Righteous
Righteous, Physician Caesarius of Nazianzus
ок. 331 — †368
Righteous Caesarius of Nazianzus, Physician — son of St. Gregory of Nazianzus the Elder and Righteous Nonna, younger brother of St. Gregory the Theologian; court physician to Emperor Constantius, miraculously saved during the earthquake in Nicaea in 368, after which he was baptized and left worldly life; he died shortly thereafter.
Righteous Caesarius was born around 331 in Cappadocia, to the family of Bishop Gregory the Elder of Nazianzus and Righteous Nonna, and was the younger brother of the renowned St. Gregory the Theologian. He received an excellent education, including in medicine, and for a long time lived at the court of Emperor Constantius II, where he held the position of court physician and enjoyed great respect and the emperor's friendship. In 368, during a powerful earthquake in the city of Nicaea, he miraculously survived, being pulled unharmed from the ruins. Realizing how clearly the Lord preserves His servants, St. Caesarius decided to be baptized, leave court and worldly life, and devote himself entirely to serving God. However, he died shortly thereafter. He is also known as a theological writer. His memory is kept on March 9/22.