Five Theological Orations (Illustrated)

St. Gregory of Nazianzus (329 - 390, also known as Gregory the Theologian or Gregory Nazianzen) held the important post of, Archbishop of Constantinople at the height of its power. Many regard him as one of the most accomplished orators of the patristic age. In particular, he is famous for his discourses on Trinitarian theology. Along with the brothers St. Basil the Great, and St. Gregory of Nyssa, he is regarded as one of the Cappadocian Fathers.

Gregory of Nazianzus is venerated as a saint both in the Orthodox and Catholic church and is considered a Doctor of the Catholic church. In the Orthodox Church, he is reckoned as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs, along with St. Basil the Great and St. John Chrysostom.

The theological brilliance of St. Gregory is forcefully displayed in these five orations in which he expounds upon of the mystery of the Trinity, which would later be formally enshrined in the Nicene Creed. The source texts for these orations are: "The five theological orations of Gregory of Nazianzus," by St. Gregory of Nazianzus and Arthur James Mason (1851-1928), Cambridge [England] The University Press, 1899; and "A select library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian church / Second series Vol. 7, S. Cyril of Jerusalem. S. Gregory Nazianzen." New York: The Christian literature company; Oxford [etc.]: Parker, 1894. by Philip Schaff(1819-1893); Henry Wace (1836-1924). The original footnotes and Bible references are preserved in the text. Also included is a short sketch of the life of St. Gregory along with illustrations of the people and events referred to in the text.