Biography and works of Gregory the Theologian, iconography and texts of prayers

Gregory the Theologian
(329 - 389), Archbishop of Constantinople, Ecumenical Father and Teacher of the Church, Saint Commemorated January 19, January 25, at the Councils of the Ecumenical Teachers and Hierarchs and the Holy Hierarchs of Constantinople (Greek)

Born into a Christian family of a noble family in 329 in Arianza (near the city of Nazianza in Cappadocia). His father, also Saint Gregory, was the bishop of Nazianium. The mother, Saint Nonna, prayed to God for her son, vowing to dedicate him to the Lord.

He was taught piety by his mother Nonna. He studied secular sciences first in his homeland, with his uncle, the teacher of eloquence Amphilochius, and then in Caesarea Cappadocia, Caesarea Palestine, Alexandria and Athens, where he lived with his famous friend, Basil the Great. The friendship forged in the school of Caesarea grew into deep spiritual bonds. Julian, the future apostate emperor from the Christian faith, also studied with them.

In 358, Saint Gregory left Athens and returned to his parents in Nazianzus. Here, at almost 30 years of age, he received holy baptism from his father. Soon, at the invitation of Saint Basil, he retired into the desert to asceticize next to him.

At the request of his father, Saint Gregory returned to Nazianza in 361 and, against his will, accepted the rank of presbyter. Feeling that solitude and silent prayer were immeasurably closer to him than pastoral activity, Saint Gregory again hurried into the desert to visit Saint Basil. There, in solitude, he strengthened his spirit, found the strength to return to his flock and fulfill his duty with honor.

When his father, out of simplicity, signed the semi-Arian symbol and thereby aroused the Orthodox flock against himself, Gregory appeared as a reconciliator between them and the bishop.

Saint Basil the Great appointed Saint Gregory bishop of the city of Sasima, but in order to support his elderly father, Saint Gregory remained in Nazianza and, after the death of his father, ruled the flock of this city for some time, giving power in Sasima to another bishop.

He then left Nazianzus and retired to Seleucia.

After the death of Emperor Valens II (+ 378), a group of Constantinople Orthodox, who did not want to accept Bishop Demophilus, invited St. Gregory to lead them. Having received the consent of Saint Basil the Great, Saint Gregory arrived in Constantinople to take the primate throne. Heretics dominated everywhere - Arians and Apollinarians. And the louder his preaching sounded, the more the congregation of the temple increased and the stronger the resistance of the heretics grew.

During his illness, the saint was struck. The one he considered his friend, the philosopher Maximus, was secretly consecrated to the place of Saint Gregory in Constantinople itself. Struck by Maxim's ingratitude, the saint decided to leave the see, but his faithful flock held him back. The people expelled the impostor from the city. On November 24, 380, the holy king Theodosius I the Great arrived in the capital and, confirming his decree against heretics, returned the main temple to the Orthodox, where he solemnly introduced Saint Gregory. Soon an attempt was made on the life of the saint, but the one who was supposed to become the murderer himself came to the saint with tears of repentance.

In 381, at the Second Ecumenical Council, Saint Gregory was confirmed in the rank of Archbishop of Constantinople. After the death of Saint Meletius of Antioch, he presided over the Council. But when those who had previously acted against Saint Gregory in favor of Maximus arrived, many, especially the Egyptian and Macedonian episcopate, refused to recognize Gregory’s accession to the See of Constantinople. The saint decided to sacrifice himself for the peace of the Church. Having announced to the emperor his desire to leave the capital, Saint Gregory once again appeared at the Council, asking in his farewell speech to be released in peace. Upon returning to his homeland, he retired to the solitude dear to his heart in Arians.

He died on January 25, 389 and was buried in Nazianza.

For his wonderful theological works, St. Gregory received from the Church the honorary title of Theologian [1] and universal teacher, and for his ability to penetrate with thought to the deepest secrets of faith and express its incomprehensible truths with transparent clarity and strict accuracy, the Church in one of its prayers calls him the highest mind. His sermons are filled with such poetry that many phrases from them were used (by St. John of Damascus and others) for holiday chants.

