252 NOTICE ON ORATION XIII.
I. From the see of Doara (83), according to Tillemont (84), a heretical prelate, whose name is unknown, had been cast out by the Catholics. In his place, both Gregorios appointed Eulalius, a man most excellent in integrity of character and in his life, and who, having previously handled secular affairs with praise, had acquired for himself great glory. Interpreters differ among themselves regarding this Eulalius. Elias creates a false impression by thinking that he is the one to whom many of Gregorios’s letters exist. For that Eulalius was ordained bishop of Nazianzus by the Theologian long after, when he was already an old man. But the other, with whom we are concerned here, occupied the Doarean see when our Theologian himself had just recently been created bishop of Sasima. Gregorios the Elder and several other bishops were present at this ordination of Eulalius. Basilios was not present, and indeed does not seem to have been expected; for perhaps the opportunity did not allow it, since there was danger that by delaying, this ordination might be disrupted by the Arians. Hence Gregorios, speaking of Basilios in this oration, says: "We have not come to cast the sword, but peace; we have not come in contempt and ignominy of that great shepherd who presides over a splendid city. We know him to be honorable, we recognize him as head, we call him holy... We have endeavored to increase the priests and prelates, not to diminish them; to overthrow the heretics, not to undermine the orthodox." For the dissension between Basilios and Anthimos, concerning the division of Cappadocia into two provinces, had not yet been settled. For Basilios wished to be considered the head of the whole province—that is, of both Cappadocias. Gregorios does not unwillingly acknowledge this, and therefore excuses himself for not having awaited the presence of Basilios, or at least the confirmation of Eulalius’s ordination by him.
II. This thirteenth oration was delivered at Doara, a town of the Second Cappadocia, around the year 373. For the Doarean church had been tossed by a great storm of persecution and much agitated by internal strife. Wherefore the orator begins with thanksgiving, and congratulates the people on the calming of the waves and the wars. Then, having spoken a little about Basilios and the heretics and disturbers who had been cast out, he turns the oration to the new pastor, whom he both instructs with warnings and adorns with due praises. Furthermore, in this oration, Gregorios vehemently attacks a certain bishop, calling him "a son of Dathan and Abiron" (n. 3). Elias judges that the Theologian is speaking of Anthimos, the bishop of Tyana. But, as Billius rightly observes, "that cannot be sufficiently gathered from the words of this oration. Indeed, there are some things which seem to reject this interpretation. For these words: ‘Nor didst thou bestow anything great upon thy shepherd,’ accommodate themselves to one who endeavored to vex someone in vain, in order to gain favor from some other, but not to Anthimos, who, having shown himself a most relentless enemy to Basilios, I do not see how these words could suit him. It should have been said rather: ‘Nor didst thou do any great injury to thy shepherd,’ [than] ‘nor didst thou bestow anything great upon thy shepherd,’ [nor] didst thou receive any great favor from thy pastor." We might add that it cannot even be said in the earlier sense of Billius, "to thy pastor," whom Anthimos no longer acknowledged as "his own" from the time the Tyanean seat had been erected into a metropolis. D
ORATION XIII.
Delivered at the consecration of Eulalius, Bishop of the Doareni.
I. Brothers, receive our word, although it be very small and far removed from the dignity of the subject; yet the Lord God is accustomed to weigh mercy with just judgment. For He receives the planting of Paul as Paul’s, and the watering of Apollos [The rest of the column follows on the next page.]
widow, and the Publican’s dejection, and the confession of Manasses. Receive a newly-fashioned discourse for a newly-appointed shepherd; receive a voice offering thanksgiving for the wonders we behold. We are indeed small and the least among the sons of Israel, but nothing prevents even the small from giving thanks abundantly and copiously. Greater praise will surely be rendered to God by those who are greater; but we, according to our strength, will offer this today. Therefore, *sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things*. We were tossed by waves, we were besieged by war, we were thrust out; some calamities were already present, others were impending. But who calmed the storm into a breeze? Who broke the shield, and the sword, and the war? Who received us who were cast out and thrown away? Was it not Thou, O God, who wrought these things? *The Lord is strong and mighty, the Lord is mighty in battle.*
Ⅱ. He it is who divided the sea; He it is who fed the fugitive people in the desert, having granted a strange rain; He it is who made the rock gush forth like a spring; He it is who vanquished Amalek by the secret and mystical shape of his hands. For this is what the priest’s hands, lifted up on the mountain and formed into the shape of prayer, were able to achieve, which many tens of thousands of men could not. He it is who shook and cast down the walls and bulwarks of cities without war and without conflict; and, that I may mention the latest things, He it is who laid low that proud and arrogant Goliath, born of the giants, who dared to enter into battle against the great David. For this reason, then, let us say with one accord: *Blessed is the Lord, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth; and,* *Our soul has passed through the torrent; as a sparrow we are delivered from the snare of the hunters;* and all other things that a soul, filled with great joy at God’s munificence, utters. We have not come to cast the sword, but peace. We have not come in contempt and ignominy of the great shepherd who presides over this splendid city. We know him to be honorable, we recognize him as our head, we call him holy, even if we are affected by injury. Only let him show himself an indulgent and humane father to his children, and let him sedulously provide for the whole Church. We have striven to increase the number of priests and prelates, not to subtract from them; to overthrow heretics, not to diminish the orthodox.
Ⅲ. What say you, O son of Dathan and Abiron, and leader D
[...] military rebel, you who have dared to rise up against Moses, who have laid hands upon us just as they laid their tongues upon that great servant of God? Did you not tremble? Were you not suffused with shame? Did not your flesh collapse to the ground as you pondered these things in your mind? And do you thereafter stretch out these hands toward God? Do you thereafter offer gifts? Do you thereafter pray for the people? I fear, indeed, that the sword of God may long since have gathered rust and be at rest. You have gained no great favor from your shepherd, and you have inflicted the greatest loss upon yourself, rendering yourself a stranger to the grace of God.
A IV. But now, O best and most excellent of shepherds, come here and receive your people with us, or rather before us, whom the Holy Spirit has entrusted to you, whom angels offer, and whose life and probity of character have pledged to your faith. But if you attain the inheritance of the throne through temptations and obstacles, there is no reason why this should seem strange to you. No great thing is devoid of probation and anxiety. For nature is so constituted that humble and abject things are obtained with little effort, whereas sublime and lofty things are acquired only with the greatest zeal and difficulty. You have heard Paul saying: "We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of heaven." Do you also say: "We have passed through fire and water, and you brought us out into a place of refreshment." O sign of a miracle: "In the evening weeping will lodge, and in the morning gladness." Let those who wage war talk nonsense and act foolishly, and gape with wide-open mouths like dogs barking in vain; but let us not be troubled by war. Teach them to worship God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, in three persons, in one glory and splendor. Seek that which is lost; strengthen that which is weak; preserve that which is firm. We demand from you as much praise and glory of name in spiritual matters as we have known you to have in earthly affairs. You shall receive a more perfect armor from the greater commanders, through which you will be able "to extinguish the fiery darts of the devil," and to present to the Lord a peculiar people, a holy nation, a royal priesthood, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
NOTICE ON ORATION XIV
I. Although in most manuscripts this oration bears the title: *De alendis pauperibus* (On the Feeding of the Poor); nevertheless we have preferred with Jerome, [index: entries preserved]