Gregory of Nazianzus, Basil of Caesarea and John Chrysostom (Cambridge, University Library, MS Nn.1.23)

...of justice, becoming fruit-
bearing indeed for you, as you see,
this shepherding; for this he hopes
and prays. And from us
who are under his hand, the
Good Shepherd, who lays down
his life for the
sheep original: "ποιμὴν ὁ καλὸς" (poimēn ho kalos). Gregory refers to Christ but also parallels the duty of a bishop to his flock., even gives you
himself as a free gift instead of
a simple one, and makes himself the
staff of old age original: "βακτηρίαν τοῦ γήρως" (baktērian tou gērōs). An allusion to a child supporting an elderly parent, here applied to Gregory supporting his elderly father's ministry.,
the staff of the Spirit original: "πνεύματος" (pneumatos). The vital breath or Holy Spirit.
and chooses to set before you
the animate rather than the
soulless, the beautiful, and
before the beautiful, that which is
similar and of such stature, but yet
the one most fitting for himself,
and which was accomplished
with many sweats and
labors; and it might be said, that it is
worthy of those labors, and
he sets all his own things
before you. Oh, the
magnanimity original: "μεγαλοψυχίας" (megalopsychias). Greatness of soul or high-mindedness., or at least
to speak more truly, the

love for his children original: "φιλοτεκνίας" (philoteknias).! He offers his grey
hair, his youth, the
temple The OCR "μα-όν" likely refers to "ναόν" (naon), the temple or holy space., the high priest original: "ἀρχιερέα" (archierea)., the
distributor of the lot, the heir original: "κληρονόμον" (klēronomon).,
the words which you longed for,
and of these, nothing foreign,
nor words that flow like air and
stop at the ears,
but those which the
Spirit writes, and carves in
the likeness of stone, or rather
on fleshly tablets A reference to 2 Corinthians 3:3, contrasting the Law of Moses on stone with the New Covenant written on human hearts.; not
carved upon the
surface, and
indeed easily erased,
but marked
into the
depth;
not with ink,
but with grace.
These things,
then, are offered to you by this
revered Abraham Gregory frequently compares his father, the elder Bishop Gregory, to the patriarch Abraham., this
patriarch original: "πατριάρχης" (patriarchēs). A title of high honor for a church leader., the
honorable head,
and