Problems with the apostles' creed

St Gregory of Nazianzus (c – AD), along with his best friend Basil of Caesarea and Basil&#;s younger brother Gregory of Nyssa, make up the three Cappadocian Fathers. After enjoying an excellent (if rather prolonged) classical education in Caesarea in Palestine, Alexandria and Athens, Gregory seemed set on a gentlemanly life of ascetic retirement and contemplation on his family’s extensive estate;

Events, however, dictated a different course of action and in the turmoil of the 4th century Arian controversy, Gregory was (forcibly!) ordained priest and then bishop before being called to Constantinople.

The struggles of a sensitive man, with a penchant for solitude, being pressed into public service, is a recurrent theme in Gregory’s writing.

Whilst at Constantinople, Gregory composed and delivered his five Theological Orations which have come to be seen as a classic statement and defence of Trinitarian orthodoxy.

His efforts in this field earned him the title of “The Theologian” –