Gregory of Nazianzus

Who they were

Gregory was born in 329 at Arianzus near Nazianzus in Cappadocia, son of a priest; his sister Gorgonia and brother Caesarius are venerated too. At Athens he met Basil, his lifelong friend, and shared his monastic life in Pontus until he went home, much against his will, to help his aged father govern the Church of Nazianzus.

The emperor Theodosius sent him to Constantinople to fight Arianism. Greeted with stones, he began in a small chapel outside the walls that he dedicated to the Resurrection, and by his eloquence, his doctrine and above all his life he won the city back to the true faith. Opposed by a faction, he resigned as bishop of Constantinople in 381 after only a few months. He returned to Nazianzus, became its bishop in 382, wrote a great body of spiritual poetry, and died at Arianzus around 390.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: Gregory has been honoured as a saint since his death. He is a Doctor of the Church; he shares his feast with St Basil on 2 January.

Why that counted as sanctity

Gregory preferred prayer and friendship with God to any office, but went where he was sent, won Constantinople back to the faith of Nicaea by the holiness of his life, and then gave up his see rather than fight for it.

Connected on this site

• Amphilochius of Iconium Saint Teacher
  “Amphilochius, of a distinguished Cappadocian Christian family, was born about 339, probably a cousin of St Gregory of Nazianzus.” — this site's research
• Basil of Caesarea Saint Teacher, Pupil
  “Along with the brothers Basil of Caesarea and Gregory of Nyssa, he is known as one of the Cappadocian Fathers.” — Wikipedia
• Caesarius of Nazianzus Saint Brother or sister
  “He is best known as the younger brother of Gregory of Nazianzus.” — Wikipedia
• Gorgonia Saint Brother or sister
  “24 by her brother Saint Gregory of Nazianzus in Greek anthology.” — Wikipedia
• Gregory of Nazianzus the Elder Saint Father, Parent
• Nonna of Nazianzus Saint Mother, Parent
• Alexander of Constantinople Saint
  “At Constantinople, Saint Alexander, bishop, whose apostolic prayer, as Saint Gregory of Nazianzus writes, crushed the head of Arian impiety.” — this site's research
• Athanasius of Alexandria Saint
  “Along with them and Athanasius of Alexandria he is also regarded by the Catholic Church as one of the four Great Greek Church Fathers.” — Wikipedia
• Gregory of Nyssa Saint
  “Along with the brothers Basil of Caesarea and Gregory of Nyssa, he is known as one of the Cappadocian Fathers.” — Wikipedia
• Jerome Saint
  “Ordained priest in 379, he studied further at Constantinople under Gregory of Nazianzus.” — this site's research
• John Chrysostom Saint
  “In the Catholic Church he is numbered among the Doctors of the Church; in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches he is revered as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs, along with Basil of Caesarea and John Chrysostom.” — Wikipedia
• John the Apostle Saint
  “He is also one of only three men in the life of the Orthodox Church who have been officially designated "Theologian" by epithet, the other two being John the Apostle, and Symeon the New Theologian.” — Wikipedia