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Popular Patristics Series #36
Festal Orations
In the Orthodox Church St Gregory of Nazianzus (ca. 329 ca. 390) is known as the Theologian, a title he shares only with the Evangelist John. As one of the three Cappadocian fathers, together with his colleagues SS Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa, his reputation and influence in the Byzantine world as both theologian and rhetor are unsurpassed in ways that Western scholars have often overlooked. In the West, St Gregory is best known for his Five Theological Orations, a classic response to the theology of Eunomius, a late, radicalized form of Arianism. However, his Festal Orations have shaped the theology and spirituality of the Eastern Churches in ways that have escaped the notice of those who read only the Theological Orations. In the context of festal proclamation and celebration St Gregory articulates his own theology with emphases and rhetorical features different from those found in the five discourses, and the doctrines he proclaims are inseparably intertwined with his pastoral teachings about Christian life.
194 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
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256 people want to read
About the author
Gregory of Nazianzus
273 books35 followersGregory of Nazianzus (Greek: Γρηγόριος ὁ Ναζιανζηνός Grēgorios ho Nazianzēnos; c. 329–25 January 390), also known as Gregory the Theologian or Gregory Nazianzen, was a 4th-century Archbishop of Constantinople, and theologian. He is widely considered the most accomplished rhetorical stylist of the patristic age. As a classically trained orator and philosopher he infused Hellenism into the early church, establishing the paradigm of Byzantine theologians and church officials.
Gregory made a significant impact on the shape of Trinitarian theology among both Greek- and Latin-speaking theologians, and he is remembered as the "Trinitarian Theologian". Much of his theological work continues to influence modern theologians, especially in regard to the relationship among the three Persons of the Trinity. Along with the brothers Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa, he is known as one of the Cappadocian Fathers.
Gregory is a saint in both Eastern and Western Christianity. In the Roman Catholic Church he is numbered among the Doctors of the Church; in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches he is revered as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs, along with Basil the Great and John Chrysostom.
He is also one of only three men in the life of the Orthodox Church who have been officially designated "Theologian" by epithet, the other two being St. John the Theologian (the Evangelist), and St. Symeon the New Theologian.
Gregory made a significant impact on the shape of Trinitarian theology among both Greek- and Latin-speaking theologians, and he is remembered as the "Trinitarian Theologian". Much of his theological work continues to influence modern theologians, especially in regard to the relationship among the three Persons of the Trinity. Along with the brothers Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa, he is known as one of the Cappadocian Fathers.
Gregory is a saint in both Eastern and Western Christianity. In the Roman Catholic Church he is numbered among the Doctors of the Church; in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches he is revered as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs, along with Basil the Great and John Chrysostom.
He is also one of only three men in the life of the Orthodox Church who have been officially designated "Theologian" by epithet, the other two being St. John the Theologian (the Evangelist), and St. Symeon the New Theologian.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 11, 2022
Great book with a helpful intro to GNaz. Stick to “On God and Christ” if you have to pick one, but this book still had much to offer in terms of teaching on the doctrine of God.
December 9, 2015
I have to say I was a tad disappointed. After reading Basil, Gregory is a lot more platonised. References to our physicality are usually negative in spite of a great emphasis upon the incarnation.
December 27, 2022
Not all these orations are equal. I found the first two to be the most beautiful, especially some of Nazianzus’ mediations on the Nativity. Some parts were overly repetitive, such as his exhortations to not put off baptism. Nevertheless, reading Nazianzus is always moving.
July 2, 2016
This review will touch on both Gregory's theology and the superb introduction by Nonna Harrison.
Noting how Gregory interweaves rhetoric, liturgy, and theology, Harrison summarizes:
(1) Festal anamnesis: these are re-presentations of God’s saving works in such a way that the worshiper “can participate in these events as present realities and receive the eschatological salvation” (Harrison 24). It is an “encounter with the Lord who transcends time.”
(2) Festal mimesis: similar to above, mimesis is a pattern of thought in which people sought to imitate the event (29).
On The Trinity
In an unusual move, Gregory speaks of the divine attributes as both singular and plural (Harrison, 38ff, Oration 23.11). Gregory is also insistent on the Cappadocian taxis: from the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit.
Harrison then corrects the Schaff translation of periastraphthete, “struck from all sides by lightning.” Harrsion suggests this is important because “the divine persons surround Gregory’s congregation as three overwhelming lights that are also one light enveloping them” (40).
Gregory expertly ties in Christ’s birth as a reversal of the plague of darkness in Egypt and the darkness before Creation. Implying, among other things, that Egypt was a kind of reverse-creation (38.2).
