NAZIANZE (Grégoire de, dit Saint Grégoire ou Le Théologien). - Lot 151

NAZIANZE (Grégoire de, dit Saint Grégoire ou Le Théologien). [Sermons, translated from Greek with notes. Precious royal copies of these sermons by a Father of the Church, from the personal library of Madame Adelaïde de France, daughter of Louis XV, in full morocco with arms. Paris, by André Pralard, 1693. In-8 (19 × 13 cm), bound in full red morocco, boards framed in triple gilt fillet, stamped in the center with the arms of Madame Adélaïde de France, daughter of Louis XV and Marie Leszczinska, 5-rib spine, caissons decorated with gilt fleurons, original marbled paper endpapers, gilt edges (contemporary binding, probably by Fournier, the usual bookbinder to the daughters of Louis XV, based in Versailles). Upper corner of second board of first volume slightly dulled, a few very natural dark spots in morocco, some superficial scratches to boards, but very fine copies. Note by the late Mr. Robert Legueltel: "To avoid any confusion, each of Louis XV's daughters had her own color, the first letter of which coincided (supreme refinement!) with her first name: amaranth (red) for Madame Adelaïde, green for Madame Victoire, and saffron (yellow) for Madame Sophie. [...] The libraries of these illustrious owners were very important, particularly that of Madame Adelaïde, who owned over 1,000 volumes, which were dispersed at auction during the Revolution." Gregory of Nazianzus, known as the Theologian, is one of the most famous Fathers of the Church, patriarch of Constantinople, who lived in the 4th century. On a voyage from Alexandria to Athens, his ship was caught in a storm and he thought he was going to die. This event marked a turning point in his life, and he vowed to devote himself to God if he survived. His relics, transferred to Rome in the 8th century to prevent their destruction during the iconoclastic quarrel, were returned in 2004 by Pope John Paul II to Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople. This gesture was interpreted as a sign of reconciliation between Catholics and Orthodox. Provenance : - Marie-Adélaïde de France, known as Madame Adélaïde (1732-1800). - Æ M. Menand (bookplate).