Offspring of a holy family

Gregory was the offspring of noble and pious parents. So virtuous was his father that the emperor Adronikos Palaiologos the B’, made him one of his counselors. And not only the earthly kind, but also God, the heavenly King honored and glorified him even while he was still alive with miracles. Fore knowing his death, Constantine – that was his name – took the angelic Habit, that is, he became a monk, and was named Constantios.

After his father death, Gregory gave himself up to studying of ancient philosophy. Being very young and having difficulty remembering he resolved to making three prostrations and praying in front of the icon of the mother of God for assistance. And the mother of God, who is generous and quick to hear, all those who call upon her with faith, help young Gregory and even inspired the heart of the emperor to support the family financially. A noteworthy event of those years, was when at the age of 17, Gregory was asked to give a talk in front of the emperor and other scholars, about Aristotle. At the end of his talk everybody was astounded and Theodore Metochites, the emperor’s chief officer, exclaimed “Even if Aristotle was present today, undoubtedly he would have praised him also.”

Seeing Gregory’s achievements and progress in governing issues of the empire, the king was very happy and was arranging high positions and honors for him. However, young Gregory had his mind in higher things: the Heavenly King, and His Kingdom was his only concern.

The angelic schema

He would associate with monks and ascetics that came from Mount Athos to Constantinople, and inquire about the monastic life. They would in turn, advice him to visit Athos and even begin the ascetic struggles while in the world. This in fact he did so eagerly so as to change his clothing, his manners and overall way of life that many thought that he lost his mind. He gave himself to strict abstinence, eating only bread and drinking only water, while avoiding satiety. Likewise he practiced every other virtue.

At the age of 20, after turning down all the honors and promises of the emperor he decided to flee the City and go to Mount Athos. Having convinced all the members of his family to follow in his example, he came to the Lavra of Vatopaidi – one of the biggest monasteries, even today – and gave himself up to the venerable elder Nikodemos. He received the angelic schema from this elder and in a very short time – under the guidance of his elder – he climbed the ladder of practice and reached the great heights of vision.

“Enlighten my darkness”

The first two years in his monastic habit, he spent with fasting, vigil, concentration of the mind and unceasing prayer. In his prayers he always evoke as intercessor the Mother of God and in every occasion he would ask for Her help. Once, when he was still and wholly surrendered to the thought of God, he saw in front of him a very venerable elder (St. John the Theologian). Turning at him with a gentle look, the elder said: “I came my child, sent by the Most Holy and Queen of all to ask you, why every hour, day and night, you cry to God ‘…enlighten my darkness, enlighten my darkness …?” In reply, Gregory said: “And what else shall I ask, me who am full of passion and sin, but to be shown mercy and be enlighten to see and do the Will of God?” Then the Evangelist told him: “The Mistress of all – through me, her servant – commands that I should be your helper.” Then Gregory asked him: “When will the mother of my Lord help me, now or after death?” “Now and at the future life”, said the Theologian and disappeared, filling the heart of Gregory with unspeakable joy in regard to the promises of the mother of God.

At the Lavra of Saint Athanasios

After three years of obedience, his venerable elder departed for the Lord and Gregory decided to go to the Great Lavra of Saint Athanasios. Having been informed of his virtue, the fathers there welcomed him with great honor. He stayed with them for three years impressing everyone with his way of life and wisdom. He was charged by the abbot of the monastery to serve in the refectory with the other brothers and chant in the church choir. These he did with great zeal and at the same time he was diligent in practicing every other virtue. Everyone admired him and had him as their model. So much he ruled over his passions, both natural and unnatural, that he managed to stay almost sleepless for three months! Nevertheless, his love for stillness did not allow him to stay there longer, thus he left for the desert, followed by a few other brother who shared his zeal.

Yearning for stillness

He found abode with the other brothers in the skete called “Glossia”. There lived another Gregory from Constantinople, which had fame for having progressed in stillness, both in vigilance and divine vision. From him Gregory learned the lofty mysteries of noetic energy and vision of God.

Living in stillness he was found worthy of acquiring many spiritual gifts from God, which is not even possible to name. Nevertheless, to understand somewhat the value of those gifts, he was clothed with so much soberness and streaming tears – the guardians of all virtue – that until the end of his life he never ceased to weep for his sins, or rather for the sins of the whole world.

The rank of priesthood

Not very long after coming to “Glossia”, the raids of Turkish pirates in the area interrupted the blessed stillness of Gregory and his twelve brothers, whom, to avoid the danger, found refuge in Thessalonica. From there, they decided to go to Jerusalem, in order to venerate the Holy Places and find a suitable place to stay. Wondering whether this was also the will of God, Gregory started praying for guidance. At some point he felt sleepiness and closing his eyes for a while he saw in a vision the following: “It seemed to me that I was outside the king’s courts along with the other twelve co-ascetics. The king was also there, seated on his glorious throne and surrounded by his noble men and officers. At some point, one of those officers left his group and came to me – he seemed to be a great Duke – and embraced me. Dragging me to his place and addressing my co-ascetics said: “This one I will keep here with me, since such was the order of the King, as for you, you are free to go wherever you may please.”

