Saint of the Day – 25 February – Saint Caesarius of Nazianzen (c329-369) Single Celibate Layman, a prominent Physician and Politician, Son of Saint Gregory of Nazianzen the Elder and Saint Nonna, Brother of Saint Gorgonia and Saint Gregory of Nazianzen. Born in c329 in Arianzus, near Nazianzen in modern day Turkey and died in c369 in Constantinople of natural causes. Patronages – of Physicians and bachelors.
It is maintained by historical writers that, while Caesarius and his brother Gregory were very close, they were very different characters. As Gregory pursued a devout religious life, his vivacious, outgoing brother was at home in the world of Byzantine politics. The two were complementary figures; Caesarius relied on his brother to guide him through troubles, while he encouraged Gregory’s literary and rhetorical talents.
The younger son of Gregory the Elder, the Bishop of Nazianzen and his wife, Nonna, Caesarius was born at the family villa of Arianzus, near Nazianzen. He probably studied at Caesarea Mazaca in Cappadocia in preparation for the elite school of Alexandria in Egypt. His favourite studies there were geometry, astronomy and especially medicine. In the last-named science, he surpassed all his fellow students.[
His fame as a Physician spread quickly and in 355 he travelled to the Imperial Capital of Constantinople. About 3 years later, in 358, Caesarius had already acquired a great reputation for his medical skill in Constantinople, when his brother Gregory, homeward bound from Athens, arrived ther. Caesarius sacrificed a remunerative and honourable post to return with Gregory to their home near Nazianzen.
The Capital, however, soon proved to be too great an attraction for him and he returned there to eventually become an eminent Physician at the Byzantine Court of Emperor Constantius II and then, much to the regret of his family, at that of Julian the Apostate. But 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 the treasury and tax collection responsibilities. After escaping from the earthquake which shook Nicaea (11 October, 368), his brother wrote to him, pleading with 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 Nazianzen, where his brother delivered the funeral Sermon in the presence of his parents. In the Sermon, “On His Brother: St Caesarius” St Gregory portrays Caesarius as a model Christian devotion and asceticism, providing the main source for the details of his life and setting the groundwork for his elevation to the honour of Sainthood.
AnaStpaul 