Poet

In addition to a clear and sublime mind, Saint Gregory the Theologian possessed an equally clear and sublime soul. The saint was a poet, and left an impressive poetic legacy - 507 poems.

Saint Gregory the Theologian

Every Christian is a little familiar with the work of Gregory the Theologian - he owns the wonderful words of greeting pronounced on the day of the Nativity of Christ - “Christ is born! Go meet him!” The inhabitants of Constantinople, to whom this joyful greeting was addressed, loved these words so much that they repeated them tirelessly, and even composed a festive chant - “Christ is born! Praise! Christ from heaven, hide” - the irmos of the first song of the Christmas canon.

Prayers

Troparion, tone 1

The pastoral flute of your theology / conquer the trumpets of rhetoricians / as if I had sought the depth of the spirit / and the kindness of the broadcast was added to you. / But pray to Christ God, Father Gregory, / to save our souls.

Kontakion, tone 3

With the theological language of your rhetorical plexus, destroying, more gloriously, / the Orthodox garment, from above, you adorned the Church, / even those who wear it, call with us, your children: / Rejoice, father, // the greatest mind of theology.

Son of vow

Gregory the Theologian was born into a wealthy and religious family around 325. The saint's father, Gregory, came from an aristocratic family and was a bishop in the city of Nazianza in Cappodocia. Her mother, Nonna, was born into a Christian family, and, as the saint wrote, all her aspirations were for the Heavenly Fatherland, and her concerns were only so concerned with the worldly as to transfer her earthly life to the heavenly one. Mom was the good root from which not only the children, but also the husband were nourished.

The saint's parents did not have children for a long time, and they constantly begged the Lord to give them a child. The saint promised to dedicate the boy to God if her request was heard. In a dream, she saw that she would give birth to a son, and even his name was indicated - Gregory. The Lord heard Nonna’s prayer, and the vow was fulfilled. The mother instructed her son in the Orthodox faith, and largely influenced his desire to live godly and not get married.

The saint had a brother Caesarius and a sister Gorgonia. The whole family was glorified as saints, as was the Divinely inspired Saint Gregory the Theologian.

Proceedings

The theologian is known for the fact that after his death he left many works that are still relevant today. The most significant works of the saint include the following:

• For rich people. Here the saint wrote about people who think only about material wealth and have completely forgotten about spiritual wealth.
• On hypocritical monks. The problem raised here is that some monarchs turned away from the faith and began to think only about themselves and their well-being.
• Parables of Christ. Here the saint wrote about the most famous parables of Jesus.
• Definitions. In this work, the Theologian decided to share the definitions of words that every believer should know.

Studies

The saint received his general education at home, then studied in Caesarea Cappadocia and Caesarea Palestine, in Alexandria and Athens. These were the best schools of that time, and despite the fact that education in them was expensive, the parents encouraged their son’s desire for knowledge.

In Caesarea in Cappadocia, Gregory became close to Basil the Great; later they studied together in Athens, their acquaintance grew into a strong friendship.

The young man studied a variety of sciences, his interest extended to rhetoric, as one of the most important sciences of that time, and poetry, studied geometry and astronomy, the works of Plato and Aristotle.

Julian the Apostate

At the same time, Julian the Apostate, later emperor and persecutor of the Church of Christ, also studied in Athens. Later, on his orders, troops were sent to capture the temples of the city of Nazians.

Deification

This path lies through the Church and the Sacraments. Deification occurs due to man's love for God. According to the saint, “love is the path to deification.” The pinnacle of this path is unity with God, which is deification. An ascetic lifestyle also contributes to the deification of man. The path to deification lies through active doing of good. Charity is likeness to God. Every Christian must be an ascetic in order to achieve deification. However, asceticism without trying to love and serve another is very dangerous.

The path to deification, finally, lies through prayer.

