Theodore, Also Called Gregory, the Bishop

Theodore, afterward called Gregory, bishop of Neocaesarea in Pontus, while still a very young man went with his brother Athenodorus from Cappadocia to Berytus, and from there to Caesarea in Palestine, to study Greek and Latin literature. When Origen saw the remarkable natural ability of these young men, he urged them to study philosophy, and in teaching it he gradually brought in the matter of faith in Christ, and so made them his followers as well. After five years of his instruction, he sent them back to their mother. On his departure Theodore wrote a speech of thanks in praise of Origen and delivered it before a large gathering, with Origen himself present. This speech survives to this day. [a] He also wrote a short but very valuable paraphrase On Ecclesiastes, and report speaks of other letters of his, but above all of the signs and wonders that he performed as bishop, to the great glory of the churches.