Saint Gregory Nazianzen

Archbishop of Constantinople, Doctor of the Church (329-390)

Feast – May 9

The Edict of Milan in 313 started a new era, officially ending the persecution of Christianity. Christianity became the leading religion of the Roman Empire, but the war on the faith didn’t stop.

Arius (256–336) was a Cyrenaic presbyter, ascetic, and priest, and also a pupil of St. Lucian of Antioch at Lucian’s private academy. He adopted a modified form of the teachings of Paul of Samosata (200-275), Bishop of Antioch and originator of the Paulianist heresy, a nontrinitarian theological doctrine, which was a form of Monarchianism. His teachings, known as Arianism, became a major theological movement in the Christian Roman Empire during the fourth and fifth centuries. The conflict between Arianism and the standard Trinitarian beliefs was the first major doctrinal battle in the Christian church after the legalization of Christianity. It involved emperors, bishops, priests, and lay believers throughout the Roman empire. Bitter disputes among church leaders led to mob violence and political turmoil. Arianism was the first form of Christianity to make major inroads with the Germanic tribes, many of the “barbarians” who conquered Rome and deposed the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire Romulus Augustulus in 476 were actually Arian Christians. As a result of Arianism being successfully taught to the Germanic tribes it lingered for several more centuries in western Europe after the fall of the western Roman Empire.

Arian theology holds that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who was begotten by God the Father with the difference that the Son of God did not always exist but was begotten within time by God the Father, therefore Jesus was not co-eternal, and not one substance, not of the same or similar but dissimilar nature with God the Father.

The creed taught to converts by Germanic Arian missionary Ulfilas may help explain why it was so successful in diverting many Christians.

“I believe that there is only one God the Father, alone unbegotten and invisible, and in His only begotten Son, our Lord and God, creator and maker of all things, not having any like unto Him… And I believe in one Holy Spirit, an enlightening and sanctifying power… [who is] neither God nor Lord, but the faithful minister of Christ; not equal, but subject and obedient in all things to the Son. And I believe the Son to be subject and obedient in all things to God the Father.”

To eradicate the growing interior conflict, Emperor Constantine convened the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325, which settled the Christological issue of the divine nature of God the Son and his relationship to God the Father, reflected this settlement in the Nicene Creed, and rejected the tenets of Arianism. Constantine exiled those who refused to accept the creed—including Arius himself and several others. He also exiled the bishops who signed the creed but refused to condemn Arius—notably Eusebius of Nicomedia and Theognis of Nicea. He also ordered all copies of the Thalia, the book in which Arius had expressed his teachings, to be burned. Arianism was appeared to be gone, and the theological debate concluded. Unfortunately, this was not the case. Constantine, under the influence of his sister, Flavia Julia Constantia, a convert to Christianity and supporter of the Arians, allowed Theognis of Nicea and Eusebius of Nicomedia to return from exile. Together with other friends of Arius, they began to work for Arius’ rehabilitation. In May 337, when Constantine realized that he was about to die he received baptism from Arian bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia. His son and successor Flavius Julius Constantius, known as Constantius II, Roman emperor from 337 to 361, was an Arian too. In 339 Eusebius of Nicomedia had been made bishop of Constantinople and became an adviser to the Empire. Constantius II encouraged the anti-Nicene groups and set out to revise the official creed itself through numerous Church councils. He proceeded to exile bishops adhering to the old creed, including St.  Athanasius and Pope Liberius.

In this environment the son of St. Gregory of Nazianzus the Elder and St. Nonna of Nazianzus was raised. The son who would become the Archbishop of Constantinople, a Doctor of the Church and one of the Cappadocian Fathers. In the Eastern Catholic Churches he is revered as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs, along with Basil the Great and John Chrysostom. In both Eastern and Western Christianity he is considered one of the Great Fathers, the “Trinitarian Theologian” whose work continues to influence modern theologians. This son is St. Gregory of Nazianzus.