Deification is the pinnacle of knowledge of God. It is the completion of the moral and ascetic feat of a Christian, the pinnacle of prayerful feat and mystical life.

Deification begins in earthly life.

Saint Nicodemus the Holy Mountain: “Salvation and deification are one and the same, according to the teaching of the wise fathers.”

Friend and like-minded person

Gregory was baptized at the age of 30 by his father. Striving for a contemplative life, Gregory went to Pontus, where his friend, Basil the Great, founded a monastery. He led an ascetic life, fasting, praying and reflecting on God, often together with Basil the Great. The friends were compiling the work “Philocalia,” which contained extracts from the works of the Greek Christian theologian and philosopher Origen.

In 361, Gregory returned home, fulfilling his father’s urgent request, and was ordained a priest by him on the feast of the Nativity of Christ. However, the ascetic strived for contemplation, and saw the priesthood as an obstacle to an ascetic life, so he departed back to Pontus. A year later, Gregory returned to Nazians and helped his father in managing the diocese. On the first Easter, upon arriving home, Gregory pronounced the first Word, in which he explained the reasons for his delay and congratulated the inhabitants of Nazianz on the Holy Day, teaching them to be a good flock, listen to the voice of the Shepherd and strive to be like Christ in everything.

Saint Basil the Great

The beginning of Gregory's priestly service coincided with the reign of Emperor Julian the Apostate. Persecution also affected the Christians of the city of Nazians; at the command of the emperor, troops were brought into the city with the aim of occupying Christian churches. Father Gregory organized Christians to resist government troops, and by this he was able to prevent the seizure of churches.

At the same time, the Aryan heresy spread, and Gregory the Elder, without delving into the theological essence of the document, signed the heretical Creed, which confused his flock and caused a split among his flock. Gregory the son spoke out in defense of his father, who publicly repented of his error.

Repose of Archbishop Gregory the Theologian

At the end of 383, Gregory's health deteriorated, and then Bishop Theodore of Tirana appointed Euladius to the See of Nazianza, and Gregory retired and devoted himself to writing theological works. During this period, Gregory, in addition to theological works, wrote his detailed autobiography.

Gregory died on January 25, 389 in Nazianza, where he was buried. In his will, Gregory, fulfilling the will of his father, gave his family estate to the diocese, bequeathed sums of money and items of clothing to his closest friends, and also ordered the freedom of his slaves. In 950, under Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus (905-959), the relics of Gregory were transferred to Constantinople and placed in the Church of the Holy Apostles. During the sack of Constantinople by the crusaders in 1204, the relics of St. Gregory were taken to Rome. After the construction of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome, a tomb was built there for the relics of the saint. On November 26, 2004, part of the relics was returned to the Church of Constantinople, along with part of the relics of John Chrysostom. Gregory's literary and theological heritage consists of 245 epistles (letters), 507 poems and 45 “Words”. Biographers note that Gregory was primarily an orator, not a writer; the style of his writings is characterized by increased emotionality.

Saint involuntarily

In 365, Saint Basil the Great took the episcopal see in Caesarea in Cappadocia. He fought against Arianism, which displeased Emperor Valens. The emperor, in retaliation for St. Basil's refusal to recognize the Arian heresy as truth, divided Cappadocia into 2 parts. This reduced Basil's canonical lands and negatively affected his authority in the Church. In order to defend the truth of Orthodoxy and maintain his position in the church community, Saint Basil was able to promote his friends, Gregory of Nyssa and Gregory the Theologian, to episcopal sees in the key cities of the diocese.

Thus, in 371, Gregory the Theologian was consecrated bishop and placed in the See of Sassim. Gregory, as best he could, tried to avoid the episcopacy as a vain position that did not correspond to his spiritual disposition and desire for asceticism. He hesitated for a long time, however, convinced by his father, he nevertheless accepted the rank of bishop and the department.

Saint Gregory spent very little time at the see in Sasima, and without serving a single liturgy in the city, he left it. He described Sashima as a barren and wild place, filled with vagabonds and strangers, as a city of suffering and torment.

