Gregory the Theologian or Nazianzus (329-389), archbishop of Constantinople. Fellow-monk of St. Basil the Great: he ascetisized with him in the wilderness and subsequently asked for advice from him. Upon the demand of his father, bishop of Nazianzus Gregory the Senior he was ordained presbyter and took the cathedra of bishop of Nazianzos in Asia Minor. In 378, the Antioch council invited Gregory the Theologian to the Constantinople cathedra where he led struggle against the Arians and the Apollinarians. An excellent preacher, poet and writer, Gregory the Theologian is the author of numerous writings: discourses, epistles, hymns, poems that referred to the nature of the Holy Trinity. There survived 45 homilies of Gregory the Theologian, autobiographical poems “About My Life”, “About My Fate” and “About the Sufferings of My Soul”. Feast day: 25 January (7 February).
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