The Format of the text
The anchor text for St Gregory of Nazianzus’s writings is volume seven of the Schaff series (NPNF 2). Does this work repeat the earlier work of Schaff? Yes, but it corrects the translations and the presentation is so much better that you should go ahead and get it.
Oration 1: On Pascha and His Slowness (Schaff-Gregory, p.203)
Oration 38: On the Nativity of Christ (Schaff-Gregory, p. 345).
Oration 39: On the Baptism of Christ (Schaff-Gregory, p. 352).
Oration 40: On Baptism (Schaff-Gregory, p. 360).
Oration 41: On Pentecost (Schaff-Gregory, p. 378).
Oration 45: The second oration on Easter (Schaff-Gregory, p. 422).
Noting how Gregory interweaves rhetoric, liturgy, and theology, Harrison summarizes:
(1) Festal anamnesis: these are re-presentations of God’s saving works in such a way that the worshiper “can participate in these events as present realities and receive the eschatological salvation” (Harrison 24). It is an “encounter with the Lord who transcends time.”
(2) Festal mimesis: similar to above, mimesis is a pattern of thought in which people sought to imitate the event (29).
On The Trinity
In an unusual move, Gregory speaks of the divine attributes as both singular and plural (Harrison, 38ff, Oration 23.11). Gregory is also insistent on the Cappadocian taxis: from the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit.
Harrison then corrects the Schaff translation of periastraphthete, “struck from all sides by lightning.” Harrsion suggests this is important because “the divine persons surround Gregory’s congregation as three overwhelming lights that are also one light enveloping them” (40).
Gregory expertly ties in Christ’s birth as a reversal of the plague of darkness in Egypt and the darkness before Creation. Implying, among other things, that Egypt was a kind of reverse-creation (38.2).
The Format of the text
The anchor text for St Gregory of Nazianzus’s writings is volume seven of the Schaff series (NPNF 2). Does this work repeat the earlier work of Schaff? Yes, but it corrects the translations and the presentation is so much better that you should go ahead and get it.
Oration 1: On Pascha and His Slowness (Schaff-Gregory, p.203)
Oration 38: On the Nativity of Christ (Schaff-Gregory, p. 345).
Oration 39: On the Baptism of Christ (Schaff-Gregory, p. 352).
Oration 40: On Baptism (Schaff-Gregory, p. 360).
Oration 41: On Pentecost (Schaff-Gregory, p. 378).
Oration 45: The second oration on Easter (Schaff-Gregory, p. 422).
March 18, 2016
Impressive collections of sermons from Gregory. Gregory has such an incredible mind that he is able to quote a large number of Scriptures in his sermons and is able to traverse a wide range of topics in his sermons. While this is largely beneficial, sometimes it is difficult to follow him in his sermons. Compared to his own Theological Orations in "On God and Christ" and Basil's sermons, these sermons are a bit more cumbersome.
This does not negate the brilliance of the sermons. My favorite sermons were "On Pascha and His Slowness" and "On Pentecost." Gregory's sermons are all christocentric and explicitly Trinitarian. One of his strengths is how he eloquently and simply explains the Trinity in terms that a typically congregant or catechumen would destroy.
It is also interesting to see how Gregory relates to his culture. He is not afraid to distinguish himself and the Christian feasts from pagan festivals. He takes pain to demonstrate the one true God over the pantheon of the Greek gods.
Gregory's theology of baptism is all over the place. After hearing his and Basil's testimony of being baptized as adults, I have been eager to call them the "Baptist church fathers" tongue-in-cheek. However, Gregory's theology definitely would not be considered credobaptist (although it would not be paedobaptist either).
I would probably only recommend these sermons to someone who belonged to a sacramental tradition (full disclosure: I'm not). There is a lot of beautiful preaching and helpful material, but they are a bit cumbersome to read. Plus, Basil's sermons were soooooo good, so you should check them out first.
This does not negate the brilliance of the sermons. My favorite sermons were "On Pascha and His Slowness" and "On Pentecost." Gregory's sermons are all christocentric and explicitly Trinitarian. One of his strengths is how he eloquently and simply explains the Trinity in terms that a typically congregant or catechumen would destroy.
It is also interesting to see how Gregory relates to his culture. He is not afraid to distinguish himself and the Christian feasts from pagan festivals. He takes pain to demonstrate the one true God over the pantheon of the Greek gods.