Saint Gregory spent three years in the desert. He corresponded with Saint Basil, and in his letters he expressed his dissatisfaction with the role imposed on him by Saint Basil. He reproached his friend for taking overly active measures and recognized the fight for the spread of Christianity as unnecessary. According to Gregory the Theologian, the best action is inaction. (letter 32 to Basil the Great).

Holy Righteous Nonna

At the request of his father, Gregory the Theologian returned to his hometown and helped manage the affairs of the diocese until the death of Gregory the Elder. Saint Basil the Great came to the funeral and delivered a funeral sermon, praising the merits of the deceased.

The grief of Gregory the Theologian again brought the companions together, and glorious friendship was restored.

Soon after the death of the father, the mother also died, and quite suddenly, without being ill for a single day. She visited the church where her husband had previously served, and now her son, to pray, she suddenly felt the breath of death and, having prayed, surrendered her soul to God.

The mother of Gregory the Theologian is glorified among the saints, the memory of the holy righteous Nonna of Naziasin is celebrated on August 5.

The death of his parents caused Saint Gregory’s illness to be so severe that some did not expect his recovery. He left his hometown, partly due to illness, and partly out of humility, since he considered himself unworthy to take his father’s chair. The saint expected that in his absence another bishop would be elected. The inhabitants of Nazianz judged in their own way, and asked Gregory the Theologian to take up the episcopal see.

In 379 Basil the Great died. This event struck St. Gregory the Theologian. Later, having already retired, he wrote “Funeral Word”, dedicated to a friend.

Iconography

Every church has an icon depicting Gregory the Theologian. On most icons the saint is depicted as a gray-haired old man with considerable bald patches on the front of his forehead. He has a wide and long beard and mustache. He is dressed in a baptized phelonion and holds a scroll with prayer texts and the Gospel in his hands. Some icons dating from the 17th century show him wearing a miter and sakkos.

Sometimes the Theologian is portrayed as the father of the Church and the greatest author of homilies. The first such icons appeared in the 7th century. He is depicted frontally in full height, dressed in felonies. Sometimes the image of St. Basil the Great, who during his lifetime was a close friend of the clergyman, is depicted with him. Most often, such images were used to be placed in the central part of temples. However, sometimes they were placed in other parts of the temple.

Constantinople

In the same year and month that Basil the Great died, Theodosius the Great, a supporter of the Nicene people, became emperor. To fight heresy, a good preacher and a convinced opponent of heresies was needed. The fame of Saint Gregory the Theologian as an eloquent and convincing preacher and adherent of the orthodox branch of Christianity reached Constantinople. Several Nicene Christians came to him and asked him to come to the capital to help in the fight against the heretics. Gregory the Theologian agreed and moved to Constantinople.

Unholy Aryan

The saint was depressed by the sight that opened before him. The Arians stayed in the city for about 40 years, all the temples belonged to them. St. Gregory wrote with bitterness that theology is now being practiced by ignorant, uneducated people, who yesterday were engaged in menial labor, but today they are talking with importance about the Incomprehensible. There was no unity among Christians; the behavior of the townspeople was characterized by licentiousness and unbridledness.

Saint Gregory stayed with his relatives and began to serve in the house church, which he called “Resurrection.” Here he wrote 5 essays on theology, for which he received his outstanding nickname.

In “Words on Theology” the saint gave a precise definition of who can do theology with whom and when. According to Gregory the Theologian, experienced ascetics who are enlightened by the Jesus Prayer, who indulge in contemplation, who strive for purification of the soul, and who are pure in body, have the right to reason about God. Saint Gregory points out that God cannot be known by logical conclusions, and knowledge comes when the divine principle (mind) is united with a related Essence - God. As an example of the incomprehensibility of the Lord for the human mind, Saint Gregory the Theologian cites the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles.

