Gregory nazianzen, gregory has come to be regarded increasingly as the most. In the life of moses, one of the most important books in the study of christian mysticism, gregory retells the story of mosess life from the biblical account in exodus and numbers and then refers back to these stories as the basis for profound spiritual lessons. Gregory of nyssa stood on the shoulder of giants but was himself a big thinker in his own right. Open as pdf excerpts from devotional classics edited by richard foster and james bryan smith gregory of nyssa 3396 introduction to the author gregory of nyssa was one of the great father of the church. St gregory of nyssa paperback january 1, 1993 by of nyssa author, saint gregory author 4. Gregory of nyssa, a saint of big ideas and deep faith. The nicene and postnicene fathers are comprehensive in scope, and provide keen translations of instructive and illuminating texts from some of the great theologians of the. B y the grace of god, the columbus, ohio, orthodox christian community of st. The belief in god rests on the art and wisdom displayed in the order of the world.
Gregory wrote on theology, philosophy, ethics, oration, and asceticism. My apology must be that the subject on which you bade. Gregory of nyssa was a great thinker who drew inspiration the philosophical schools of the pagan greeks as well from the traditions of eastern christians and the jewish traditions. Thomas fitzgerald the orthodox church throughout the ages has maintained a continuity of faith and love with the apostolic community which was founded by christ and sustained by the holy spirit. Gregory of nyssa was born in caesarea, the capital of cappadocia central turkey in about 334, the younger brother of basil the great and of macrina 19 july, and of several other distinguished persons. Lecturer in biblical literature at the university of sheffield the tyndale lecture in historical theology, 1963. St gregory of nyssa orthodox church parish history. It is not the work of one who held a brief for monasticism. Christian universalism makes a lot of sense backed by the scriptures themselves. Gregorys the life of moses reflects his spiritual sense of the scriprtures. The son of two saints, basil and emmilia, young gregory was raised by his older brother, saint basil the great, and his sister, macrina, in modernday turkey. Gregory of nyssas most popular book is the life of moses. Wherein is a partial inquiry into the nature of the world, and a more minute exposition of the things which preceded the genesis of man.
Basil the great and his successor as champion of orthodoxy. Books by gregory of nyssa author of the life of moses. Gregory deals with the celibate life in a different way from other catholic writers upon this theme. Nyssa, the youngest of the socalled cappadocian fathers in the twentieth century, occasioned a rethinking of the saints vision of the mystical life, traditionally portrayed simply as an ascent from initial luminosity to increasing impenetrable darkness. A challenge for an integrated theology by adam bottiglia greek fathers chs 662jz. Praise be to lord our god whose mercies endure forever. His significance has long been recognized in the eastern orthodox, oriental orthodox, and roman catholic branches of christianity. See all 4 formats and editions hide other formats and editions.
Gregory of nyssa, one of the greek cappadocian fathers,was considered one of the great spiritual leaders of the 4th century. On the other hand, the theory itself posited by nyssa never did vanish. The thesis is that a full understanding of gregory of nyssas theological anthropology will include reference to both its vertical and horizontal axes. St gregory of nyssa, the great catechism full text, in. In addition to offering the original text and an english translation. An analysis of gregory of nyssa on speaking in tongues.
Gregory of nazianzus, gregory of nyssa spent some time, very probably in his early youth, for it is certain that while still a youth gregory exercised the ecclesiastical office of rector. He maintained that the ultimate purpose of the bible was not its historical teachings but it capacity for elevating the soul to god. The religious theorist formulated some the original philosophical synthesis that late made significant impact in byzantine and possibly in the modern european thought1. Gregory of nyssa tends to be overshadowed by the other two. This vertical axis is the theological axis of being. The vertical axis sheds appropriate light on how human nature relates to god and the rest of creation. James herbert, 1868publication date 1903 topics theology, doctrinal publisher. He was appointed bishop of nyssa by his brother and would later write a book, the hexaemeron, on the six days of creation, as an expansion upon his brothers work on genesis. English translation to the monk olympius 960a introduction. They are classic works on the nature of the spiritual life by one of the most important church fathers of the late 4th century and one whose popularity has.
Gregorys success in his studies suggested great things were ahead for him. The form of this volume, if one may judge from its heading, is apparently epistolary, but its bulk exceeds that of a letter, extending as it does to the length of a book. He is venerated as a saint in roman catholicism, eastern orthodoxy, oriental orthodoxy, anglicanism, and lutheranism. His fame rests on his theological works, most of which were. St gregory of nyssa, on virginity full text, in english 1. As part of the classics in spiritual formation, the sermons of gregory of nyssa offer a contemporary rendering of ancient spiritual wisdom for todays readers. A few words are necessary to explain the scope and aim of this remarkable treatise. A scholarly resource for the study of womens religious communities from 400 to 1600 ce. In the thought of origen and gregory of nyssa i can now truly rejoice in the lord my god who gave himself up for the sins of the world. One of the greatest challenges to a theologian is to take all of the education in philosophy and exegesis and the finer details of theology and. Nyssas contribution to the christian doctrine of tongues has long been forgotten in the annals of history, but nazianzus has survived. The ultimate goal of gregorys spirituality is to strive for infinite progress in. History of the text xliii the catechetical oration 1 indices i. English translation of st gregory of nyssa, the great catechism.
Gregory of nyssa has always known its special calling. Gregory of nyssa has 114 books on goodreads with 3942 ratings. After becoming a professor of rhetoric, he was persuaded to devote his. Includes an introduction, paraphrase by michael glerup of the text from the original languages, and helpful callouts that show how the work relates to your personal spiritual formation. 5, 8, what people normally experience when they look down from some lofty promontory upon some mighty sea.
Monastic matrix is an ongoing collaborative effort by an international group of scholars of medieval history, religion, history of art, archaeology, religion, and other disciplines, as well as librarians and experts in computer technology. One of the greek cappadocian fathers the other two were gregorys brother, st. He was a younger brother of basil the great and a good friend of gregory nazianzus. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see god. Ye that are strong with all might in the inner man ought by rights to carry on the struggle against the enemies of the truth, and not to shrink from the task, that we fathers may be gladdened by the noble toil of our sons. These two positions by nyssa and nazianzus set the stage for an ongoing debate for almost two millennia. One of the bestknown prayers of the orthodox church speaks of the spirit of god being present in all places and filling all things. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in jerusalem. The catechetical oration of gregory of nyssa by gregory, of nyssa, saint, ca. Gregory of nyssas collections of homilies, the first on the lords prayer and the second on the beatitudes. Gregory of nyssa, also known as gregory nyssen greek.
Apokatastasis in the thought of origen and gregory of nyssa. Gregory of nyssas fifteenhomilies on the song of songsoffer an important resource for the history of christian biblical exegesis, as well as for the history of christian ascetical and spiritual teaching, and stand alongside origens commentary on the song as a source for the later interpretative tradition. Gregory of nyssa, contra eunomium1 matthieu cassin between 379 and 383, gregory, bishop of nyssa in cappadocia, wrote three books aimed at answering the successive parts of the apologia apologiae published by eunomius of cyzicus. For something like this scripture darkly conveys by its arrangement, where it first says. He was prominent in the first council of constantinople see constantinople, first council of. A great deal of attention is paid to influences on gregory of nyssas writings. He became bishop of nyssa in cappadocia in 371, was removed in 376, and was restored in 378. Muni bus lines 10, 19, 22 and 55 stop within one block. Basils training was an antidote to the lessons of the pagan schools, wherein, as we know from a letter of st. The life of macrina, by gregory bishop of nyssa monastic.
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