The Right Faith in the Lives of the Saints: 6. St. Gregory the Theologian

A group of monks had spread the rumor that the elder Gregory was no longer Orthodox.

As if so many sorrows were not enough, this too came upon him. It was true that the elder Gregory (the father of St. Gregory the Theologian, ed. note) and the elder Dianios of Caesarea, toward the end of 361 or the beginning of 362, had signed a document—a confession—which was not entirely Orthodox. That is, it did not clearly state that the Son is of one essence (homoousios) with the Father according to nature. This formulation was interpreted in a heretical manner. It is one thing for the Son to have a similar nature, and another to have exactly the same nature. The elder Gregory signed without understanding this subtle distinction, believing, no doubt, that he was thus helping to reconcile the Church.

It turned out the other way. A disturbance arose in Nazianzus—a small schism. Demonstrations, protests, threats of forming a new Church. Fortunately, when matters reached a critical point, Gregory (the Theologian) took action. He ran everywhere, spoke and explained in all places, insisting that the elder bishop had been and remained fully Orthodox, but had simply been deceived due to his simplicity and had signed. He clearly showed, everywhere, what the true faith is.

Moreover, for the people of Nazianzus, Gregory had already explained what the Orthodox faith is in the Second Oration (On the Priesthood). He had not only spoken to them about the same essence of the Son and the Father, but had also described why the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are three distinct Hypostases, Who nonetheless constitute the Godhead.

This point of theology is of great significance. For the first time in the life of the Church, there is such a clear expression about three Hypostases sharing one single divinity. It is the first of Gregory’s great theological illuminations, in which he spoke about the Holy Trinity, being enlightened by the Holy Spirit. Shortly afterward, Basil would further develop this holy truth, which would become the foundation of all our theology.

The schism had been removed. The faithful were at peace. Before all, Gregory had delivered a wonderful oration (On Peace 3, ed. note), and they celebrated the Resurrection with joy and reconciliation.

 

(From the book The Wounded Eagle: The Life of Saint Gregory the Theologian, written by Stylianos Papadopoulos.)

Romanian source: https://theodosie.ro/2019/10/28/dreapta-credinta-in-vietile-sfintilor-6-sf-grigorie-teologul/