From the very beginning of his ministry in Constantinople, the Arians persecuted him, accusing him of polytheism, and more than once trying to deal with him by force. By the grace of God, the saint was not physically harmed and escaped persecution by the city authorities.

In the fall of 380, Emperor Theodosius visited Constantinople and issued a decree transferring the Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles and Hagia Sophia to the Niceans. However, after talking with Saint Gregory, the emperor decided to personally introduce the bishop to the Church of Hagia Sophia.

Emperor Theodosius the Great

The saint described the day of the transfer of Hagia Sophia in an autobiographical poem. Gregory the Theologian recalled that on that day the city was excited, people constantly approached the square near the temple, all the houses were filled with curious people. Screams, sobs and screams were heard everywhere. All this looked like taking the city by storm. The impression was intensified by the many armed soldiers who surrounded the church in a circle.

As soon as Saint Gregory entered the altar, the November sky cleared and the sun came out. The residents of Constantinople took this as a sign from above, and began to demand from Emperor Theodosius that Gregory the Theologian be placed on the patriarchal throne of the city. Such a desire fully corresponded to the plans of the emperor; Saint Gregory also gave his consent. To confirm the saint as patriarch and resolve disagreements caused by heresies, the Second Ecumenical Council, also known as the First of Constantinople, was convened.

Lyrics

Before turning to Gregory the Theologian in prayer, you need to familiarize yourself with the following prayer texts.

Prayer

Prayer 1

“Oh, most honorable and sacred head and filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, the abode of the Savior with the Father, great bishop, our warm intercessor, Saint Gregory! Standing at the Throne of all the King and enjoying the light of the Consubstantial Trinity and cherubically with the angels proclaiming the trisagion hymn, having great and unexplored boldness towards the All-Merciful Master, praying for the flock of Christ to save people, establish the well-being of the holy churches, adorn the bishops with the splendor of holiness, strengthen the monastics to the exploits of the good stream, king current keep the city and all cities and countries well, and keep the holy immaculate faith, pacify the whole world, deliver us from famine and destruction, and save us from the attacks of foreigners, comfort the old, instruct the young, make the fools wise, have mercy on widows, protect the orphans, grow up the babies , return the captives, heal the infirm, and everywhere warmly calling you and flowing to you with faith and diligently falling down and praying from all misfortunes and troubles through your intercession, free. Pray for us to the All-Bountiful and Humane-loving Christ our God, so that on the day of the terrible coming of His Holy Standing He will deliver us, and He will create the joys of the saints as partakers with all the saints forever. Amen".

Prayer 2

“Oh, great and wise teacher in all the universe, blessed Father Gregory! Great are your deeds and labors, which you have accomplished for the glory of the Holy Church: you have been a steadfast confessor and a lamp of the faith of Christ on earth, illuminating the faithful with the light of the knowledge of God, scorching false teachings, and proclaiming the word of saving truth to the whole world. Now, having great boldness in heaven towards the Holy Trinity, guide us, who bow to you with humility, to firmly and invariably preserve the holy Orthodox faith until the end of our lives, and guard against lack of faith, doubt and hesitation in faith, so that we will not be seduced by those who oppose God and soul-destroying teachings in words.

The spirit of holy zeal, with which you blazed, O glorious shepherd of the Church of Christ, kindle with your intercession also in us, whom Christ has appointed to be shepherds, so that we may diligently enlighten and confirm in the right faith the verbal flock of Christ.

Ask, O merciful saint, from the Father of lights and everyone, every gift that is useful to everyone: growth for the infant in the Passion of God, chastity for the young, strengthening for the old and weak, consolation for the grieving, healing for the sick, understanding and correction for the erring, intercession for the offended, protection for orphans and widows. , to those who are tempted, grace-filled help, to those who have departed from this temporary life, to our fathers and brothers, blessed repose. To her, Holy One of God, mercifully look down from the Abodes of Heaven on us humble ones, overwhelmed by many temptations and misfortunes, and lead those who are devoted to the earth to the heights of heaven.

