Gregory of Nazianzus
Cappadocian Father, briefly Archbishop of Constantinople (380-381) and presider over the First Council of Constantinople. Known as 'the Theologian' for his Five Theological Orations.
Why Gregory matters
Eastern Orthodoxy gives only three theologians the title 'the Theologian' — John the Evangelist, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Symeon the New Theologian. Nazianzus earned it with five sermons preached in Constantinople in 380 that nailed down what 'three persons, one God' actually means. He didn't want the job (he kept trying to retire to a contemplative life) but when the Trinitarian crisis demanded clarity, he produced it. After him, Trinitarian orthodoxy is settled.
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Common questions
- Who was Gregory of Nazianzus?
- Gregory of Nazianzus (329–390) — Cappadocian Father, briefly Archbishop of Constantinople (380-381) and presider over the First Council of Constantinople. Known as 'the Theologian' for his Five Theological Orations.
- Who taught Gregory of Nazianzus?
- Gregory the Elder of Nazianzus.
- Who did Gregory of Nazianzus teach?
- Evagrius Ponticus.
- Who did Gregory of Nazianzus correspond with?
- Basil of Caesarea.
- Who did Gregory of Nazianzus meet?
- Basil of Caesarea and Cyril of Jerusalem.
- Who did Gregory of Nazianzus oppose?
- Apollinaris of Laodicea.
Works
- Five Theological Orationsc. 380
Constantinople sermons that earned him the title 'the Theologian' — defining Trinitarian orthodoxy.
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Sources for biography
- Gregory of Nazianzus, Orationes 27-31 (Theological Orations) primary
- Gregory of Nazianzus, De Vita Sua primary
- Jerome, De Viris Illustribus 117 primary
documented connections(9)
- met (incoming) Basil of CaesareaBasil and Gregory were close friends from their student days at Athens.Gregory of Nazianzus, Oratio 43.14-24
- corresponded Basil of CaesareaSurviving correspondence and the joint Philocalia of Origen.Gregory of Nazianzus, Epistulae 1-19, 40-58 · Basil, Epistulae 2, 14, 71
- cited Origen of AlexandriaCo-compiler with Basil of the Philocalia of Origen.Gregory of Nazianzus, Epistula 115
- knew of (incoming) Amphilochius of IconiumAmphilochius was a cousin of Gregory of Nazianzus.Gregory of Nazianzus, Epistulae 9, 13, 25-26
- taught by Gregory the Elder of NazianzusGregory the Theologian was raised and ordained presbyter by his father.Gregory of Nazianzus, Oratio 18 · Gregory of Nazianzus, De Vita Sua
- taught by (incoming) Evagrius PonticusGregory ordained Evagrius deacon and trained him at Constantinople.Palladius, Historia Lausiaca 38 · Socrates Scholasticus, Hist. Eccl. 4.23
- met (incoming) Cyril of JerusalemBoth attended the First Council of Constantinople in 381; Cyril is listed among the 150 fathers and Gregory presided briefly over the council.Acta of the First Council of Constantinople (381) · Theodoret, Hist. Eccl. 5.8-9
- cited (incoming) John of DamascusJohn drew especially on Gregory of Nazianzus' Theological Orations.John of Damascus, De Fide Orthodoxa, passim
- opposed Apollinaris of LaodiceaGregory's two letters to Cledonius (Ep. 101, 102) are the classic Cappadocian refutation of Apollinarian Christology, with the famous formula 'what has not been assumed has not been healed.'Gregory of Nazianzus, Epistulae 101, 102