Enlightened by God in this way, Gregory informed his brothers, whom immediately understood that the great Duke who grabbed him was Saint Demetrios, the patron saint of Thessalonica. Before leaving the city his brothers convinced him to accept the rank of priesthood, though he refused at first, he finally accepted, as God reveled that this was also according to His will.

At the Monastery in Verroia

After the ordination they went to a monastery in Verroia, where Gregory resumed his struggles for perfection. Now he would stay alone in his cell, without seeing or speaking to anyone, and only on weekends he would come out, to celebrate the divine mysteries and discuss spiritual matters with the brothers. He was then 30 years old and in good physical state. Thus, according to the apostolic saying, “…I discipline by body and bring it into subjection…” (Cor. 9:27), he engaged himself in even more strict asceticism with prolonged fasting, vigils and unceasing prayer.

Such was his way of cultivating his soul, which in a short time blossomed the fruits of the Holy Spirit, according to the Apostle. His angelic life, his godly inspired words and especially his radiant face manifested this.

The mistake of Elder Job the Solitary

During that period, his mother died and having received a letter from his sisters, pleading to see him – they were in need of consolation and spiritual direction – he decided to visit them. Thus he came to Constantinople. Followed by his sisters he returned to Thessalonika, were he placed them in a convent, while he moved back to his cell in Veroia.

At that time he became friends with a solitary old man named Job. Now, Job was a simple man and when he heard Gregory instructing everyone to pray unceasingly, he was not convinced. He used to say that unceasing prayer is only for the monks, not for the ordinary Christians. The Saint did not say anything to Job about this, but God defended his servant. So when Job returned to his cell and stood in prayer, an angel of the Lord appeared to him saying: “Do not have any doubt old man for what that holy man Gregory just told you, but similarly think and confess, too.”

From Praxis (Moral Virtue) to Theoria (Divine Vision)

Gregory spent five years in Veroia, but was again forced to leave because of the raids of the Albanians. Thus he returned to Mount Athos and moved in the solitary house of Saint Savva. He continued his strict schedule of seclusion since his purpose was Theory, that is, Divine Vision.

On one occasion, during the all-night vigil that takes place to celebrate the Holy Passion of our Lord, Gregory was in the church with the other brothers chanting and glorifying God. However, he was greatly sad, because some brothers would talk vain things during that sacred hour. Without saying anything he concentrated his mind in God and started praying like he used too. Immediately divine light covered him, and saw both intellectually and physically the abbot of the monastery Makarios, dressed in an Archpriest garment. This was a divine revelation, because ten years later, Makarios became archpriest of Thessalonika.

On another occasion, the saint was in his cell praying to the Mother of God for himself and for his brothers. He was asking for God to ease their ascent to heaven by providing for their bodily needs, thus allowing them to concentrate more on their spiritual struggles. Then, the Mother of God appeared to him in the same form as we see her depicted in Orthodox Icons, followed by a multitude of luminous saints and said to them, “From now on, you take care and provide for the needs of my servant Gregory and all his company.” Thus saying she disappeared. And the saint used to relate that indeed from that day they had anything that they needed without toil.

Three years went by and again, while praying in his cell, he fell asleep and saw himself holding a jar filled with milk. Then, like flowing out of a fountain, the milk began to pour out of the jar. His amazement grew even more when he saw the milk change into a fine fragrant wine, spilling over his hands and garment. Filled with inexplicable joy at this sight, Gregory suddenly saw a luminous officer standing in front of him and saying, “Why Gregory don’t you share this wonderful drink with other men and let it spill out in vain? Don’t you know that this is a gift from God and will never cease to overflow?” Gregory defended himself, saying that at that time there was nobody in need of such a drink. “Nevertheless,” said the officer, “it is your duty to share it, and allow the Lord to decide on who is worthy to receive it.” Soon after the officer left him and Gregory found himself blazing in divine light. He also understood that the change of the milk to wine meant the change of his teaching from simply instructional, to dogmatic and heavenly.

Obedient to the divine will he started composing the wonderful theological writing that we still read today. The elders of the Monastery of Esfigmenou, seeing the Spirit of God dwelling in him they elected him as abbot. Thus Gregory became the overseer of the two hundred monks that lived at that monastery at the time. During his service as abbot, Gregory healed a possessed monk, miraculously filled the empty oil barrels of the monastery and with his blessing, the olive trees, which were unfruitful, made abundant fruit.

(to be continued…)