Gregory of Nazianzus
(c. 329– January 25 389 or 390) was Archbishop of Constantinople in the 4th
century. He greatly influenced Greek and
Latin speaking theologians and his work continues to influence theologians
today. He and the two brothers, Gregory
of Nyssa, and Basil the great are known as the Cappadocian fathers, and
together with Basil the Great and John Chrysostom are the great hierarchs in
the Eastern Church.
Gregory’s parents were wealthy, and his mother, Nona
converted his father Gregory to Christianity, and Gregory came to be Bishop of
Nazianzus. Gregory the son, after
studying at home studied in Nazianzus, Caesarea, Alexandria
and Athens. On the way to Athens, during a storm which frightened him,
Gregory promised God he would serve him if God would save him. He continued to teach in Athens before returning home.
His father desired to ordain him to the presbyterate, so Gregory
could help him, but Gregory, preferring the monastic life, resented this, and
left, living for a short time with Basil the great, who convince him to return
and help his father. Upon his return, he
found divisions, which he was able to heal through his gifts of diplomacy and
oratory.
By this time, the emperor Julian had declared himself to be
opposed to Christianity. Gregory wrote Invectives against Julian stating that
the emperor should be opposed through love and patience. He also stated that this
was a form of theosis, in which we become more like God. Julian worked against those who opposed him
until his death during a war against the Persians. Gregory and Basil then embarked in a
rhetorical war against the Arians, and clearly beat the Arians. This success led them to be elected Bishops.
Basil was elected as Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia,
and ordained Gregory as Bishop of Sasima, which he had newly created so that
Gregory could aid him. Gregory was
unhappy in this position, desiring to return to the contemplative life, and not
wishing to be involved in politics as Basil’s pawn. Instead he went to help his father as
co-adjutor of Nazianzus until his father’s death. He continued to work in the area, but refused
to be named bishop, living a simple life.
In 379, the synod of Antioch
under Melatus asked Gregory to go to Constantinople
to reestablish Orthodoxy as opposed to Arianism. A cousin offered him a villa, most of which
he converted into a church (Anastasia, or Resurrection) from which he delivered
powerful sermons on the Trinity and Unity of the Godhead. His opponents fearing his popularity attacked
and entered the church, injuring Gregory and killing another bishop. The situation was confused, with Gregory
staying (convinced by his followers), but with Arian priests in some of the
churches, and remained so until the arrival of
the Emperor, Theodosius, who had Gregory enthroned as patriarch of Constantinople, taking the place of Demophilus.
Theodosius and Gregory called the Second Ecumenical Council
of Constantinople in 381 for the express purpose of uniting the empire behind
Trinitarian Christianity. After the
death of the presiding Bishop, Gregory took over the council. In order to prevent division, Gregory
renounced his position as Patriarch, and after giving a farewell speech, he
returned to Nazianzus as Bishop, struggling with heretics and poor health. Eventually, finding himself to weak to
continue his work, he appointed a new bishop to serve Nazianzus and retired to
his parents estate where he lived for another five years until his death on 25
January 389 (or 390).
Gregory’s greatest role was in the defense of the doctrine
of the Holy Trinity, and in Pneumatology.
He gave us the term procession referring to the Holy Spirit and
emphasized that Jesus did not cease being God, nor did he lose his divine
attributes when he became man.
Collect: Heavenly
Father, you strengthened Gregory of Nazianzus through sickness and persecution. As he was on fire with love for you, so train
us up that we may be aflame with your love and share it with all the
world. This we ask through Yeshua haMoshiach who lives and reins with
you and the Ruach haKodesh, one God in glory everlasting. Amen. (white)
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