Gregory's theology of baptism is all over the place. After hearing his and Basil's testimony of being baptized as adults, I have been eager to call them the "Baptist church fathers" tongue-in-cheek. However, Gregory's theology definitely would not be considered credobaptist (although it would not be paedobaptist either).
I would probably only recommend these sermons to someone who belonged to a sacramental tradition (full disclosure: I'm not). There is a lot of beautiful preaching and helpful material, but they are a bit cumbersome to read. Plus, Basil's sermons were soooooo good, so you should check them out first.
February 12, 2013
I think this might be a re-read, although I'm not sure if I remember for sure. This is a set of orations by St. Gregory of Naziansus on various feasts- Easter, the Nativity, Pentacost, so it is St. Gregory at his rhetorical best- fireworks and all. An excellent example of how the Fathers preached and well worth reading again and again.
August 8, 2021
St Gregory of Nazianzus' theological and oratory skills are remarkable. This is a wonderful collection of ancient sermons.
"The human being is a kind of second world, great in smallness, placed on the earth, another angel, a composite worshiper, a beholder of the visible creation, an initiate into the intelligible, king of things on earth, subject to what is above, earthly and heavenly, transitory and immortal, visible and intelligible, a mean between greatness and lowliness. He is at once spirit and flesh, spirit on account of grace, flesh on account of pride, the one that he might remain and glorify his Benefactor, the other that he might suffer and in suffering remember and be corrected if he has ambition for greatness. He is a living creature trained here and transferred elsewhere, and, to complete the mystery, deified through inclination toward God." - Oration 38.11
"The human being is a kind of second world, great in smallness, placed on the earth, another angel, a composite worshiper, a beholder of the visible creation, an initiate into the intelligible, king of things on earth, subject to what is above, earthly and heavenly, transitory and immortal, visible and intelligible, a mean between greatness and lowliness. He is at once spirit and flesh, spirit on account of grace, flesh on account of pride, the one that he might remain and glorify his Benefactor, the other that he might suffer and in suffering remember and be corrected if he has ambition for greatness. He is a living creature trained here and transferred elsewhere, and, to complete the mystery, deified through inclination toward God." - Oration 38.11
October 24, 2024
Reading this one makes me feel like I don't know anything about preaching. This is a series of six sermons Gregory preached on special holy days (2 on Passover/Easter, 2 on Christ's baptism, Pentecost, and Christ's nativity). I actually enjoyed these sermons more than his theological orations on God and Christ. These sermons feel like they could be preached today. They hold up not just theologically but rhetorically. There is some repetitiveness, but these were meant to be heard not read. Overall, these are sermons I will return to read again and again on these holy days.
April 27, 2022
For a Theologian, St. Gregory's homilies are very clear and inspiring, and also saturated with the Holy Scriptures. They are not dense and packed with long theological terms. I read his longer homily on Pascha every year after the Feast, having also read the other homilies at an earlier time.
March 15, 2021
Simply superb
December 29, 2020
A beautifully edited collection, with excellent introductory notes. Because of Gregory's habit of reusing his material, the content can get a little repetitious. Overall, a nice introduction to his thought.
November 6, 2017
A wonderful mix of theology and festal proclamation by one of the greatest orators who God has ever graced with the gift. For those that are looking to find where many of the festal hymnody in the Church is derived from, look no further than St. Gregory's orations on Pascha, Theophany, the Nativity, and Pentecost. Additionally, the editors dedicated the first 50-60 pages on describing the theology and how the Theologian's style conveys it.
October 8, 2016
This excellent collection of orations by St. Gregory the Theologian, translated and edited with an excellent introduction by my colleague and friend, Sister Dr. Nonna Verna Harrison, comprises the 36th volume of the Popular Patristic Series published by St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. Gregory, forever the erudite prose writer and poet, weaves his Trinitarian theology into the homilies that he delivered as a bishop serving in Asia Minor. It is not light reading to be sure, and I am sure the audience in Gregory's time perhaps were confused with the refined content of his orations. Nevertheless, Gregory brings each feast to life by giving a comprehensive explanation of the significance of the festival and how it impacts not only the worshipper and the community, but also the cosmos. I highly recommend this book for the avid aficionado of Cappadocian theology and I commend Sr. Nonna for this impeccable scholarly contribution.
January 23, 2025
I love this book! It is a great introduction to the writings of St. Gregory Nazienzen. St. Gregory was one of the 4th century Fathers of the Church. In this book we get a taste of his theology and teachings. And the translation is very nice; none of St. Gregory's wit or poetic style is lost going from Greek to English. A great read all around
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews