Title: The Cappadocians /
Authors: Meredith, Anthony.
Publisher: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press,
Year: 1995
Subjects: Basil,; Gregory,; Gregory,; Cappadocian Fathers.; Christian saints Turkey Biography; Theology, Doctrinal History
Abstract: After the Emperor Constantine made the Church's faith legal in 313, there was a tremendous flowering of Christian culture and a creative and turbulent encounter between the Christian community and the classical heritage of late antiquity. In the final third of the fourth century the three great Cappadocian Fathers were at the centre of this exciting encounter. Their leader was St Basil, an ecclesiastical statesman, social reformer and monastic founder as well as a theologian. His friend St Gregory of Nazianzus was a brilliant preacher and sensitive poet who gave classic expression to the theology and spirituality of the Holy Trinity in luminous prose and verse. Basil's brother St Gregory of Nyssa was renowned for the depth of his speculative theology and mystical spirituality. Though they collaborated and shared many common perspectives, each had a unique gift and personality. This book is the first general treatment in English to bring together the three Cappadocians. It introduces the reader to their fascinating lives and writings and shows their connections with the Greco-Roman culture of their age.
Contents: The background -- 1.1 Geography and the early history of Cappadocia -- 1.2 Christianity in Cappadocia -- 1.3 The Conversion of Constantine -- The roots of Cappadocian theology -- 2.1 Plato -- 2.2 Origen -- Basil of Caesarea -- 3.1 Life -- 3.2 Monasticism -- 3.3 Doctrine and the life of the Spirit -- 3.4 Conclusion -- Gregory of Nazianzus -- 4.1 Family and Life -- 4.2 Man of letters, theologian -- 4.3 Spirituality -- 4.4 Epilogue -- Gregory of Nyssa -- 5.1 Life and works -- 5.2 Spiritual teaching -- the influence of Origen -- 5.3 Reaction to Eunomius -- 5.4 The "Life of Moses" -- 5.5 The "Homilies on the Song of Songs" -- 5.6 Dogmatic theology -- The Cappadocian achievement -- 6.1 The Cappadocians and the Trinity -- 6.2 the Cappadocians and the person of Christ -- 6.3 The Cappadocians and Hellenism.