Caesarius of Nazianzus

Saint Caesarius of Nazianzus was a physician and statesman of the fourth century, the younger brother of Saint Gregory the Theologian. He passed to the Lord in 368, shortly after receiving Holy Baptism, and everything known of his life comes from the funeral oration spoken by his brother. His feast is on 9 March.

Family and studies

Caesarius was the younger son of Gregory the Elder, bishop of Nazianzus, and of Saint Nonna. He was born about 330 or 331 on the family estate at Arianzus, near Nazianzus in Cappadocia. Among his siblings was also Saint Gorgonia. He studied first at home, then at Caesarea in Cappadocia, in preparation for the schools of Alexandria in Egypt, where he was drawn to geometry, astronomy and above all medicine. In the last he surpassed all his fellow students.

At the imperial court

About 355 he came to Constantinople, where he had already gained a great reputation for his skill. When his brother Gregory returned from Athens, about 358, Caesarius gave up a well paid and honourable post to go home with him. The capital drew him again, however, and he became an eminent physician at the court of Constantius II and, to the sorrow of his family, at that of Julian the Apostate. Julian tried in vain to win him to the paganism he had restored. Caesarius, who valued his faith more than imperial favour, left the court, but returned to Constantinople after Julian's death in 363.

Under the emperor Valens he became quaestor of Bithynia, an office that included the treasury and the collection of taxes.

His end

When an earthquake shook Nicaea on 11 October 368, Caesarius escaped with his life. His brother then wrote to him, begging him to leave state service and withdraw to a spiritual life, and according to some sources he received Baptism in those very days, which, like many in his time, he had put off. He was struck down suddenly by the plague that broke out after the earthquake. His very large estate was quickly plundered by servants and creditors. Gregory asked that what remained be shared among the poor and living relatives.

His body was laid to rest at Nazianzus, where Gregory spoke the funeral oration in the presence of their parents. In this oration Caesarius is portrayed as an exemplary Christian and ascetic. Historians note that this portrait may be somewhat embellished, and that his veneration as a saint owes much to the standing of his brother, Gregory the Theologian.

Veneration

Caesarius is commemorated on 9 March in the Orthodox Church, and on 25 February in the Catholic Church. The four Dialogues traditionally attributed to him, found in the Patrologia Graeca, are not regarded as his own work.