Gregory of Nazianzus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SaintGregory of Nazianzus |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Icon of St. Gregory the Theologian
Fresco from Kariye Camii, Istanbul, Turkey |
|
|
|
| Born | AD 329 Arianzus, near Nazianzus, Cappadocia |
| Died | 25 January 390 (aged 60–61) Arianzus, near Nazianzus, Cappadocia |
| Venerated in | |
| Canonized | Pre-Congregation |
| Major shrine | Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George in the Fanar |
| Feast |
|
| Attributes | Vested as a bishop, wearing an omophorion; holding a Gospel Book or scroll. Iconographically, he is depicted as balding with a bushy white beard. |
|
Gregory the Theologian
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Theological work | |
| Era | Patristic age |
| Language | Greek language |
| Tradition or movement |
|
| Notable ideas |
|
Gregory of Nazianzus (born around 329 AD – died January 25, 390 AD) was an important leader and thinker in the early Christian Church. He is also known as Gregory the Theologian. He served as the Archbishop of Constantinople, a major city at the time.
Gregory was a very skilled speaker and writer. He studied classical philosophy and helped combine these ideas with early Christian teachings. He greatly influenced how Christians understood the Trinity (God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Because of this, he is often called the "Trinitarian Theologian."
He is one of the Cappadocian Fathers, a group of three important Church leaders from Cappadocia. The other two were Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa. Gregory of Nazianzus is recognized as a saint in both Eastern and Western Christian churches. The Catholic Church calls him a Doctor of the Church, meaning his teachings are very important. The Eastern Orthodox Church honors him as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs.
He is one of only three people in the Orthodox Church to be officially called "Theologian." The others are John the Theologian (who wrote a Gospel) and Symeon the New Theologian.
Contents
Biography of Gregory
Early Life and Education
Gregory was born in a place called Karbala, near Nazianzus in Cappadocia. His parents, Gregory and Nonna, were wealthy landowners. His mother, Nonna, helped his father become a Christian. His father later became a bishop in 328 or 329 AD.
Young Gregory and his brother, Caesarius, first learned at home. Gregory then went to study advanced speaking and philosophy in several cities. These included Nazianzus, Caesarea, Alexandria, and Athens. On his way to Athens, his ship faced a big storm. Gregory prayed to Christ, promising to dedicate his life to God if he survived.
In Athens, he became very good friends with another student, Basil of Caesarea. He also met Flavius Claudius Julianus, who later became Emperor Julian the Apostate. Gregory studied with famous teachers in Athens. He was likely baptized there or soon after he returned home.
Becoming a Priest
In 361 AD, Gregory returned to Nazianzus. His father wanted him to become a presbyter (a type of priest) to help care for local Christians. Gregory had thought about living a quiet life as a monk. He felt forced into the priesthood and called it an "act of tyranny."
After a few days, he left home and joined his friend Basil. They lived together as monks for a while. Basil encouraged him to go back and help his father. Gregory did, and for the next year, he assisted his father. When he arrived, he found the Christian community divided. His father was even accused of false teachings. Gregory used his speaking skills and diplomacy to help bring peace.
Around this time, Emperor Julian openly opposed Christianity. Gregory wrote strong speeches against Julian between 362 and 363 AD. He argued that Christianity would win through love and patience. Julian died the next year during a war. The new emperor, Jovian, supported Christians, so the threat of persecution ended.
Gregory then spent several years fighting against Arianism. This was a belief that threatened to split the Church in Cappadocia. Gregory also helped his friend Basil become closer to Bishop Eusebius of Caesarea. Gregory and Basil worked together and won important debates against Arian thinkers. This success showed them that their future was in leading the Church. In 370 AD, Basil was chosen as bishop of Caesarea.
Serving as Bishop
In 372 AD, Basil made Gregory the Bishop of Sasima. Basil did this to strengthen his own position in a disagreement with another bishop. Gregory's father also wanted his son to rise in the Church. Despite his doubts, Gregory accepted the role. He later said his ordination was forced by his father and Basil.
Gregory described Sasima as a "dreadful, pokey little hole." He said it lacked water, plants, and good company. He didn't put much effort into leading this new church. He told Basil he preferred a quiet, thoughtful life.
By late 372 AD, Gregory returned to Nazianzus. He helped his dying father manage his church. This caused tension with Basil, who wanted Gregory to go back to Sasima. Gregory refused, saying he wouldn't be a "pawn" for Basil's plans. He focused on his new duties as a helper bishop in Nazianzus. Here, he gave some of his first important speeches as a bishop.
After his parents died in 374 AD, Gregory continued to lead the Nazianzus church. But he refused to be officially named bishop. He gave most of his wealth to the poor and lived a simple life. In late 375 AD, he went to a monastery for three years. During this time, his friend Basil died. Gregory was too sick to attend the funeral. He wrote a heartfelt letter to Basil's brother, Gregory of Nyssa. He also wrote twelve poems in memory of his friend.
Gregory in Constantinople
When Emperor Valens died in 378 AD, Theodosius I became emperor. Theodosius strongly supported the Nicene Christian beliefs. This was good news for those who wanted to remove Arian and Apollinarian influences from Constantinople. The Nicene Christians, who had been exiled, slowly returned to the city. Basil, before he died, suggested Gregory as the best person to lead the Nicene cause in Constantinople.
In 379 AD, church leaders asked Gregory to go to Constantinople. They wanted him to lead a campaign to bring the city back to Nicene beliefs. After thinking about it, Gregory agreed. His cousin gave him a house, which Gregory quickly turned into a church. He named it Anastasia, meaning "a place for the resurrection of the faith." From this small church, he gave five powerful speeches. He explained the nature of the Trinity and the unity of God.
