Editorial Notice on the Testament of Saint Gregory

to complain of the matter, nor to grieve, but to give thanks to Providence, however little the situation may be; often to conceal the causes of events; but do not in the least neglect what concerns your dignity, to which you should look before you say or do anything. For so it will come to pass that you will never have reason to repent of any word or act. I would have you consider that you are not adorned by external garments. Possess genuine and solid riches—the need for few things, and frugality. For solid riches consist not in possessing many things, but in this: needing few things. For this [latter] is within you yourself; that [former] is in external things. See that you compose your soul with equity, your character with modesty, your tongue with brevity of speech. And take such care that you adorn your head with a covering, your eyebrows with a composed look, your eyes with a modest gaze, your mouth with becoming speech, and your ears by listening only to honest speech; and finally, your whole face with that color which betrays modesty. But in all things, and through all things, see that you keep yourself inviolate, like some precious possession. For the proper ornament of women, and the one most ^A befitting them, is holiness, chastity, and modesty. Consider as the most beautiful and easily obtained delight a frugal diet; for this is laudable in itself, desirable for living moderately, highly conducive to health, and not useless for the rest of temperance, modesty, and right discipline. And before doing that which must be done—for thus ^B everything that is said or done will be for you without regret. Consider lowliness of desire to be true and firm wealth; for to be wealthy truly does not consist in possessing many things, but in not needing many things. The one is within your power, the other rests in external things. Regulate your way of life with kindness, your character with tranquility, and your tongue with brevity of speech. Through these things, adorn your head by covering it, your eyebrows by keeping them restrained, your eyes by reflecting and looking decorously, your mouth by speaking nothing unseemly, your ears by offering them only to serious matters, and your whole face with a blush of modesty. In all things, and through all things, keep yourself unspotted, like ^A some untouched treasure. For gravity, steadfastness, and temperance are an ornament proper and befitting to women. Consider necessary food to be the most beautiful and easiest delight; for it is in itself praiseworthy, choiceworthy for a life of temperance, best for health, and not without profit for symmetry, other outward decorum, and education ^B.

NOTICE CONCERNING THE TESTAMENT OF SAINT GREGORY

This Testament first appeared in Greek in the year 1583, through the care of Barnabas Brissonius, in his book *De formulis*, page 760. Jacques Sirmond, having obtained two very ancient codices from the Vatican Library, published the same Testament more accurately in Greek and translated it into Latin. Baronius also inserted it into his *Annals* (25), having defended it against objections and illustrated it with scholia. There are, however, those who doubt whether it is a genuine monument of Gregory. Among these is Andreas Rivetus (25*), one of the heterodox. "It truly seemed strange to me," he says, "if that be the Testament of Gregory, that so great a theologian and so holy a man, in the attestation of his last will, should not even by a word have touched upon his past life, or confirmed, at least in a general way, the faith and dogmas which he had taught, especially at that most turbulent time, nor have commended his soul to God, being preoccupied with his temporal goods. In which, although his concern for the poor is evident—and that not a common one—nevertheless, the reader, looking around not without reason, might have expected something else in the Testament of so great a bishop." So far Rivetus. There are also some of our own who doubt whether the Testament is legitimate. "There is, however, no room for doubt, as the most learned man Tillemont says; and no arguments are brought forward which cannot be refuted with little effort." As far as the year and day of this Testament are concerned, it appears to have been composed on the [thirteenth] day of the month of May in the year 382, while Gregory was still presiding over the Church of Constantinople, if indeed he subscribed: *Gregory, bishop of the Catholic Church of Constantinople.*

TESTAMENT OF SAINT GREGORY THE THEOLOGIAN

A COPY OF THE TESTAMENT, TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ARCHETYPE ORIGINAL, IN WHICH THE AUTOGRAPH SIGNATURES OF BOTH HIMSELF AND THE WITNESSES WHO SIGNED REMAIN PRESERVED.

