Gregory of Nazianzus

Gregory of NazianzusGregory of Nazianzus

aka… aka… Gregory the Gregory the

Theologian Theologian Gregory Gregory

NazianzenNazianzen

329/330 – 389/390 329/330 – 389/390 CECE

Gregory of NazianzusGregory of Nazianzus Who he was?Who he was? Where he lived?Where he lived? When he lived?When he lived? What were the questions & What were the questions &

challenges he was facing?challenges he was facing? How did he deal with them?How did he deal with them?

An aspect of his life & contributionAn aspect of his life & contribution

Gregory of NazianzusGregory of Nazianzus Born 329 & died 389 in Arianzus, Born 329 & died 389 in Arianzus,

Cappadocia (Asia Minor)Cappadocia (Asia Minor) Venerated in Eastern & Western ChurchVenerated in Eastern & Western Church Feast day = Jan. 2Feast day = Jan. 2ndnd or 25 or 25thth (day of his (day of his

death)death) ““Doctor of the Church” (Western)Doctor of the Church” (Western) ““Hierarch of the Church” (Eastern)Hierarch of the Church” (Eastern) Trinitarian theologian (Christ & the Spirit)Trinitarian theologian (Christ & the Spirit) Rhetorical orator; ascetic; reluctant leader; Rhetorical orator; ascetic; reluctant leader;

prolific writer; saintly theologian.prolific writer; saintly theologian.

The Cappadocian fathersThe Cappadocian fathers

Gregory of NazianzusGregory of Nazianzus Basil the Great (bro.)Basil the Great (bro.) Gregory of Nyssa (bro.)Gregory of Nyssa (bro.)

The Three Holy Hierarchs The Three Holy Hierarchs (Eastern Church)(Eastern Church)

Gregory, Basil & Gregory, Basil & John ChrysostomJohn Chrysostom

The Doctors of the ChurchThe Doctors of the Church

Western (Latin) Western (Latin)

Ambrose of MilanAmbrose of Milan Augustine of HippoAugustine of Hippo Jerome of StridoJerome of Strido Gregory the Great Gregory the Great

(Pope Gregory I) (Pope Gregory I)

Eastern (Greek) Eastern (Greek)

Athanasius of AlexandriaAthanasius of Alexandria John Chrysostom of John Chrysostom of

Antioch & Antioch & ConstantinopleConstantinople

Basil the GreatBasil the Great Gregory of Nazianzus Gregory of Nazianzus

CappadociaCappadocia

Acts 2:6-11Acts 2:6-11 1 Peter 1:1-21 Peter 1:1-2

Constantinople.Nicaea.

Acts 2:6-11Acts 2:6-11

When they heard this sound, a crowd came When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Aren't all Utterly amazed, they asked: "Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans? Then these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and and CappadociaCappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia , Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabsand converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs——wewe hear them declaring the wonders of hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues! God in our own tongues! ""

1 Peter 1:1-21 Peter 1:1-2

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To God's elect, exiles scattered throughout To God's elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, CappadociaCappadocia, Asia and Bithynia - who have , Asia and Bithynia - who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge been chosen according to the foreknowledge of of God the FatherGod the Father, through the sanctifying , through the sanctifying work of the work of the SpiritSpirit, for obedience to , for obedience to Jesus Jesus ChristChrist and sprinkling with his blood - and sprinkling with his blood - Grace and peace be yours in abundance. Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

Cappadocian ChristiansCappadocian Christians

Experience of Experience of the grace of the grace of GodGod

Acquaintance Acquaintance with suffering with suffering for Godfor God

Ambrose & GregoryAmbrose & Gregory

338-397 CE338-397 CE WesternWestern EuropeEurope MilanMilan Theologian, Theologian,

preacher & hymn preacher & hymn writerwriter

329-389 CE329-389 CE EasternEastern AsiaAsia ConstantinopleConstantinople Theologian, Theologian,

preacher & poetpreacher & poet

Background influences (on his Background influences (on his life)life)

Conversion of Constantine 312Conversion of Constantine 312 Council of Nicaea 325 (to decide over the Council of Nicaea 325 (to decide over the

true nature of Christ: Athanasius vs Arius)true nature of Christ: Athanasius vs Arius) Ongoing theological Trinitarian tensionsOngoing theological Trinitarian tensions Decline of Roman Empire (apostate Decline of Roman Empire (apostate

emperor)emperor) Conversion of Goths to ArianismConversion of Goths to Arianism Godly mother (Nonna) & converted father Godly mother (Nonna) & converted father

(Gregory), Bishop of Nazianzus – formerly (Gregory), Bishop of Nazianzus – formerly wealthy landowners.wealthy landowners.