Gregory's speeches were popular, and more people came to Anastasia. His opponents tried to stop him. On the night before Easter in 379 AD, a mob burst into his church. They wounded Gregory and killed another bishop. Gregory then faced betrayal from a philosopher named Maximus. Maximus secretly worked with the bishop of Alexandria to try and take Gregory's position.
Shocked, Gregory thought about quitting. But his supporters convinced him to stay. They forced Maximus out. This event embarrassed Gregory. It made him seem like a simple person who couldn't handle the city's tricks.
Things in Constantinople were still confusing. Gregory's position was not yet official, and Arian priests controlled many churches. Emperor Theodosius arrived in 380 AD and solved the problem. He wanted to end Arianism and removed Bishop Demophilus. Gregory was then officially made Bishop of Constantinople.
Church Council and Retirement
Emperor Theodosius wanted to unite the empire under one Christian belief. He decided to call a church council to discuss faith and rules. Gregory also wanted to unite Christians. In the spring of 381 AD, they held the Second Ecumenical Council in Constantinople. 150 Eastern bishops attended.
After the first leader of the council died, Gregory was chosen to lead. He tried to bring the Western and Eastern churches together. However, some bishops arrived late and did not recognize Gregory's leadership. They argued that his move from Sasima to Constantinople was against church rules.
Gregory was tired and felt he was losing the bishops' trust. Instead of causing more division, he decided to resign. He said, "Let me be like the Prophet Jonah! I caused the storm, but I will sacrifice myself for the ship's safety." He surprised the council with his resignation. He gave a dramatic speech to Theodosius asking to be released from his duties. The emperor praised his work and accepted his resignation. Gregory gave one last speech and then left.
He returned to his home in Cappadocia. Gregory again became the bishop of Nazianzus. He spent the next year fighting against Apollinarian beliefs. He also dealt with ongoing illness. By the end of 383 AD, his health was too weak for his duties. Gregory appointed Eulalius as the new bishop of Nazianzus. He then went to live a quiet life at his family estate in Arianzum.
He spent six peaceful years there. He wrote many poems, including an autobiography. He also wrote about his continuous illness and suffering. He lived as a hermit by a fountain near a shady path. He received visits from friends and strangers. He died around January 25, 390 AD.
Gregory faced many difficult choices in his life. Should he be a speaker or a philosopher? Should he live as a monk or serve in public ministry? Should he follow his own path or the one set by his father and Basil? His writings show these struggles. These challenges helped shape his character and his search for meaning and truth.
Gregory's Legacy
.jpg)
His Writings and Ideas
Gregory's most important contributions were in defending the idea of the Trinity. He is especially known for his ideas about the Holy Spirit. He was the first to use the word "procession" to describe how the Spirit relates to God. He said the Holy Spirit "comes forth from the Father." This idea later became very important in understanding the Holy Spirit.
He taught that Jesus remained fully God even when he became a man. Jesus did not lose any of his divine qualities. Gregory also insisted that Christ was fully human, including having a human soul. He also said the Holy Spirit has always existed. The Spirit's actions were less clear in the Old Testament but became very clear after Jesus went to Heaven and the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost.
Gregory and the other Cappadocian Fathers believed that God's nature is too great for humans to fully know. They helped explain the idea of "hypostases." This means three distinct "persons" (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) united in one God. They also explained how Jesus is the "eikon" (image) of the Father. They taught about "theosis," which is the idea that Christians can become more like God.
Gregory was also a very important early Christian writer. He was a skilled speaker, perhaps one of the best of his time. He wrote many poems about theology, morals, and his own life.
His Influence
Gregory's great-nephew, Nichobulos, helped save and organize many of his writings. A cousin, Eulalios, published some of Gregory's important works in 391 AD. By 400 AD, his speeches were being translated into Latin. As his works spread, they influenced Christian thought across the empire.
His speeches were seen as authoritative by the First Council of Ephesus in 431 AD. By 451 AD, the Council of Chalcedon called him "Theologus" or "Theologian." This title was only given to him, John the Apostle, and Symeon the New Theologian. Eastern Orthodox thinkers often quote him. He is highly respected as someone who defended the Christian faith. His ideas about the Trinity are also important in Western churches. The Liturgy of St Gregory the Theologian used by the Coptic Church is named after him.
His Relics
After his death, Gregory was buried in Nazianzus. His relics (parts of his body and clothing) were moved to Constantinople in 950 AD. They were placed in the Church of the Holy Apostles. During the Fourth Crusade in 1204 AD, some relics were taken to Rome.
On November 27, 2004, these relics, along with those of John Chrysostom, were returned to Constantinople (now Istanbul). Pope John Paul II returned them, though the Vatican kept a small part. The relics are now kept in the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George.
Feast Days
Gregory of Nazianzus is celebrated on different days by various Christian churches.
- January 2: The Catholic Church and the Church of England celebrate his feast day.
- January 10: The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod remembers Gregory along with Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa (the Cappadocian Fathers).
- January 25 & 30: The Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches have two feast days for Gregory. January 25 is his main feast day. January 30 is the feast of the Three Great Hierarchs, celebrating him with John Chrysostom and Basil of Caesarea.
- May 9: The Episcopal Church celebrates Gregory's feast day.
- June 14: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America remembers Gregory of Nazianzus with his friends Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa.
- Armenian Dates: The Armenian Apostolic Church honors Gregory on two days each year. He is remembered with other Church teachers on the Saturday before the feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross. There is also a special feast day just for Gregory. This falls either on the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of the Transfiguration, or on the Saturday before the third Sunday after the Nativity.
See also
In Spanish: Gregorio Nacianceno para niños
- List of Ecumenical Patriarchs of Constantinople
- Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
