St. Gregory Nazianzen, Doctor of the Church

Gregory Nazianzen was born in Nazianzus in the year 330. While preparing this entry I noticed how tempting it was to define Gregory by his relationship with St. Basil the Great. The two men went to University together in Athens. Their friendship was so deep and lasting, that they nearly made promises to always be together. In fact, Basil had Gregory move to a monastery he had founded. Gregory lived there a while, but his father, Bishop of Nazianzus, wanted Gregory to come home and help him in his pastoral duties.

I have failed, I confess, to keep my promise. I had engaged even at Athens, at the time of our friendship and intimate connection there (for I can find no better word for it), to join you in a life of philosophy. But I failed to keep my promise, not of my own will, but because one law prevailed against another; I mean the law which bids us honour our parents overpowered the law of our friendship and intercourse. Yet I will not fail you altogether, if you will accept this offer. I shall be with you half the time, and half of it you will be with me, that we may have the whole in common, and that our friendship may be on equal terms; and so it will be arranged in such a way that my parents will not be grieved, and yet I shall gain you.

There is something quite nice about that letter. We have the the luxury of the knowledge that God was directing both their lives for God's own purposes. To our great benefit! In the two men Basil and Gregory, it must have seemed very different. They were going about their lives without the knowing they were to become Doctors of the Church. What's funny about that though, is that in the remaining letters between Basil and Gregory, they often misunderstood what the other one was saying. One would be joking, and the other wouldn't get it, so that required another round of letters saying, "I was only kidding." In short, it was a very human relationship.

So, with that part of his life aside, let's move on to what he did that got him the title "the Theologian," or my favorite, "the Christian Demosthenes." You can be sure he did his work at Church Councils such as the second ecumenical council, and the First Council of Constantinople, in 381.

About the same time Gregory is elevated to the Patriarch of Constantinople. About a year later he became so disgusted by the "schemes and intrigues" the always flourish around positions of power, he resigned.

I offer now a brief series of selections.

From Gregory's Funeral Oration for Basil. He talks about how he arranged for everyone to have so high an opinion of Basil that by the time they met him he was

Alone of those who had come to Athens to study he was exempted from the customary ceremonies of initiation. . . . Such was the prelude to our friendship, the kindling of that flame that was to bind us together.

The following is from a Sermon on God's Generosity.

To all earth's creatures he has given the broad earth, the springs, the rivers and the forests. He has given the air to the bireds, and the waters to those who live in water. He has given abundantly to all the basic needs of life, not as a private possession...as common to all, amply and in rich measure.

The list of Gregory's writings include Five Theological Orations, the Philocalia (excerpts from Origen), a joint effort with Basil compiling Origen's writings, and a poem called De Vita Sua. Beyond that he wrote a two-hundred and forty-three letters. He was also instrumental in defending against a heresy which denied that the Holy Spirit was equal with and to God.