Gregory Nazianzen, Saint

Gregory Nazianzen, Saint (nāzēăn`zĭn), c.330–390, Cappadocian theologian, Doctor of the Church, one of the Four Fathers of the Greek Church. He is sometimes called Gregory Theologus. He studied widely in his youth and was from his student days a friend of St. Basil the Great. Basil appointed the unwilling Gregory to a bishopric, and Gregory succeeded him as principal leader of the conciliatory party in the church struggle against Arianism. In 379, Gregory was chosen bishop of Constantinople. By his preaching he wrought a great revival of orthodoxy there. He was deposed by the chicanery of an Alexandrian, but the first Council of Constantinople restored him. When St. Meletius died during the session, he took the chair, but on failing to settle the Antiochene schism, he gave up his patriarchate and returned home. Feast: May 9.