St. Caesarius of Nazianzus
Feast day: February 25
Birth: 331/329
Death: 368/369
Son of Gregory the Elder, bishop of Nazianzen, and brother of Gregory Nazianzen, Saint Caesarius studied philosophy and medicine at Alexandria and Constantinople and became a famous physician. He was named physician to Emperor Julian the Apostate, a schoolmate of his brother. When Julian apostatized he tied to persuade Caesarius to do likewise. He rebuffed the emperor's efforts to get him to abjure his religion though he was yet only a catechumen. Finally, he resigned his position to avoid continued harassment, although Julian exempted him from the various edicts promulgated against Christians. Later, Caesarius was physician to Emperor Jovian, and Emperor Valens made him treasurer for his own private purse.
Like so many Christians of the period, Caesarius remained a catechumen nearly all his life. He was baptized in 368 after he had narrowly escaped death in an earthquake in Nicaea, Bithynia. When he died, he left his fortune to the poor.
Feast day: February 25
Birth: 331/329
Death: 368/369
Son of Gregory the Elder, bishop of Nazianzen, and brother of Gregory Nazianzen, Saint Caesarius studied philosophy and medicine at Alexandria and Constantinople and became a famous physician. He was named physician to Emperor Julian the Apostate, a schoolmate of his brother. When Julian apostatized he tied to persuade Caesarius to do likewise. He rebuffed the emperor's efforts to get him to abjure his religion though he was yet only a catechumen. Finally, he resigned his position to avoid continued harassment, although Julian exempted him from the various edicts promulgated against Christians. Later, Caesarius was physician to Emperor Jovian, and Emperor Valens made him treasurer for his own private purse.
Like so many Christians of the period, Caesarius remained a catechumen nearly all his life. He was baptized in 368 after he had narrowly escaped death in an earthquake in Nicaea, Bithynia. When he died, he left his fortune to the poor.
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