Dear ______: I don’t usually write to two days in a row. Basically I never write you except on Thursdays. But I decided to make an exception today. In the East today is the commemoration of one of my favorite saints, Gregory of Nazianzus. I thought it would be a good idea to recommend him […]
Recommended Reading: Gregory of Nazianzus and John Chrysostom
This week the Orthodox cycle of saints included not one but two of my favorites: Gregory of Nazianzus and John Chrysostom. Both were Archbishops of Constantinople back in one of my favorite centuries: the fourth. The fourth century was the time of the biggest arguments about the biggest issues, and so became the time of […]
“Be a Real Christian”: Charge to the Graduating Class, 2014
As you leave seminary behind, as you move into your calling as servants of Christ, please, I beg you, take care what you aim for. Think hard about the goal, the target at which you are aiming your life. You want goals for your work and your ministry of course, but think, more importantly, about the […]
The Trinity: Is It Really All About You?
I spent a whole blog post just ramping up to talk about Gregory of Nazianzus’ way of dealing with the Trinity. Let’s see if I can be on topic by making one brief comparison. For most people today the Trinity is discussed in relation to US. I’m not thinking of academic theology but ordinary conversation. Correct […]
St. Gregory of Nazianzus — “The Theologian”
In much of Western Christianity, today is the feast of St. Gregory of Nazianzus (c. 329 – c. 389). In the East he is celebrated on other days and regarded much more highly: they call him “The Theologian.” I can’t overestimate how important Gregory is to me, though in truth I have read only a […]