Gregory of Nazianzus
c. 329 – 390 · Cappadocia — Constantinople
Bishop, Father and Doctor of the Church
Awaiting theological review
In one sentence
A poet-theologian, called the Theologian in the East, whose sermons on the Trinity are classics.
Why this person matters
His Five Theological Orations gave the Church precise, beautiful language for the Trinity.
He studied in Athens with Basil.
Called to the small Nicene community in Constantinople, he preached the Theological Orations there in 380.
He presided for a time over the Council of Constantinople (381), then resigned and returned home.
Key ideas
- What has not been assumed has not been healed — Christ took on a full human nature
Why they still matter
The Eastern Church honours him with John the Evangelist and Symeon as the Theologian.
Before
- Athanasius of Alexandriac. 296 – 373
Contemporary
- Basil the Greatc. 330 – 379
- Ambrose of Milanc. 339 – 397
- Jeromec. 347 – 420
After
- Cyril of Alexandriac. 376 – 444
- Five Theological Orations
- Poems
- Letters
- Historical context
- Early Christian source
Statements are labelled by source. Early Christian sources are named where known; dates before the 4th century are often approximate.