Feria Secunda infra Hebdomadam XXIII post Octavam Pentecostes
Sirach 44:16–27; 45:3–20 & Mark 11:22–24
III. classis – Commemoration of St. Gregory Thaumaturgus, Bishop and Confessor
November 17 (Observed on the Monday within the 23rd Week after Pentecost)
Today’s sacred liturgy brings before us the luminous figure of St. Gregory Thaumaturgus, the “Wonderworker,” whose faith and apostolic zeal earned him a title akin to the early Apostles. Set in the noble line of confessors and bishops who preserved the faith amid error and persecution, his commemoration harmonizes beautifully with the appointed readings: Sirach 44:16–27; 45:3–20 from the Old Testament’s treasury of sacred memory, and Mark 11:22–24, Our Lord’s striking exhortation on the power of faith.
Let us meditate on these texts in the spirit of the Fathers, drawing upon their insight to see how the priestly legacy, grounded in the faith of Abraham and the righteousness of Moses, is fulfilled in Christ and exemplified in His saints—especially in the bishop-wonderworker we remember today.
I. Sirach and the Heritage of the Just
“Enoch pleased God, and was translated into paradise, that he may give repentance to the nations.” (Sir 44:16)
The sacred author of Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), Ben Sira, exalts the memory of the righteous, establishing a lineage of God’s faithful servants: Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron. This genealogical recounting is not merely historical, but doxological. It is a litany of God’s fidelity, “a covenant made with all flesh” (v. 20), embodied in men who were set apart for divine purpose.
St. Gregory Nazianzen teaches us to honor the saints not only in memory but in imitation:
“We must honour the saints by becoming their disciples in the virtues in which they excelled.” (Orat. 43.66)
This chapter of Sirach, traditionally read in the Office of the Dead and feasts of patriarchs, recalls that God’s covenant endures through the holy seed—culminating, of course, in Christ, the High Priest and Son of God. But it also finds continuation in those, like St. Gregory Thaumaturgus, who, conformed to Christ, perpetuate His saving presence through their holiness and teaching.
St. Gregory, who reportedly converted nearly all of Neocaesarea to the faith, stood in this line of priestly men who interceded for the people and manifested God’s power. Like Aaron, he was “clothed with glory” and “filled with the spirit of wisdom” (Sir 45:3, 20). The ecclesiastical office he bore—bishop and confessor—links him to the high priesthood described in Sirach, not merely in function but in sanctity.
II. The Priestly Office and the Power of Intercession
“The Lord magnified Moses in the sight of kings… he gave him a commandment in the sight of his people… He gave him glory in the sight of kings.” (Sir 45:3–5)
This passage exalts Moses and Aaron as types of priesthood and mediation. Aaron’s investiture is described in rich detail, “with a crown of gold upon his mitre, wherein was engraved Holiness, an ornament of honour” (v. 12–13). The sacred vestments, the offering of incense, the ministering at the altar—these point to the dignity of the priesthood and its sacrificial nature.
The Fathers often interpreted these texts typologically. St. Cyprian of Carthage writes:
“The priest is made, not for himself alone, but for the people. His duty is to sacrifice for them and intercede.” (Epist. 66)
Gregory Thaumaturgus, as a bishop, fulfilled this priestly role. But more than that, he embodied the power of intercession in its mystical dimension. Many miracles were attributed to him: healing the sick, casting out demons, and converting pagans by signs and wonders. His sanctity was not a private charisma but the overflow of his union with Christ the High Priest.
St. Basil the Great, who deeply admired Gregory, noted:
“Gregory’s miracles were not performed in vainglory but were the fruit of his union with the Word, whom he embraced not only in doctrine but in life.” (Hom. in Gregorium Thaumaturgum)
Thus, the saint fulfilled what Sirach says of Aaron: “He prayed for the people, and the plague ceased.” (v. 18)
III. Faith that Moves Mountains – Mark 11:22–24
“Have the faith of God. Amen I say to you, whosoever shall say to this mountain: Be thou removed and cast into the sea… it shall be done unto him.” (Mk 11:22–23)
Our Lord’s teaching on faith follows His cursing of the barren fig tree—a symbol of Israel’s fruitlessness despite divine favor. In its place arises a new covenant, rooted in faith. The Fathers saw this passage not merely as encouragement for private miracles, but as the essential nature of living faith: complete trust in God’s power.
St. John Chrysostom comments:
“He says not only, you shall do miracles, but even greater than I have done, if you have faith. Faith, even without prayer, has great power.” (Hom. in Matt. 68)
St. Gregory Thaumaturgus exemplified this faith. He did not rely on human strength or worldly persuasion, but on divine power. His biographers recount how he once moved a mountain—literally—so that a church could be built. Whether this event be read spiritually or physically, the Gospel’s truth is confirmed: faith acts, moves, builds, and sanctifies.
St. Leo the Great reminds us:
“Faith is the root of all virtues, the foundation of justification, and the door to the sacraments.” (Sermon 91)
So too, the Church builds upon faith: the faith of Abraham, the faith of Moses, the faith of the Apostles, and the faith of the saints. It is this very faith that we must implore from God today—not faith in words only, but faith which bears fruit in sacrificial love, spiritual authority, and steadfast hope.
Conclusion: The Wonderworking Faith of the Saints
Today’s commemoration of St. Gregory Thaumaturgus invites us to marvel not at miracles for their own sake, but at the deeper miracle: the transformation of a soul in union with Christ. In Gregory, we see a man who became like Moses, like Aaron, like the Apostles—not by heritage or status, but by grace, humility, and prayerful faith.
As we chant in the Office of Confessors: “The just man shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus in the house of the Lord.” (Ps. 91:13)
May the intercession of this great bishop and confessor, whose very name proclaims the power of God (Thaumaturgus – Wonderworker), enkindle in us a living faith—faith that believes, intercedes, and bears fruit unto eternal life.
Collect of St. Gregory Thaumaturgus:
O God, who didst cause blessed Gregory, Thy confessor and bishop, to be renowned by the working of miracles, grant, we beseech Thee, that by his merits and intercession we may be enabled to avoid the contagion of sin and to attain to the joys of eternal life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ…