November 17 –  Our Venerable Father Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop of Neocaesarea (†275) 

St. Gregory the Wonderworker was a man of God who, as his name implies, taught and worked many miracles in the name of Christ, healed the sick, helped the needy, and settled disputes and complaints. He is often called a second Moses. He was born to a wealthy pagan family around the time that Emperor Severus had died (who had been responsible for the Sixth Persecution of the Church). Gregory, whose original name was Theodore, studied Greek and Egyptian philosophy, though soon became struck by the meagerness of pagan philosophy, and turned to Christian teachers. He studied under Origen of Alexandria for several years, before being baptized. He withdrew to the wilderness, wanting to dedicate himself solely to Christ, and while he lived there in rigorous asceticism, his reputation spread. 

Much like St. Martin, Gregory resisted being made a bishop, even hiding in the wilderness from the emissaries to avoid consecration, but he eventually accepted and became Bishop of Neocaesarea (now, north-central Turkey). He later  converted and baptized St. Macrina the Elder, a native of Neocaesarea, who was raised in a rich, pagan family, before becoming a pioneer of monasticism and the mother and grandmother of so many saints (she raised two of the three Cappadocian fathers).  

In addition to the many wonders worked by St. Gregory, he was also a tireless champion for truth and orthodoxy. During his time, the heresy of Sabellius, regarding the Holy Trinity began to spread. Sabellius said that the names of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit were simply different characters of the same person– in essence that there was no such thing as the Trinity. This greatly concerned St. Gregory and he prayed fervently and diligently asking God and the Theotokos to reveal to him the truth. The Prologue of Ohrid tells us how “the Most-holy Theotokos and St. John the Theologian appeared to him in a vision, and St. John, at the command of the Theotokos, gave him the Symbol of Faith that is known by Gregory's name.” Subsequently, it was accepted by the Holy Fathers of the Church: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and Gregory of Nyssa. Saint Gregory's Symbol (Creed) was later examined and affirmed by the First Ecumenical Council in the year 325, showing its enduring significance for Orthodoxy.

John Mason Neale in A History of the Church for Children–from Pentecost Until the Council of Chalcedon, shares this account of St. Gregory on the “Miracle of the Lycus:”

The river Lycus flowed by that city; and in wintertime it used to burst its banks, and did a great deal of mischief. The inhabitants earnestly besought their bishop to help them. St. Gregory arose and went with them to the place where the stream generally broke through its bed. “My children,” said he, “to God only it belongs to do wonders; we must therefore pray Him to have mercy on us now.”  Accordingly he besought God to set barriers to the Lycus, so that it should no more overflow the fields. Then, striking his staff in the riverbank, “Creature of God,” he said to the stream, “I command thee, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, that thy waters no more overflow thy banks.” The staff took root, and in process of time became a tree. And for many ages it was seen that, however swollen and fierce the Lycus might be, when its waves reached the foot of that tree they sank into their bed, and glided forward in peace.

“Who can enumerate all the miracles of this second Moses?” continues Saint Nikolai Velimirović in the Prologue: “He had power over evil spirits, and over mountains and waters, healed every pain and infirmity, could become invisible to his persecutors, and clairvoyantly perceived distant events and men's thoughts. He ended his earthly life in the year 270 A.D., in great old age. When he arrived in Neocaesarea as bishop, he found only seventeen Christians in that pagan city. When he departed this life, he left the city Christian, with only seventeen pagans, and received the wreath of glory from his Lord in the Heavenly Kingdom.” 

We will share one more account of the great works of St. Gregory, by John Mason Neale:

Time would fail me to tell you of his mighty deeds. He once, when out on a journey, lay down to sleep in a temple, famous for its oracle. An oracle, you know, was a place where the god—that is to say, some evil spirit, who was permitted to dwell in that unholy habitation—was consulted as to what was about to happen; and as persons were obliged to pay before they could ask any question, such temples brought the priests a great sum of money. In the morning Gregory went on his way; but when the oracle was consulted, it would not speak. At last the evil spirit gave the priest to understand that, since a stranger had slept in the place, his power was gone. The priest rode after Gregory, overtook him, and threatened to slay him unless he restored the oracle, “I should not listen to your threats,” replied the holy bishop, “but that you may see how weak these gods of yours are—look at what I shall do.” He wrote down these four words: 

“Gregory to Satan: Enter:”—gave the paper to the priest, and commanded him to lay it on the altar. The priest did as he was told; and the oracle again gave its answers. “But what must be the power of the God of the Christians,” thought the priest, “when His servants can thus command our gods!” He believed and was baptized; and when Gregory had entered into his rest, succeeded him as Bishop of Neo-Caesarea.

While we have already read of many a Saint who conquered evil and displayed the power of God in these dark places, we will read many more. This is simply what happens when darkness is exposed to light. And as we light our candles one-by-one during this Advent season, let us not forget that this is why Christ came – to conquer darkness, sin, and death. Death is now at the bidding of Life. And while we can now look ahead towards the birth of Christ, knowing how the story ends, His coming is not merely an event in history but an invitation for each of us to encounter Him personally. 

So we keep our eyes on the light, and in humility, aim to turn from worldly distractions, sinful habits and behaviors, that we may more fully experience the light of Christ’s coming.

Optional Resources:

More background on St. Gregory

Sources:

Neale, John Mason. A history of the Church, from the day of Pentecost to the council of Chalcedon. United Kingdom, n.p, 1903.