St. Gregory of Nazianzus +390

St. Gregory of Nazianzus +390

November 24th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Gregory of Nazianzus +390 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church. Mor Gregorios was born in Arianzus near Cappadocia town. He is also referred to as "Gregory the Theologian" He was baptized by his own father in AD 360. He received Christian education & training from his mother from childhood. He was ordained a priest by his father in AD 362 & started rendering help to his father. In AD 372 Gregory was consecrated the Bishop of Sasima, a small town by Mor Baselios. He disliked the lack of independence imposed by administrative responsibilities. Moreover he preferred a solitary life which reduced his interest in being elevated to the rank of a bishop. He spent a few years combating Arianism. The five speeches delivered by him in the church of Anastasia countering the heresy & defending the doctrine of the Trinity are famous. “The Father is the begetter & emitter, the Son is the begotten & the Holy Spirit is the emission. The begetting of the Son & the Procession of the Spirit are beyond time, so all three are co-eternal. While the Father may be greater than the Son in the sense that he is the cause, he is not greater by nature, for the two are of the same nature. The names, Father & the Son make known to us an intimate relation within the Godhead” He spoke thus of the preparation of priests when he was a young priest: “We must begin by purifying ourselves before purifying others; we must be instructed to be able to instruct, become light to illuminate, draw close to God to bring Him close to others, be sanctified to sanctify, lead by the hand & counsel prudently. I know whose ministers we are, where we find ourselves and to where we strive. I know God’s greatness & man’s weakness, but also his potential. Who then is the priest? He is the defender of truth, who stands with angels, gives glory with archangels, causes sacrifices to rise to the altar on high, shares Christ’s priesthood, refashions creation, restores it in God’s image, recreates it for the world on high" Due to the strong protest of the Arian mob & to avoid dissidence he resigned his position in AD 381 & retired to his native place, Arianzus. He spent his time in prayer & fasting until he fell asleep in the Lord. Biography courtesy of, 'Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church' Oh Mor Gregorios! Plead for us before God's throne of grace. Amen. BL14504