Will

The “testament” of St. Gregory the Theologian was most likely drawn up in 381. In it St. Gregory, fulfilling the will of his father, gave his family estate to the diocese, bequeathed sums of money and items of clothing to his closest friends, and also ordered the freedom of his slaves. Copied from an original copy, which preserved his own signature, as well as the signatures of those who witnessed this [will with him]. In the consulate of His Serene Highnesses Flavius ​​Eucherius and Flavius ​​Evagrius before the January calendars. [I,] Gregory, Bishop of the Catholic Church in Constantinople, alive, in sound mind and sound memory, with firm thoughts, have drawn up my following testament, which I command and desire that it have force and firmness before all authority and court. For I had already made my own will known and bequeathed all my property to the Catholic Church in Nazianza - to help the poor of the above-mentioned church. Therefore, according to my next decision, I appointed three people who would feed the poor: Marcellus, a deacon from among the monastics, Gregory the deacon, who came from my house, and Eustathius, from the monastics, who also came from my house. And now, keeping my such decision in relation to the holy Nazianza church [in force, I command]: when I happen to come to the end of my life, then let the heir of all my property - movable and immovable, wherever it is, be the aforementioned Gregory - a deacon and monk, who came from my estate and whom I have long since freed [from slavery]. All the others are not my heirs. So, all my property - movable and immovable - should be given to the Catholic Church in Nazianza, without taking anything at all, except for what I determined in this will to be given privately in gratitude to [my] assistants and faithful [to me] people, but everything exactly, as I said before, to be preserved for the Church, which has the fear of God before its eyes and knows that I have determined all my property [to be given] to serve the poor and for this purpose I have established him (Gregory) as mine heir, so that through him everything must be preserved for the Church. I want the household servants whom I freed either of my own free will or at the command of my blessed parents to remain in a free state and control their households securely and calmly. I also wish that my heir Gregory the deacon, together with the monk Eustathius, who were once members of my household, would own the estate in Arianza, which we once inherited from those from Regina. Regarding the pastures and sheep, which I previously commanded to give them and the care and ownership of which I transferred to them, I wish and command that they rest peacefully in this righteous possession. I especially wish that Gregory, the deacon and my heir, who sincerely served me, would receive fifty gold coins into his own righteous possession. [I had previously] verbally ordered the most venerable virgin Russiana, my relative, to be given [the means of living] every year so that she could live freely; and now I [also] desire and command that everything that I have prescribed [in the same] manner be given to her every year without delay. Regarding her home, I had not previously decreed anything, not yet knowing what way of life would be best for her, now I wish the following: that she go to her native places and that there be a free and worthy home for her, suitable for a virgin life, and that she own this house calmly and for all benefit and income while she is alive, and after that - give the house to the Church. I also wish to add two more girls to her, whom she [herself] will choose, so that these girls will live with her throughout her life. And if she wants to thank them, then let her give them freedom, but if not, then give them to the same church. I have already freed the boy Theophilus, who lived with me. I still wish to give him five silver coins in my will. I wish to free his brother Eupraxius and [also] give him five gold coins in his will. I also wish to give freedom to my notary 1 Theodosius and [in addition] give him five gold coins. To my sweetest daughter Alipiana 2 (for about the others - Eugene and Nonna - I have little to say because of their lives, worthy of reproach) I wish to forgive me if, as her master, I left her nothing, having previously bequeathed everything to the poor, but first of all [I did so], following my most blessed parents who convinced [me], whose will it is unworthy to reject. Therefore [I command her] to keep [for herself] from the property of my blessed brother Caesarea clothes, silk, or linen, or wool, or chariots, and I wish by this to distinguish her from her children; and in no way should my heir or the Church disturb her or her brothers. Meletius, my sister’s husband, who became related to me, let him know that he was a bad owner of the estate in Apenzins, which [got] from Euthymius. I often wrote to Euthymius about this before, knowing his cowardice that he did not return what was his. And now I testify before all those in charge and those in charge that I was wrong in relation to Euthymius. Therefore, the estate should be returned to Euthymius. I wish to leave the price for the Kanotalon estate to my most venerable son, Bishop Amphilochius. For it was noted in our [previous] records, and everyone knows, that the sale took place, the price was received, and I had long ago transferred management and dominion over the estate. To Evagrius the deacon, who helped me a lot and was my like-minded person, who showed me favor in many ways, I express gratitude both before God and before people. And may God reward him even more, and so that he receives no small sign of friendship from us, I wish to give him one robe, one tunic, two cloaks and thirty gold coins. In the same way, I wish to give to our sweetest co-servant Theodulus - our brother - one robe, two tunics, from those in our homeland, and twenty gold coins, from those in our homeland. I wish to give Elathius the notary, distinguished by his good disposition, who perfectly reassured us and served [us] for some time, one robe, two tunics, three cloaks, a sigilion 3 and twenty gold coins in his homeland. I wish that this testament of mine be fundamental and firm in every court and before every authority. And if it does not have force as an expression of will, then I wish it to have force as a written document. If anyone tries to reject him, he will give an answer on the Day of Judgment and will be punished. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Gregory, bishop of the Catholic Church in Constantinople, read the will and confirmed and signed everything written with his own hand, and I wish and command that it be valid. Amphilochius, Bishop of the Catholic Church in Iconium, was present at the drawing up of the will of the most venerable Bishop Gregory and, at his request, signed it with his own hand. Optimus, bishop of the Catholic Church in Antioch, was present at the drawing up of the will of the most venerable Bishop Gregory and, at his request, signed it with his own hand. Theodosius, Bishop of the Catholic Church in Ida, was present at the drawing up of the will of the most venerable Bishop Gregory and, at his request, signed it with his own hand. Theodulus, bishop of the Catholic Church in Apamea, was present and so on. Themistius, bishop of the Catholic Church from Adrianople, was present and so on. Kledonius, presbyter of the Catholic Church in Iconium, was present and so on. John, reader and notary of the most holy church in Nazianza, having made an identical copy of this divine testament of the holy and glorious Gregory the Theologian, deposited in the most holy church in Nazianza, published it. “Daughter” here should not be understood in a literal sense, since St. Gregory was a virgin, and Alipiana was the daughter of his sister Gorgonia. A type of simple short clothing. Translation and notes made for this edition but PG. T. 37. Col. 389–396. – Ed. You might be interested in: