Saint Gregory of Nazianzus

(329 – 25 January, 389)

Feast Day: 2 January

“Remember God more often than you breathe.”

Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, bishop of Constantinople, opponent of Arianism, wrote major theological treatises as well as letters and poetry, called the “Christian Demosthenes” and, in the East, “The Theologian”.

A Doctor of the Church, Saint Gregory was born at Arianzus, in Asia Minor and died at the same place. He was son — one of three children — of Gregory, Bishop of Nazianzus (329-374), in the southwest of Cappadocia, and of Nonna, a daughter of Christian parents. A phenomenally wealthy man, he went to school in Athens with his friend Saint Basil and Julian.

Also known as the Theologian or Gregory Nazianzen, Saint Gregory of Nazianus’ defences of the doctrine of the Trinity (God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) made him one of the noted preacher on the Trinity. When it seemed that orthodox Christianity had been restored in the city, Saint Gregory retired to live the rest of his days as a hermit.

Saint Gregory is a saint in both Eastern and Western Christianity. In the Roman Catholic Church he is numbered among the Doctors of the Church. One of the Cappadocian fathers and the Three Hierarchs of the Eastern Church, he was a bishop at Constantinople for a short time. Known in the Orthodox Church as “the Theologian”, his many writings include the forty-five “Orations”.

Saint Gregory of Nazianzus stands as the founding father of the Byzantine religious synthesis. He lived an illustrious life as an orator, poet, priest, and bishop. As a Greek poet and prose writer, some of his most popular books are On God and Christ: The Five Theological Orations and Two Letters to Cledonius, On God and Man: The Theological Poetry of Gregory of Nazianzen, Festal Orations: Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, Saint Gregory of Nazianzus: Three Poems and Funeral Orations by Saint Gregory Nazianzen.

Following his death, Saint Gregory was buried at Nazianzus. His relics were transferred to Constantinople in 950, into the church of the Holy Apostles.

Saint Basil the Great

(329 - 1 January, 379)

Feast Day: 2 January

“A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.”

Saint Basil, (Latin Basilius), one of the most distinguished Doctors of the Church and Bishop of Caesarea in Asia Minor, refuted Arian errors, wrote treatises, homilies, and monastic rules, called “Father of Monasticism of the East”.

He was one of ten children of Saint Basil the Elder and Saint Emmelia. Among Saint Basil’s siblings, four are venerated as saints: Macrina the Younger, Naucratius, Peter of Sebaste and Gregory of Nyssa. Saint Basil’s early years were spent at Neocaesarea in Pontus, imbibing the principles of the Orthodox faith from his mother.

He came from a wealthy and pious family and defended the Roman Catholic Church against the heresies of the 4th century.

Saint Basil is the Father of Eastern monasticism—as Saint Benedict is for western monasticism. His rules for monasticism and his ascetic writings influenced Ukrainian monasticism and inspired the formation of the Basilian monastic Order, named in his honour. The Rule of St. Basil places great emphasis on love of God and of neighbour. He established the ‘new city’ of Basilieas to care for the elderly, sick and poor.

He is one of the three Cappadocian Fathers and the first of the three Holy Hierarchs of the Eastern Church.

Saint Basil the Great is the patron saint for both hospital administrators and reformers. He is also the patron saint of Cappadocia, Basillian Monks, education, exorcism and liturgists.

His book on the Holy Spirit, written to Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium, against the Pneumatomachi is one of his greatest works of writings.