Gregory of Nazianzus \,na-ze-'an-z9s. Saint (b. c. 330, Arianzus, near Nazianzus, in Cappadocia, Asia Minor—d. c. 389, Arianzus; East¬ ern feast day January 25 and 30; Western feast day February 2) One of the Church Fathers of Eastern Orthodoxy. He was ordained a priest in Nazianzus in 362. He helped his friend Basil the Great combat Arianism. Though consecrated bishop of Sasima in 372, he did not take possession of the bishopric, instead retiring to a life of contemplation and study. He was noted for his defense of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and of the Nicene Creed. In 380 he took over the Great Church of Constantinople, but, after being denied acknowledgment as bishop, he once again retired.
Gregory of Nyssa \'nis-o. Saint (b. c. 335, Caesarea, Cappadocia, Asia Minor—d. c. 394; feast day March 9) Eastern Orthodox theologian and mystic. Initially a teacher of rhetoric, he turned to religion under the influence of his brother, Basil the Great, and was consecrated bishop of Nyssa in 372. Deposed by Arian opposition in 376, he was restored to office in 378 after the death of the Arian emperor Valens. An associate of Gregory of Nazianzus, he became a leading defender of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. His writings include The Great Catechesis, a classic out¬ line of Orthodox theology that examines the place of the sacraments in the church. A Christian Platonist, he shared Origen’s hope for ultimate universal salvation.
Gregory of Tours \'tur. Saint orig. Georgius Florentius (b.
Nov. 30?, 538/539, Clermont, Aquitaine?—d. Nov. 17, 594?, Tours, Neus- tria) Frankish bishop and writer. Born into an aristocratic family that had produced several bishops of what is today central France, Gregory suc¬ ceeded his cousin as bishop of Tours in 573. He was involved in numer¬ ous political events and in open dispute with the king, Chilperic I. His fame rests on his History of the Franks , a chief source for knowledge of the 6th-century Franco-Roman kingdom. His other writings, including Lives of the Fathers, on the lives of saints, and seven books of miracles, afford unique evidence of religious and social life in Merovingian France.
Gregory the Great See Saint Gregory I
Grenada Ngrs-'na-doX Island country. Lesser Antilles, Caribbean Sea. Area: 133 sq mi (344 sq km). Population (2005 est.): 103,000. Capitaclass="underline" St. George's. Most Grenadans are of African or mixed (primarily African- European) ancestry; many of the rest are of South Asian descent. Lan¬ guage: English (official). Religions: Christianity (mostly Roman Catholic;
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also Protestant); also Rastafarianism. Cur¬ rency: East Caribbean dollar. Grenada is the most southerly of the Lesser Antilles, lying about 100 mi (160 km) north of Ven¬ ezuela; its territory includes the southern
Grenadines. Volcanic in origin, it is dominated by a thickly forested moun¬ tain ridge rising to 2,757 ft (840 m) at Mount St. Catherine. The south¬ ern coast is indented with beaches and natural harbours. The tropical maritime climate supports rich vegetation. Often called the Isle of Spice, Grenada is known for its nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla as well as for cocoa. It has a developing market economy dependent on agricultural exports and tourism. The chief of state is the British sovereign, repre¬ sented by the governor-general; the head of government is the prime min¬ ister. The warlike Carib Indians dominated Grenada when Christopher Columbus sighted the island in 1498 and named it Concepcion; the Car- ibs ruled it for the next 150 years. In the early 1670s it became subject to the French crown and remained so until 1762, when British forces cap¬ tured it. In 1833 the island’s black slaves were freed. Grenada was the headquarters of the government of the British Windward Islands (1885— 1958) and a member of the West Indies Federation (1958-62). It became a self-governing state in association with Britain in 1967 and gained its independence in 1974. In 1979 a left-wing government took control in a bloodless coup. Relations with its U.S.-oriented Latin American neigh¬ bours became strained as Grenada leaned toward Cuba and the Soviet bloc. In order to counter this trend, the U.S. invaded the island in 1983; democratic self-government was reestablished in 1984. Grenada’s rela¬ tions with Cuba, once suspended, were restored in 1997.
grenade Small explosive, chemical, or gas bomb used at short range. Invented in the 15th century, it became so important that 17th-century European armies had specially trained grenade throwers, or grenadiers. After c. 1750 grenades were largely abandoned because the increasing range and accuracy of firearms had lessened opportunities for close com¬ bat. They returned to widespread use in the 20th century, when their effectiveness in World War I trench warfare made them a standard part of the combat infantryman’s equipment, which they have remained. Most common is the explosive grenade, with a core of TNT or another high explosive encased in an iron jacket and a fuse that detonates it either on impact or after a brief (usually four-second) delay. Chemical and gas gre¬ nades generally burn rather than explode.
Grenadines \,gre-n3-'denz\, The Chain of about 600 islands and islets, southeastern Lesser Antilles, West Indies. The islands span over 60 mi (100 km) at the eastern end of the Caribbean Sea. The northern Grenadines are administratively part of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, while the south¬ ern islands are a dependency of Grenada. The Saint Vincent group con-
© 2006 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
804 i Grenfell ► Grey
sists of Bequia, Canouan, Mayreau, Mustique, Union Island, and associated islets. Carriacou Island, the largest of the Grenada group, has an area of 13 sq mi (34 sq km). Rainfall is low, and few of the islands are inhabited.
Grenfell, Sir Wilfred (Thomason) (b. Feb. 28, 1865, Parkgate, Cheshire, Eng.—d. Oct. 9, 1940, Charlotte, Vt., U.S.) English medical missionary. Having joined the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fish¬ ermen, he initiated missionary service to the fishermen of Labrador and became absorbed in improving conditions there. He raised funds through speaking tours and books. When the Mission withdrew its support, he founded the International Grenfell Association, which helped found 6 hospitals, 4 hospital ships, 7 nursing stations, 2 orphanages, 2 large schools, 14 industrial centres, and a cooperative lumber mill in Labrador.
Grenoble \gr9-'nobl 3 ,\ English Xgro-'no-boA City (pop., 1999: 153,317), southeastern France. It lies along the Isere River, which divides the city into two parts. The old town occupies the cramped right bank, while the newer part of the town spreads out into the plain on the left bank. Greno¬ ble was the capital of the Dauphine. It was a centre of the French Resis¬ tance during World War II. Sites of interest include a 13th-century cathedral, the 15th-century Palais de Justice, and the University of Greno¬ ble (founded 1339).
Grenville, George (b. Oct. 14,1712—d. Nov. 13,1770, London, Eng.) English politician. He entered Parliament in 1741, held a number of min¬ isterial appointments, then served as prime minister (1763-65). His policy of taxing the American colonies, initiated by his Revenue Act of 1764 and the Stamp Act of 1765, started the train of events leading to the American Revolution. He was unpopular for the prosecution of John Wilkes for sedi¬ tious libel and his clumsy handling of the Regency Act of 1765, alienating George III and leading to the fall of his ministry. In opposition thereafter, Grenville helped bring about the passage of the Townshend Acts (1767).