St. Gregory Nazianzen

St. Gregory Nazianzen Feast Day: January 2

The story of St. Gregory of Nazianzen (325 – 390) is a great example of how ordinary people can do extraordinary things! Baptized at the age of 30, St. Gregory eagerly accepted his friend St. Basil the Great’s request to join him in a newly founded monastery. But soon after, St. Gregory’s father, a bishop at the time, needed help in his diocese. According to the story, St. Gregory was ordained a priest almost forcefully, and only reluctantly accepted the responsibility asked of him.

He managed to avoid a split that threatened when his father made compromises with believers of the Arian heresy. At 41, St. Gregory was chosen Suffragan Bishop of Caesarea, and soon after came into conflict with the Emperor Valens, who supported the Arians. In addition, his friendship with Basil, his archbishop, became strained.

After with the death of Valens, St. Gregory was called to rebuild the faith in Constantinople, which had been under Arian teachers for more than three decades. He dreaded being drawn into a vortex of corruption and brutality, but he managed to stay at a friend’s home, which soon became the only orthodox church in the city. In such surroundings, he began giving the great sermons on the Trinity for which he is famous today. In time, Gregory did rebuild the faith in the city, but at the cost of great suffering, slander, insults, and even personal violence.

St. Gregory Nazianzen shares his feast day with St. Basil the Great.