The Ecclesiastical History of Evagrius Scholasticus - Coptic ...

262
EVAGRIUS
6 After him Gregory ascended to the priestly throne. His fame was widespread,
to speak poetically, 18 since from earliest youth he had stripped
for the monastic trials and had contended so resolutely and steadfastly
that with all speed, [202] from the time he became a man, he proceeded
to the uppermost levels. He was leader of the monastery of the Byzantines,
in which he had chosen the life without possessions, 19 and on the
orders of Justin also that of Mount Sinai. There he encountered very
great dangers, since he endured a siege by the Scenite barbarians; but,
when he had nevertheless succeeded in bringing the greatest peace to the
said place, he was called from there to the archbishopric. 20
He was in intellect and spiritual virtue absolutely supreme among all,
most energetic in whatever he embarked on, invulnerable to fear, and
most unsusceptible to yielding or cowering before power. 21 He made
donations of money with such muni¢cence, employing liberality and
generosity on all occasions, that whenever he went out in public, great
numbers followed after him, even apart from his normal companions,
and all who saw or learned of his approach £ocked together. And
their mutual dislike originated then, but more recent grievances must have been more
powerful. He was deposed in 570. According to Theophanes, 243:24^9, he had objected to
the consecration of John as patriarch of Alexandria by John scholasticus of Constantinople.
Allen, Evagrius 214^17, argues that Evagrius has deliberately concealed the full circumstances
of the deposition, which may have involved Anastasius’ considerable prestige as an
intermediary between the di¡erent doctrinal groups (to Monophysites he was acceptable as
an adjudicator in their disputes, and even, under certain conditions, as patriarch of
Antioch), as well as his willingness to oppose imperial wishes.
18 Odyssey 1.344; cf. i.15 for the conceit.
19 Evagrius’ standard expression for the monastic existence, cf. ii.9, p. 61:10; v.16, p.
212:12.
20 The monastery of the Byzantines was located at Jerusalem (Vailhe¤,‘Re¤pertoire’ 518^
19); Moschus, in an anecdote datable to 564, records that Gregory was abbot of the
monastery of Pharan, just to the north of Jerusalem (Pratum Spirituale 139: an anchorite
predicted his elevation to patriarch). Justinian had built a fort at the base of Mount Sinai in
an attempt to keep control of the Arabs (Procopius, Buildings v.8.9), but the statement by
the western pilgrim, Antoninus Placentinus (Itinerary 38), that the Arabs had placed a
marble idol on Mount Sinai and maintained a priest there, coupled with evidence for Arab
attacks on pilgrims and the monastery itself, indicates that imperial authority was not fully
recognized.
21 Moschus (Pratum Spirituale 140) records that some old monks, in discussion, agreed
that Gregory excelled in the virtues of almsgiving, forgiveness, tears and compassion
towards sinners. Evagrius, of course, had for long been employed by Gregory, so that his
praise must be read accordingly.