Saints
G

Saint · Early Church

Gregory of Nazianzus

Bishop, preacher and poet; briefly bishop of Constantinople and president of the Council of 381

Period
c. 325/330 – 389/390
Feast days
2 January · 25 January · 30 January
Associated region
Nazianzus and Arianzus (Cappadocia, Turkey); Athens; Constantinople

Cappadocian bishop and poet whose five “Theological Orations”, preached in a small chapel in Constantinople in 380, earned him the title “the Theologian”. He presided for a time over the Council of Constantinople in 381 before resigning.

Key timeline

2 events
View full timeline (7)
  1. 380Approximate

    The Theological Orations

  2. 381

    Council of Constantinople; resignation

    Presides for a time, then resigns the see.

Gregory was born at Arianzus near Nazianzus in Cappadocia, where his father was bishop. He studied at Caesarea in Cappadocia, Caesarea in Palestine, Alexandria and Athens; at Athens he renewed his friendship with Basil.

His father, by then bishop, overcame Gregory’s reluctance and had him ordained priest. He was consecrated about 372 by Basil, much against his will, as bishop of Sasima, a see Basil had created; he never took possession of it, and the episode strained their friendship. He assisted his father at Nazianzus until his father’s death in 374.

In 379 he went to Constantinople to lead the small community there that held to the faith of Nicaea, preaching in a private house he called the Anastasia (“Resurrection”). There he delivered the five orations on the Trinity that gave him the name “the Theologian”.

At the Council of Constantinople in 381 he was recognised as bishop of the city and for a time presided over the council, but faced with opposition, and in poor health, he resigned after a few months. He returned to Cappadocia, wrote much of his poetry, including his verse autobiography, and died at Arianzus in 389 or 390.

Principal written sources

  • His 45 orations, including the five Theological Orations (27–31) and the funeral oration for Basil (43).
  • Letters, and poems including the autobiographical On His Own Life (De vita sua).

Full timeline

  1. c. 325–330Approximate

    Birth at Arianzus

    Sources differ: c. 325 (Catholic Encyclopedia), about 330 (Benedict XVI).

  2. 350s

    Studies at Athens with Basil

  3. c. 371–372

    Consecrated bishop of Sasima

    Against his will; he never took possession.

  4. 379

    Called to Constantinople

    Preaches at the Anastasia chapel.

  5. 380Approximate

    The Theological Orations

  6. 381

    Council of Constantinople; resignation

    Presides for a time, then resigns the see.

  7. 389 or 390Approximate

    Death at Arianzus

With Basil and Gregory of Nyssa he is one of the Cappadocian Fathers. The Orthodox Church honours him with Basil and John Chrysostom as one of the Three Hierarchs.

Recognition

  • Catholic Church. Commemorated with Basil as bishops and Doctors of the Church. Feast: 2 January.
  • Orthodox Church in America. Commemorated as Gregory the Theologian, Archbishop of Constantinople; also among the Three Hierarchs. Feast: 25 January; 30 January.
  • Church of England. In the Common Worship calendar with Basil as “Bishops, Teachers of the Faith”. Feast: 2 January.
Feast days
  • 2 January — With Basil: Catholic Church and Church of England
  • 25 January — Orthodox Church in America
  • 30 January — Orthodox Church in America: the Three Hierarchs
Venerated in (starting dataset)
Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican. Recognised by veneration from the early Church. A Doctor of the Church in Catholic usage; in Orthodox churches one of the Three Hierarchs and called “the Theologian”.
Patronage and roles (starting dataset)
Theologians, Poets
Places
Nazianzus · Arianzus · Athens · Sasima · Constantinople

Accounts in the starting dataset

The source workbook lists these under “Confirmed Miracle / Key Event”. The Atlas does not treat them as confirmed: each is labelled by the kind of evidence behind it.

  • Unverified“Miraculous defence” of Trinitarian teaching at the Council of Constantinople

    “Miraculous defense of Trinitarian orthodoxy at Council of Constantinople”

    His role at the council is documented (he presided for a time, then resigned). The sources read give no miracle; the Atlas does not treat a theological argument as miraculous.

  • UnverifiedHealings reported at his shrine

    “Intercessory healings reported at his shrine”

    Not found in the sources read.

About the image · Editorial design

Decorative initial G, drawn for the Atlas. It is not a likeness of Gregory of Nazianzus.

Editorial status

Reference entry, drafted with particular care. Key dates and facts were spot-checked during a build session against the sources marked “consulted” below. Only the points named in that note were checked; the rest of the entry has not been.

References

Original workbook record

Imported unchanged from “Top 100 Saints”, row 25. Values here are the starting dataset, not verified facts; where the Atlas differs, the reason is noted below.

#
17
Saint / Title
Saint Gregory of Nazianzus
Primary Traditions Veneration
Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican
Feast Day(s)
Jan 25 / Jan 2
Era / Lived
329 – 390 AD
Origin / Region
Cappadocia
Patronage & Major Roles
Theologians, Poets
Confirmed Miracle / Key Event 1
Miraculous defense of Trinitarian orthodoxy at Council of Constantinople
Confirmed Miracle / Key Event 2
Intercessory healings reported at his shrine
Key Contribution / Historical Significance
'The Theologian'; key Cappadocian Father shaping doctrine of the Holy Spirit at Constantinople (381).
Reference Link
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Gregory-of-Nazianzus

Editorial notes on this record

  • Confirmed Miracle / Key Event 1: A theological role at the council is not a miracle; the council role is kept, the word “miraculous” is not.
  • Confirmed Miracle / Key Event 2: Shrine healings are not in the sources read.
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