Grant us, most good Father, your archpastoral and holy blessing, so that in this new summer and at all other times of our lives we will live in peace, repentance and obedience to the Holy Orthodox Church, diligently doing the commandments of Christ, fighting the good fight of faith, and so We will reach the Kingdom of Heaven, where with you and all the saints we vouchsafe the Holy Trinity, Consubstantial and Indivisible, to sing and glorify forever and ever. Amen".

Prayer 3

“Oh, great saint, Father Gregory, glorious teacher of the Ecumenical Church, all-zealous champion of the glory of the Most Holy Trinity, chosen confessor of the Mother of God and Her Immaculate Virginity, most luminous image of purity, humility and patience. Since I am a great sinner and unworthy of looking up to the heights of heaven, I humbly pray to you, the wise teacher of the Church of Christ, teach me to lead my life in such a God-fearing way, so that I will never take the path that is contrary to God’s command, deviate or be seduced. Protect and deliver me through your powerful intercession from the temptations of the world and the snares of the devil, just as you delivered from them the young man who retreated from our Sweetest Savior and fell into the power of Satan. Grant me the strength of my soul to be a zealous imitator of your lofty virtues: make me more right in faith, firm and unshakable, strengthen the faint-hearted me in patience and trust in the Lord, kindle in my heart the true love of Christ, so that I desire heavenly blessings above all others and enjoy them. Ask me from the Lord for sincere contrition for my sins, so that I will spend the rest of my life in peace, repentance and fulfillment of the commandments of Christ. When the hour of my death draws near, you, O blessed Father, with the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, then hasten to help, protect me from the evil slander of the enemy, and make me worthy of being the heir to be the villages of paradise, so that together with you and with all the saints of God’s impregnable Majesty I will appear before the Throne and I glorify and sing the Life-Giving, Consubstantial and Indivisible Trinity, ever and ever and ever. Amen".

Cathedral

150 Orthodox bishops arrived at the Council, among them Gregory of Nyssa, Cyril of Jerusalem, Amphilochius of Iconium. Meletius of Antioch presided over the council, and after his death Gregory the Theologian became chairman.

The priority issue of the Council was the consideration of the case of the appointment of the Patriarch of Constantinople. Since the emperor, most of the clergy and the people supported Gregory the Theologian, he was elected patriarch.

After the death of Meletius, the Antiochian see required a new replacement. Saint Gregory supported one of the candidates, Pavlin. The offended opposing side began to seek a reason for the removal of Saint Gregory from the patriarchal see. The Egyptian bishops, who arrived late at the Council, also did not want to support the election of St. Gregory as patriarch. A dispute arose, and the saint's opponents found a formal reason for his removal: he was accused of unauthorized departure from the See of Sassim and illegal occupation of the See of Constantinople. Taking advantage of the moment, all those who were dissatisfied began to speak out against Saint Gregory - some accused him of being too soft towards heretics, others of taking too strict a position in the fight against the same heretics.

Second Ecumenical Council

Saint Gregory, tired of the struggle for power that was unnecessary to him, and desiring the peace of the Church, left Constantinople. At parting, he delivered a sermon in which he explained his position as a Christian and a shepherd, while proving its correctness.

Social topics

Where there is no peace, there is no God. This also applies to discussions on church issues. Unpeacefulness, enmity, anger are the enemy’s tools. In fact, everything is much better than it seems to many, from within the Church against it and other people at war. In grace, the world is seen not as the enemy’s, but as God’s. Moreover, the Church is seen as heavenly in grace, which does not want to see anyone as bad. But pride doesn’t understand this. Pride itself is an enemy's view of the world.

God acts through civil authority, even when the head of state is a pagan. God acts through every king and every leader, regardless of whether they sympathize with Christianity or not.

Christian teaching is addressed to the individual.

The division into nobles and plebeians is unnatural; the division into slaves and masters is artificial.

Saint Gregory protected women.

He viewed the life of a Christian in the Church and society as a path to purification and deification.