Gregory the Elder was now aged and infirm, and began to feel his need of a Coadjutor in his pastoral duties.  So, by the great desire of the people of Nazianzus, he ordained his son to the Priesthood, much against the will of the said son.  This Ordination took place at some great Festival, probably at Christmas of the year 361.  Gregory the Younger was much aggrieved at this gentle violence, which even in after years he describes as an act of tyranny, and says he cannot bring himself to speak of it in other terms, though he asks pardon of the Holy Spirit for his language.  Immediately after his Ordination he made his escape to Pontus, apparently reaching Basil about Epiphany, 362.  Here he had time for reflection on the obedience he now owed to his father, not only as son to father, but as Priest to Bishop; and with a truer view of his duty he returned to Nazianzus, where he was present in the Church on Easter day 362, and preached his first Sermon as a Priest, in apology for his reluctance.  Strange to say, though it was so great a Festival, and though the preacher was so well known and so much beloved in Nazianzus, the congregation was very small;—probably many refrained from going to Church in order to mark their feeling about Gregory’s flight to Pontus.  Anyhow he felt the discourtesy keenly, and in his next sermon took occasion to reprove them severely for their inconsistency in receiving him so badly after having compelled him for their sakes to finally renounce the solitude he loved so well.  Of this discourse the Abbé Benoît speaks as follows:—