St. Gregory was born in 329 to Greek, wealthy, landowner parents, in the family estate of Karbala outside the village of Arianzus, near Nazianzus, in southwest Cappadocia. The infant was immediately consecrated to God. In 325 AD his mother, Nonna converted his father to Christianity. In 329 his father became a bishop of Nazianzus. St. Gregory and his brother, Caesarius, first studied at home with their uncle Amphylokhios. When he learned to read, his mother presented him with the Holy Scripture. After learning all that he could in his native land, he journeyed to Caesarea in Palestine to study at the famous school founded by Origen of Alexandria, an early Christian scholar, ascetic, and theologian. Then he went to Alexandria in Egypt to rejoin his brother there and then to the metropolis of the sciences and the humanities, Athens. On the way to Athens, a storm of twenty days’ duration nearly caused the loss of the ship and all passengers; their safe arrival was attributed to Saint Gregory’s prayers, and all aboard adopted Christianity.

While at Athens, he studied under the famous rhetoricians Himerius and Proaeresius. There he developed a close friendship with his fellow student St. Basil of Caesarea. Together they turned away from the most attractive worldly prospects, lived in seclusion, self-discipline, and studious labor, knowing only two roads, the one to church and the other to school. After about ten years of studies and good works in Athens, they left the city and separated.

In 361 St. Gregory returned to Nazianzus, where his parents were now advanced in age, and was ordained a presbyter by his father’s wish, who wanted him to assist with caring for local Christians. St. Gregory had firmly resolved to devote his life and talents to God. He yearned for the monastic or ascetic life with the Scripture studies, and disliked his father’s decision. He consulted his beloved friend St. Basil who retired near St. Gregory’s own hometown. St. Basil urged him to assist his father. His first sermon, after a ten-weeks’ retreat was on the dangers and responsibilities of the priesthood. However, when the elder Gregory wished to make him a bishop, he fled to join his friend St. Basil in Pontus who was organizing a monastery in Pontus and invited him to come. He remained with Saint Basil for several years. When his brother Caesarius died, he returned home to help his father administer his diocese. Arriving at Nazianzus, St. Gregory found the local Christian community split by theological differences and his father accused of heresy by local monks signing an unclear interpretation of the dogmas of the faith. He convinced his father of the pernicious nature of Arianism and strengthened him in Orthodoxy, then he helped to heal the division through a combination of personal diplomacy and oratory. By this time Emperor Julian had publicly declared himself in opposition to Christianity. In response St. Gregory composed his Invectives Against Julian which affirms that Christianity will overcome imperfect rulers such as Julian through love and patience, and the process of deification which leads to a spiritual elevation and mystical union with God. In late 362, Emperor Julian resolved, to vigorously persecute St. Gregory and other Christian critics; however, Julian perished the following year during a campaign against the Persians and was replaced by emperor Jovian who was an avowed Christian. In 365 St. Basil was ordain priest. For the next few years together with St. Gregory, on behalf of Archbishop Eusebius of Caesarea, they effectively combated the Arian heresy.

In 370, Eusebius died, and St. Basil was chosen to succeed him.

In 371 Tyana became the capital of Cappadocian Secundus and as the bishop of Tyana, Anthimus asserted that the change in his city’s political status should be matched with a change in its religious status. With the support of Arians who did not wish to be under St. Basil’s authority he declared himself in authority over several Cappadocian towns in his new province which had previously been under St. Basil’s oversight.

In 372, in order to strengthen his position in dispute with Anthimus, St. Basil created the see of Sasima and ordained St. Gregory Bishop. By late 372 St. Gregory returned to Nazianzus to assist his dying father with the administration of his diocese. He continued to administer the Diocese of Nazianzus but refused to be named bishop. Donating most of his inheritance to the needy, he lived an austere existence. At the end of 375 he withdrew to a monastery at Seleukia, living there for three years. Near the end of this period his friend Basil died. Although Gregory’s health did not permit him to attend the funeral, he wrote a heartfelt letter of condolence to Basil’s brother, Gregory of Nyssa, and composed twelve memorial poems dedicated to the memory of his departed friend.

Upon the death of Arian supporter Emperor Valens in 378, Theodosius, a steadfast supporter of Nicene orthodoxy, become Emperor. The exiled Nicene party gradually returned to the city, which was distracted and in shambles due to the rule of the Arians and other heretics. In 379 St. Gregory, who was well known for rare gifts of conciliatory disposition, was asked by the council of bishops and the archbishop Meletios to lead a theological campaign to win over the city. After much hesitation, Gregory agreed and became Patriarch of Constantinople. His cousin Theodosia offered him a villa for his residence; Gregory immediately transformed much of it into a church, naming it Anastasia, “a scene for the resurrection of the faith.” From this little chapel he delivered five powerful discourses on Nicene doctrine, explaining the nature of the Trinity and the unity of the Godhead and refuting the denial of the Holy Spirit’s divinity. His homilies were well received and attracted ever-growing crowds to Anastasia.

