[[Image:Gregory the Theologian.jpg|right|thumb|St. Gregory the Theologian a great Father and Teacher of ]]Our father among the Church was born in 329 in Arianzus, a village of [[saint]]s '''Gregory the second district of CappadociaTheologian''', not far from Nazianzus. His father, who later became Bishop also known as '''Gregory of Nazianzus, was named Gregory ''' (commemorated Jan. 1though that name more appropriately refers to his father), and his mother was named Norma (Aug. 5); both are among '''Gregory the SaintsYounger''', was a great father and so are his brother Caesarius (Marteacher of the Church. 9) His [[feast day]] is celebrated on [[January 25]] and his sister Gorgona that of the [[Translation (Feb. 23relics). At first he studied in Caesarea |translation]] of Palestine, then in Alexandria, and finally in Athens. As he was sailing from Alexandria to Athens, a violent sea storm put in peril not only his life but also his salvation, since he had not yet been baptized[[relics]] on [[January 19]]. With tears and fervour he besought God to spare him, vowing to dedicate his whole self to Him, and the tempest gave way to calmSts. At Athens Saint Gregory was later joined by Saint [[Basil the Great]] and [[John Chrysostom]], whom he already knew; but now their acquaintanceship grew into a lifelong brotherly love. Another fellow student of theirs in Athens was is numbered among the young Prince Julian[[Three Holy Hierarchs]], who later whose feast day is celebrated on [[January 30]]. St. Gregory is also known as Emperor was called the Apostate because he denied Christ and did all in his power to restore paganism. Even in Athens, before Julian had thrown off the mask one of piety; Saint Gregory saw what an onsettled mind he had, and said, "What an evil the Roman State is nourishing" (Orat. V, 24, PG 35:693)[[Cappadocian Fathers]].
After their studies at Athens, Gregory became Basil's fellow ascetic==Life==He was born in 329 in Arianzus, living the monastic life together with him for a time in village of the hermitages second district of PontusCappadocia, not far from Nazianzus. His father ordained him presbyter of the Church , who later became [[Bishop]] of Nazianzus, and Saint Basil consecrated him Bishop of Sasima was named [[Gregory Nazianzen the Elder|Gregory]] (or Zansimacommemorated [[January 1|Jan. 1]]), which and his mother was in named [[Nonna]] ([[August 5|Aug. 5]]); both are among the archdiocese of Caesarea. This consecration was a source of great sorrow to Gregorysaints, and a cause of misunderstanding between him so are his brother Caesarius ([[March 9|Mar. 9]]) and Basil; but his love for Basil remained unchanged, as can be plainly seen from his Funeral Oration on Saint Basil sister [[Gorgonia]] (Orat[[February 23|Feb. XLIII23]]).
About the Year 379At first he studied in [[Caesarea]] of Palestine, Saint Gregory came to the assistance of the Church of Constantinoplethen in Alexandria, which had already been troubled for forty years by the Arians; by his supremely wise words and many labours finally in Athens. As he freed it was sailing from the corruption of heresyAlexandria to Athens, and was elected Archbishop of that city by the Second Ecumenical Council, which assembled there a violent sea storm put in 381peril not only his life but also his salvation, since he had not yet been [[baptism|baptized]]. With tears and condemned Macedoniusfervor he besought God to spare him, Archbishop of Constantinoplevowing to dedicate his whole self to Him, and the enemy of the Holy Spirittempest gave way to calm. At Athens St. When Saint Gregory came to Constantinoplewas later joined by St. [[Basil the Great]], the Arians had taken all the churches and whom he was forced to serve in already knew, but now their acquaintanceship grew into a house chapel dedicated to Saint Anastasia the Martyrlifelong brotherly love. From there he began to preach his famous five sermons on Another fellow student of theirs in Athens was the Trinityyoung Prince Julian, who later as emperor was called the Triadica. When [[Apostate]] because he left Constantinople two years later, the Arians denied Christ and did not have one church left all in his power to them restore paganism. Even in Athens, before Julian had thrown off the city. Saint Meletius mask of Antioch (see Febpiety, St. 12)Gregory saw what an unsettled mind he had, and said, who was presiding over "What an evil the Second Ecumenical CouncilRoman State is nourishing" (Orat. V, died in the course of it24, and Saint Gregory was chosen in his stead; there he distinguished himself in his expositions of dogmatic theologyPG 35:693).
Having governed the Church until 382After their studies at Athens, Gregory became Basil's fellow [[ascetic]], he delivered his farewell speech - living the Syntacterion, monastic life together with him for a time in which he demonstrated the Divinity [[hermit]]ages of Pontus. His father [[ordination|ordained]] him [[presbyter]] of the Son - before 150 bishops and the Emperor Theodosius the Great; in this speech he requestedChurch of Nazianzus, and received from allSt. Basil consecrated him Bishop of Sasima (or Zansima), permission to retire from which was in the see [[archdiocese]] of ConstantinopleCaesarea. He returned This consecration was a source of great sorrow to NazianzusGregory and a cause of misunderstanding between him and Basil, where he lived to the end of but his lifelove for Basil remained unchanged, and reposed in the Lord in 391, having lived some sixty-two yearsas can be plainly seen from his ''Funeral Oration on Saint Basil'' (Orat. XLIII).
