Gregory of Nazianzus, St

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Gregory of Nazianzus, St (329–89). One of the Cappadocian fathers, known in the Orthodox Church as ‘the Theologian’. He shrank from the active life of a bishop, but in 379 he was summoned to Constantinople, where his preaching helped to restore the Nicene faith at the council of 381. At this council he was recognized as bishop of Constantinople, but resigned the see almost at once. Gregory's writings include his forty-five Orations, of which nos. 27–31, the Theological Orations, are most important; the Philocalia of Origen; a collection of letters, some against Apollinarius; and a number of religious and secular poems.

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