Fearing Gregory’s popularity, his opponents decided to strike. On the vigil of Easter in 379, when Saint Gregory was baptizing catechumens, an Arian mob burst into his church casting stones killing one bishop and wounding St. Gregory. Escaping the mob, Gregory next found himself betrayed by his erstwhile friend, the philosopher Maximus the Cynic. Maximus attempted to seize St. Gregory’s position and have himself ordained bishop of Constantinople. Struck by the ingratitude of Maximus, Gregory attempted to resign from the cathedral, but his faithful flock forced him to stay and threw the usurper out of the city.

On November 24, 380 the holy emperor Theodosius arrived in the capital, enforced his decree against the heretics, returning the main church to the faith and enabling St. Gregory to make a solemn entrance. The Arians were so irritated at the decay of their heresy they resolved to take St. Gregory’s life. For this purpose, they chose an intrepid youth who was willing to undertake the sacrilegious commission, but God did not allow him to carry it out; he was touched with remorse and cast himself at the Saint’s feet, avowing his sinful intent. St. Gregory forgave him at once, treated him with all kindness and received him among his friends, to the wonder and edification of the whole city and to the confusion of the heretics, whose crime had served only as a mirror to the virtue of the Saint. His fame spread across the East and West. The saint lived in the capital as though he still lived in the wilderness: “his food was food of the wilderness; his clothing was whatever necessary. He made visitations without pretense, and though in proximity of the court, he sought nothing from the court.”

At the Second Ecumenical Council in 381, after the death of Patriarch Meletius of Antioch he was chosen to preside at the Council. The Egyptian and Macedonian bishops who had supported Maximus’ ordination arrived late for the Council. Once there, they refused to recognize Gregory’s position as head of the church of Constantinople, arguing that his transfer from the See of Sasima was canonically illegitimate.

Saint Gregory decided to resign his office for the sake of peace in the Church: “Let me be as the Prophet Jonah! I was responsible for the storm, but I would sacrifice myself for the salvation of the ship. Seize me and throw me… I was not happy when I ascended the throne, and gladly would I descend it.”

After telling the emperor of his desire to quit the capital, Saint Gregory appeared again at the Council to deliver a farewell address asking to be allowed to depart in peace.

Returning to his homeland of Cappadocia, Gregory once again resumed his position as bishop of Nazianzus. He spent the next year combating the local Apollinarian heretics. By the end of 383 he found his health too feeble to cope with episcopal duties. He established the pious Eulalius there as bishop, and then withdrew into the solitude of Arianzos. After enjoying six peaceful years in retirement at his family estate, he died on 25 January in 390.

In 391 St. Gregory’s cousin, Eulalios, published several of his more noteworthy works.  By 400, Rufinius began translating his orations into Latin. As his works circulated throughout the empire, they influenced theological thought. His orations were cited as authoritative by the First Council of Ephesus in 431. By 451 he was designated Theologian by the Council of Chalcedon:  – a title held by no others save John the Apostle.

References and Excerpts:

[1]          “Arianism – New World Encyclopedia.” https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Arianism (accessed May 16, 2022).

[2]          “Saint Gregory the Theologian, Archbishop of Constantinople.” https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2022/01/25/100298-saint-gregory-the-theologian-archbishop-of-constantinople (accessed May 16, 2022).

[3]          “CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: St. Gregory of Nazianzus.” https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07010b.htm (accessed May 16, 2022).

[4]          “Saint Gregory Nazianzen, Archbishop of Constantinople, Doctor of the Church.” https://sanctoral.com/en/saints/saint_gregory_nazianzen.html (accessed May 16, 2022).

[5]          “Saint/s of the Day – 2 January – St Basil the Great (329-379) and St Gregory of Nazianzen (330-390) Fathers and Doctors of the Church – AnaStpaul.” https://anastpaul.com/2018/01/02/saint-s-of-the-day-st-basil-the-great-329-379-and-st-gregory-of-nazianzen-330-390-fathers-and-doctors-of-the-church/ (accessed May 16, 2022).

[6]          “Gregory of Nazianzus,” Wikipedia. May 14, 2022. Accessed: May 16, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gregory_of_Nazianzus&oldid=1087782924