In the consulship of Flavius Eucherius and Flavius Evagrius, the most illustrious, on the day before the Kalends of January. ^A Gregory, bishop of the catholic Church at Constantinople, while living, of sound mind, and in healthy possession of his faculties, have made this my Testament: which I command and desire to be valid and firm before every court and every authority. For I have already made my intention manifest, and have consecrated all my property to the catholic Church at Nazianzus, for the service of the poor under the aforementioned Church. For this reason, also, I have appointed three curators in accordance with this my will for the feeding of the poor: Marcellus, deacon and monk, and Gregory, the deacon, who was of my household, and Eustathius, the monk, who was also of my house. ^B And now, retaining the same disposition toward the holy Church at Nazianzus, I persist in the same purpose. If, therefore, it should happen that I depart from this life, let the aforementioned Gregory, deacon and monk—who was of my household and whom I long ago manumitted—be my heir of all my entire substance, both movable and immovable, wherever it is situated. Let all others be disinherited by me. So, however, that he shall return my entire substance, movable and immovable, to the holy catholic Church at Nazianzus, reserving nothing whatsoever, ^C except for those things which I may bequeath to certain persons privately in this my Testament, by way of legacy or trust; but let him diligently preserve all things, as I have said, for the Church, having the fear of God before his eyes, and knowing that I have decreed that all my possessions should yield to the service of the poor of that same Church and that he has been appointed by me as heir for that purpose, so that through him all things may be preserved for the Church without fraud.

^A All those servants whom I have manumitted, whether by my own decision or by the command of my most blessed parents, I wish to remain free now and henceforth, and for their peculium to remain securely theirs without any impediment. Furthermore, I wish my heir, the deacon Gregory, together with the monk Eustathius, both of whom were once of my house, to possess the estate of Arianzus, which came to us from the property of Reginus. As for the rustic servants, the mares and the sheep, as many as I have already in person ordered to be given to them, and of which I have handed over to them the ownership and the lordship, these I wish for them to keep undisturbed by the right of ownership. By specific instruction, I also wish the deacon Gregory, my heir, who has served me faithfully, to hold by private right of ownership fifty gold pieces. ^B To the most venerable virgin Russiana, my kinswoman, I have ordered certain things to be given every year, so that she may live generously; and I wish and command that all these things be provided to her every year without delay, just as I have prescribed. As for her dwelling, at that time I decided nothing, because I did not know where she would prefer to live. But now, this too I desire: that in whatever place she may choose, a house should be prepared for her that is appropriate for a free woman and for the honest residence of a virgin; which house she shall, of course, hold without interference for her use and usufruct as long as she lives; afterward, however, she shall restore it to the Church. I also wish for two maidens to be added for her, whom she herself shall choose, on the condition, however, that they remain with her for the duration of her life. And if she is pleased with them, it shall be permitted for her to grant them their freedom; if not, they too shall belong to the Church. The boy Theophilus, who stays with me, I have already manumitted. I wish, however, that five gold pieces be given to him now as a legacy. ^C Furthermore, I wish his brother Euprasius to be free, and for five gold pieces to be given to him as a legacy. I also wish my notary Theodosius to be free, and for five gold pieces to be given to him as a legacy.

The Testament of Saint Gregory

^A Meletius, my son-in-law, should know that he is in wrongful possession of the estate at Apenzinsus, which had belonged to Euphemius: concerning which I have written often before to Euphemius, condemning his cowardice if he did not recover his own. And now I call upon all, both magistrates and subjects, to witness that an injustice is being done to Euphemius; for the estate must be restored to Euphemius. I wish the purchase of the Canotala estate to be returned to my most reverend son, Bishop Amphilochius. For it is evident from our documents, and all men know it, that both the contract was dissolved and I received the price, and I delivered the ownership and lordship of the property long ago.

Evagrius the deacon, who has shared in many of my labors and cares, and who has displayed his goodwill in many ways, I thank both before God and before men. God indeed will reward him with greater things; but that even the small tokens of friendship may not be missing from us, I wish there to be given to him one camasum, one tunic, two pallia, and thirty gold pieces. Similarly, to our sweetest fellow-deacon and brother Theodulus, I wish there to be given one camasum, two tunics from those that are in my homeland, and twenty gold pieces from the accounts in my homeland. To Elaphius the notary, who is of good character and who refreshed us well during the time he was in service, I wish there to be given one camasum, two tunics, three pallia, a sigillio, and in my homeland, twenty gold pieces. ^B

I wish this my testament to be valid and firm before every tribunal and every authority. And if it should not have force as a testament, I wish it to have force as a last will, or in other words, a codicil. Whoever, however, attempts to overturn it, shall render an account on the day of judgment, and shall suffer punishment.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. ^C

I, Gregory, bishop of the Catholic Church in Constantinople, having read the testament and approving all things written therein, have signed with my own hand, and I command and desire it to have force.

I, Amphilochius, bishop of the Catholic Church in Iconium, was present at the testament of the most reverend bishop Gregory, and at his request, I have signed with my own hand.

I, Optimus, bishop of the Catholic Church in Antioch, was present when the most reverend Bishop Gre^D