Il Giusto che Fiorisce Come Palma. Gregorio Il Taumaturgo fra Storia e Agiografia. Atti de Convegno di Staletti (CZ). 9-10 Novembre 2002 (review)

This collection of papers from a conference held in 2002 offers a variety of approaches to the works and legacy of Gregory Thaumaturgus (ca. 213–270). The essays have been divided into two parts: the first treating the bishop's writings, doctrine, and environment, and the second discussing the hagiography surrounding Gregory in both East and West. Emanuela Prinzivalli, in her introduction, notes that this volume represents the first collaborative examination of the various aspects of Gregory's history and influence.

One of the most difficult problems in evaluating Gregory's life and works involves the validity and accuracy of the sources. In fact, M. Simonetti initiates this scholarly dialogue by stating that only two works can be attributed to Gregory with any certainty: the "Metaphrase of Ecclesiastes" and a single phrase cited by Basil of Caesarea in ep. 210.5. These works, along with the probable treatises "On the Impassibility and Passibility of God" and the "Letter to Philagrius on Consubstantiality," exhibit elements opposed to the doctrine of Origen, e.g., Gregory's affirmation of the single hypostasis of the Father and Son in the citation found in ep. 210.5. [QUERY: Quasten identifies these two treatises as "doubtful." Does Simonetti argue for their probability? Or has contemporary scholarship accepted them?] This of course casts doubt upon the author's discipleship under the great Alexandrian teacher. (Simonetti does not reject outright "The Panegyric to Origen," but he finds it difficult to reconcile the content of this discourse with the doctrine found in the more certain works.)

The remaining contributions in part one maintain this note of caution by refraining from any definitive judgment regarding the authorship of the less certain works. Instead, they limit themselves to the evaluation of the sources from various scholarly perspectives in order to provide further data on the author and his times. S. J. Voicu offers a study of the convergences between the churches of Cappadocia and Antioch in such areas as Christian initiation, the liturgical year, and in certain aspects of exegesis. A. Di Berardino examines the "Epistola Canonica" and its approach to sensitive issues in the wake of the Gothic invasion of 258 (e.g., the reception of refugees, the treatment of those who collaborated with the invaders). The rest of the papers concentrate upon readings of the "The Panegyric to Origen." M. Rizzi, author of a recent translation of the "Panegyric" in Italian, offers an "internal examination" of the text as an expression of and appeal to the Hellenized culture, in particular the environment of the second sophistic. M. Marrin develops Gregory's comparison between painting and rhetoric found in the prologue, which suggests once again a link to the second sophistic. C. Mazzuco considers the autobiographical component of the work, in particular the themes of divine providence, conversion, formation, and apology. Finally G. Sfameni Gasparro provides a reflection upon the portrayal of Origen as the "divine man," including some interesting points regarding ancient demonology and angelology.

The second collection of papers takes on the development of Gregory's cult. E. Giannarelli focuses primarily upon the earlier period, such as the influence of Rufinus, Macrina the Elder, Basil of Caesarea, and, above all, Gregory of Nyssa through his "Life of Gregory." B. Clausi discusses the cult of Gregory in the Latin speaking world, and E. D'Angelo summarizes the presentations of Gregory in the Neapolitan school of hagiography in the IX–X centuries. I. Ramelli and M. Bais round out the picture with contributions on Gregory in Syriac and Armenian literature. In general, one discovers a remarkably diffused cult that portrayed Gregory as a model of orthodoxy and pastoral care, while also highlighting the continuing presence of God in history through the miracles of the saintly bishop.

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