His extant writingsAbout the year 379, both prose and poems in every type St. Gregory came to the assistance of the [[Church of metreConstantinople]], demonstrate which had already been troubled for forty years by the [[Arianism|Arians]]; by his lofty eloquence supremely wise words and his wondrous breadth many labors he freed it from the corruption of learning[[heresy]]. In He was elected archbishop of that city by the beauty [[Second Ecumenical Council]], which assembled there in 381, and condemned [[Macedonius I of his writingsConstantinople|Macedonius]], he is considered to have surpassed the Greek writers Archbishop of antiquityConstantinople, and because as an enemy of his God-inspired theological thought, he received the surname "Theologian[[Holy Spirit]]. When St." Although he is sometimes called Gregory of Nazianzuscame to Constantinople, this title belongs properly to his father; he himself is known by the Church only as Gregory Arians had taken all the Theologian. He is especially called "Trinitarian Theologianchurches," since and he was forced to serve in virtually every homily a house chapel dedicated to St. Anastasia the [[Martyr]]. From there he refers began to preach his famous five [[sermon]]s on the [[Trinity and ]], called the ''Triadica''. When he left Constantinople two years later, the Arians did not have one essence and nature church left to them in the city. St. Meletius of Antioch (see [[February 12|Feb. 12]]), who was presiding over the Godhead. HenceSecond Ecumenical Council, Alexius Anthorus dedicated died in the following verses to him:course of it, and St. Gregory was chosen in his stead; there he distinguished himself in his expositions of dogmatic theology.
Like an unwandering star beaming with splendourHaving governed the Church until 382,he delivered his farewell speech-the ''Syntacterion'', in which he demonstrated the Divinity of the Son—before 150 bishops and the Emperor [[Theodosius the Great (emperor)|Theodosius the Great]]. Also in this speech he requested, and received from all, permission to retire from the See of Constantinople. He returned to Nazianzus, where he lived to the end of his life. He reposed in the Lord in 391, having lived some sixty-two years.
Thou bringest us His extant writings, both prose and poems in every type of meter, demonstrate his lofty eloquence and his wondrous breadth of learning. In the beauty of his writings, he is considered to have surpassed the Greek writers of antiquity, and because of his God-inspired theological thought, he received the surname "Theologian." Although he is sometimes called Gregory of Nazianzus, this title belongs properly to his father; he himself is known by mystic teachingsthe Church only as Gregory the Theologian. He is especially called "Trinitarian [[Theologian]], O Father" since in virtually every homily he refers to the Trinity and the one [[Homoousios|essence]] and nature of the [[Godhead]]. Hence,Alexius Anthorus dedicated the following verses to him:
:Like an unwandering star beaming with splendour,:Thou bringest us by mystic teachings, O Father,:To the Trinity's sunlike illumination,:O mouth breathing with fire, Gregory most mighty.
== Hymns ==[[Apolytikion]]: (First Tone):The pastoral flute of your theology conquered the trumpets of orators. :For it called upon the depths of the Spirit :and you were enriched with the beauty of words. :[[intercession|Intercede]] to Christ our God, :O Father Gregory, that our souls may be saved. [[Kontakion]]: (Third Tone):O mouth breathing Glorious One, you dispelled the complexities of orators with the words of your theology. :You have adorned the Church with the vesture of Orthodoxy woven from on high. :Clothed in this, the Church now cries out to your children, with fireus, :"Hail Father, the consummate theological mind." {{start box}}{{succession | before=[[Maximus the Cynic|Maximus]]?| title=[[List of Patriarchs of Constantinople|Archbishop of Constantinople]]| years=379–381| after=[[Nectarius of Constantinople|Nectarius]]}}{{end box}} == Source ==*[http://www.goarch.org/en/Chapel/saints.asp?contentid=403 Gregory most mightythe Theologian, Archbishop of Constantinople] ([[GOARCH]]) ==Modern Bibliography==* Holy Apostles Convent, ''The Lives of the Three Great Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom'' (Holy Apostles Convent Pubns, 2001) (ISBN 0944359116) ==External links==http://orthodoxchurchquotes.com/category/sayings-from-saints-elders-and-fathers/st-gregory-the-theologian/*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=100298 St Gregory the Theologian the Archbishop of Constantinople] ([[OCA]])*[http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html?month=January&day=25 St Gregory the Theologian, Archbishop of Constantinople] (''[[Prologue of Ohrid]]'')*[http://www.comeandseeicons.com/g/pdl02.htm Icon and Troparion of St. Gregory the Theologian]*[http://www.comeandseeicons.com/g/pds15.htm Icon and Troparion of St. Gregory of Nazianzos]*[http://www.ec-patr.org/list/index.php?lang=en&id=34 Gregory I of Nazianzen] - [[Church of Constantinople]] website *[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf207.toc.html Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II, Vol. VII] Select orations (including the ''Funeral Oration on St. Basil the Great'') and letters written by Gregory
== Hymns ==
Apolytikion:
First Tone
The pastoral flute of your theology conquered the trumpets of orators. For it called upon the depths of the Spirit and you were enriched with the beauty of words. Intercede to Christ our God, O Father Gregory, that our souls may be saved.
Kontakion:
Third Tone[[Category:Bishops]][[Category:4th-century bishops]][[Category:Church Fathers]][[Category:Patriarchs of Constantinople]][[Category:Saints]][[Category:Byzantine Saints]][[Category:4th-century saints]]
O Glorious One, you dispelled the complexities of orators with the words of your theology. You have adorned the Church with the vesture of Orthodoxy woven from on high. Clothed in this, the Church now cries out to your children, with us, "Hail Father, the consummate theological mind."[[fr:Grégoire le Théologien]][[mk:Свети Григориј Богослов]]Reading[[ro:Grigorie Teologul]]