Outline of his lifeOutline of his life His education (Caesarea Cappadocia, Caesarea His education (Caesarea Cappadocia, Caesarea

Maritima, Alexandria & Athens – Maritima, Alexandria & Athens – till age 30till age 30)) His ordination & ministryHis ordination & ministry

Monastic/ascetic life (356, edits works of Monastic/ascetic life (356, edits works of Origen)Origen)

Nazianzus (Christmas, 361 – as a presbyter)Nazianzus (Christmas, 361 – as a presbyter)

Sasima (appt. by Basil)Sasima (appt. by Basil)

Constantinople (Bishop, 379)Constantinople (Bishop, 379)

Council of Constantinople (381)Council of Constantinople (381)

Nazianzus (returns till 383, declining health)Nazianzus (returns till 383, declining health)

Arianzus (retires, writes & d. 389/390)Arianzus (retires, writes & d. 389/390)

Monastic and Ascetic lifeMonastic and Ascetic life

11stst fleeing (358-359) fleeing (358-359)

a. Personal strugglea. Personal struggle

PhysicallyPhysically Personality Personality ProfessionallyProfessionally



b. Pressure from Basil b. Pressure from Basil



c. Producedc. Produced

Philokalio OrigenisPhilokalio Origenis ““In Defense of his Flight.In Defense of his Flight.””Orations 1-3Orations 1-3Oration 15 & Invective Oration 15 & Invective Against Against JulianJulian


22ndnd fleeing (362) fleeing (362)

Appointment as bishop of SasimaAppointment as bishop of Sasima

Returns as result of father’s Returns as result of father’s pressurepressure

Parents dieParents dieAssumes Father’s pastoral dutiesAssumes Father’s pastoral duties


33rdrd fleeing (375-379) fleeing (375-379)

Women’s convent on the south Women’s convent on the south coast of Cappadocia, Seleuciacoast of Cappadocia, Seleucia

Happy time for Gregory Happy time for Gregory Returns to Church life Returns to Church life

ByzantiumByzantiumConstantinopleConstantinople

His orationsHis orations

45 orations (“spoken reason”)45 orations (“spoken reason”) Formal speech, pleading a cause, before a Formal speech, pleading a cause, before a

court/ assembly on a ceremonial occasioncourt/ assembly on a ceremonial occasion Eulogies for his father (Gregory) & friend Eulogies for his father (Gregory) & friend

(Basil)(Basil) Apologetics on nature of the priesthoodApologetics on nature of the priesthood Attack on (Emperor) Julian the ApostateAttack on (Emperor) Julian the Apostate In praise of Athanasius the Great (d. 373)In praise of Athanasius the Great (d. 373) Five Theological Orations vs. Eunomian Five Theological Orations vs. Eunomian

Arians & Macedonians (#’s 27-31)Arians & Macedonians (#’s 27-31)

Five Theological OrationsFive Theological Orations

1.1. Necessity of a pure mind & life free of sin Necessity of a pure mind & life free of sin – in order to study, rightly contemplate – in order to study, rightly contemplate GodGod

2.2. Unknowability of God. May not know Unknowability of God. May not know whatwhat God is, but creation declares God is, but creation declares thatthat God is God is

3.3. Defence of the trinity & unity of GodDefence of the trinity & unity of GodEternal existence of Son & Spirit, Eternal existence of Son & Spirit,

proceeding from the Fatherproceeding from the Father4.4. Union of Godhead & Manhood in ChristUnion of Godhead & Manhood in Christ5.5. Divinity of person of the Holy SpiritDivinity of person of the Holy Spirit

His writingsHis writings 245 letters/ epistles245 letters/ epistles 400 poems (“30,000 verses” - Jerome)400 poems (“30,000 verses” - Jerome) Autobiographical poem: “On his life” (2000 Autobiographical poem: “On his life” (2000

lines)lines) ““The poet of Eastern Christendom” The poet of Eastern Christendom”

In naming Gregory of Nazianzus “the Theologian”, In naming Gregory of Nazianzus “the Theologian”, a title only given to two other men (John the a title only given to two other men (John the 1 1stst C. Evangelist & Symeon the 10 C. Evangelist & Symeon the 10thth C. C. Theologian), the Church was saying that Theologian), the Church was saying that poetry expresses the mystery of who God is and poetry expresses the mystery of who God is and how God works better than any linear reasoning!how God works better than any linear reasoning!

Insights on Christian Insights on Christian leadershipleadership

Duties of the Duties of the clergy (Ambrose)clergy (Ambrose)

Called to teachCalled to teach Learn to Learn to

interpretinterpret Learn in silenceLearn in silence Learn in humilityLearn in humility

……Flight from Flight from PontusPontus

(Gregory (Gregory Nazianzen)Nazianzen)

His last yearsHis last years

382-383382-383 Returns to Nazianzus Returns to Nazianzus

Pastoral dutiesPastoral duties

Encourages church to find a new bishopEncourages church to find a new bishop

383383 Retirement for treatment Retirement for treatment

384384 Eulasios succeeds him Eulasios succeeds him

384384 Final retirement to Arianzus Final retirement to Arianzus

His last yearsHis last years

Lasting contributionLasting contribution

In his development of terminology, In his development of terminology, Gregory helped to Gregory helped to clarify the clarify the languagelanguage of Nicaea and of Nicaea and lay the lay the foundationfoundation for the debates of the for the debates of the 5 5thth Century ecumenical Century ecumenical councils.councils.

Gregory of Nazianzus

Spiritual

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