Doctrinal, nevertheless, he was, as is abundantly
shown by the famous five discourses on the Trinity, which earned for him
the distinctive appellation of [Greek: theologos]. These orations are
the finest exposition of the Catholic doctrine of the Trinity as
conceived by the orthodox teachers of the East, and they were directed
especially against the Eunomians and Macedonians. "There is perhaps no
single book in Greek patristic literature to which the student who
desires to gain an exact and comprehensive view of Greek theology can be
more confidently referred." With the arrival of Theodosius in 380 came
the visible triumph of the orthodox cause; the metropolitan see was then
conferred upon Gregory, and after the assembling of the second
ecumenical council in 381 he received consecration from Meletius. In
consequence, however, of a spirit of discord and envy which had
manifested itself in connexion with this promotion, he soon afterwards
resigned his dignity and withdrew into comparative retirement. The rest
of his days were spent partly at Nazianzus in ecclesiastical affairs,
and partly on his neighbouring patrimonial estate at Arianzus, where he
followed his favourite literary pursuits, especially poetical
composition, until his death, which occurred in 389 or 390. His festival
is celebrated in the Eastern Church on the 25th and 30th of January, in
the Western on the 9th of May (duplex).
His extant works consist of poems, epistles and orations. The poems,
which include epigrams, elegies and an autobiographical sketch, have
been frequently printed, the _editio princeps_ being the Aldine
(1504). Other editions are those of Tollius (1696) and Muratori
(1709); a volume of _Carmina selecta_ also has been edited by Dronke
(1840). The tragedy entitled [Greek: Christos paschon] usually
included is certainly not genuine. Gregory's poetry did not absorb his
best energies; it was adopted in his later years as a recreation
rather than as a serious pursuit; thus it is occasionally delicate,
graphic, beautiful, but it is not sustained. Of the hymns none have
passed into ecclesiastical use. The letters are entitled to a higher
place in literature. They are always easy and natural; and there is
nothing forced in the manner in which their acute, witty and profound
sayings are introduced. Those to Basil introduce us to the story of a
most romantic friendship, those to Cledonius have theological value
for their bearing on the Apollinarian controversy. As an orator he was
so facile, vigorous and persuasive, that men forgot his small stature
and emaciated countenance. Forty-five orations are extant. Gregory was
less an independent theologian than an interpreter. He was influenced
by Athanasius in his Christology, by Origen in his anthropology, for,
though teaching original sin and deriving human mortality from the
Fall, he insists on the ability of the human will to choose the good
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