuiriiis : or in his Great Catechism, which was designed for the use of the clergy in dealing with candidates for admission to the Church. In his treatise on The Soul and the Resurrection we have an illus- tration of his power as a si^eeulative philosopher; in that On Virginity we may examine one side of his ethical system, and also notice his regret that he is himself shut out by marriage from the more excellent life he praises. An adequate edition of his works is much to be desired. BiULioGRAPHY. Migne, Patrologia Grwca, vols, xliv.-xlvi. (Paris. 1803), gives the te.xt of most of Gregory's works. An' English translation by Moore and Wilson is given in The f^^icene Fathers, second series, vol. v. (New York. 1893). In gen- eral, consult: the article "Gregorius Nyssenus," in Smith and Wace. Dictionari/ of Christian Biog- raphy (London, 1877-87) : Hamack. History of Dogma, vol. iv. (English translation. London, 1898) ; Schaff, History of the Christian Church, vol. iii. (New York, "l889) : Vollert, Die Lehre Gregors von Kyssa rom Guten und Bosen (Leip- zig," 1897). GREGORY OF TOURS, toor (Lat. Gregorius Turoncn.^is) , originally called CiEORGlus Floren- TIDS (.538-94). A celebrated ecclesiastic, the chronicler of Prankish history. He was bom in Auvergne. November 30. 538. His family was of high rank, and distinguished for piety., having furnished several bishops to the See of Tours. Gregory was educated mider the direction of his •uncle. Saint Gallus, Bishop of Clermont, and. after the latter's death, of Saint Avitus. also afterwards Bishop of Clermont. Ordained deacon ( Sfi3 ) . Gregory left Auvergne and went to the Court of Sigebert. King of Austrasia. In 573 he was elected to the See of Tours, and was conse- crated by Giles Archbishop of Rheims. The first vears of his episcopacy were a season of great per- plexity, owinc to the contentions of the Merovin- gian kings. By resisting royal authority on some occasions, he drew upon himself the hatred of t^ueen Fredegunda of Neustria, and the ire of her husband, King Cliilperic. Gregory was ac- cused of seditious and other treasonable actions, and summoned liefore a council of bishops in 5S0. Here, however, he defended himself with such clearness and vigor that Cliilperic ceased to be his foe, and trusted him after- wards with many important political missions. No less favored by the King's successors, Gun- tram and Childebcrt II., Gregory did not fail to use all his inlhience with the Court for the amelioration of the position of the Church. His travels had, apart from their political purpo.ses, at the same time the object of everywhere restor- ing peace and piety. His last journey seems to have been to Orleans, whither he accompanied the King in 593. He died at Tours, November 17, 594. Gregor}s chief work is his Historice Fran- eorum Libri Decent (Ten Books of Prankish His- tor.v), the first attempt at French history. The style is crude, and the selection of topics and arrangement indiscriminate. There is a German translation in the Geschichtschreiber der deut- schen Vorzeit (Berlin, 1887), and an English translation is announced. It has been separately edited by Omont and Coltoli (Paris, 1887-93). The Miraculorum Libri Tit and other minor writ- ings were translated into French by BordieT I Paris. 1857-04). Gregory's complete works are fn Migne. Patrologia Latina. Ixxi.; the best edi- tion is that by Arndt and Krusch. in the Monu- menta Germaniw Historica: Seripiores Rerum Merovingicarum, vol. i. (Hanover, 1885). For his biography, consult; Lobell (Leipzig. 1839; 2d ed. 1809) ; also Bonnet, Le Latin dc Grigoire de Tours (Paris, 1890). GREGORY THAU'MATUR'GUS (Gk. Tpr,- yapios &av/jiaToiipy6i. GrCgorios Thaumatourgos, Gregory the Miracle-Worker), Saint (c. 210-70). Bishop of Neoea?sarea in Pontus, his native city. Sprung from an illustrious and wealthy heathen family, he was educated as a rhetorician ; but an acquaintance with Origen at Csesarea, in Palestine, in 233, led him to give up the law, and apply himself under his new master to the study of the Holy Scriptures and Greek philosophy. When Maximin's persecutions forced Origen to leave Ca?saiea, Gregory went to Alexandria, and stayed there for a time. Gordian having suc- ceeded Maximin. Origen returned to Ctesarea. and Gregory went thither to renew his studies under him. Most probably it was at that period also that he was baptized, and changed his name from Theodorus to Gregory. Recalled to his family (238), instead of striving for those posts of honor for which he had been destined, he retired into solitude: but was so often besought to return and labor for the Church that he allowed himself to be consecrated Bishop of Neocoesarea aBout 240. The city was wealthy and populous, but utterly unchristian. Gregory applied himself to his work with the utmost zeal. According to the stories, he wrought many miracles, thereby winning his epithet, the 'Jliracle-Worker.' During the per- secution of Decius. which broke out in 250. Greg- ory fled, with a great part of his flock. In 251 the Emperor Decius died, and Gregory returned to Neoca'sarea. He now instituted a general festival for those Christians who had fallen dur- ing the persecution, and permitted the faithful to celebrate it with banquets and sports like
