GREGORY, ST., OF NAZIANZUS (c. 389), sur named Theologus, one of the four great fathers of the Eastern Church, was born at or near Nazianzus, Cappadocia, where his father, also named Gregory, had lately become bishop. After studying at the two Caesareas, Alexandria and Athens, he was in duced by Basil (q.v.) to share his religious seclusion in Pontus, and there prepared the 'LXorcaXla, a sort of chrestomathy compiled with Basil's help from the writings of Origen. Gregory was or dained about 361, and though made bishop of Sasima, a small vil lage near Tyana, about 3 72, he seems to have lived at Nazianzus, assisting his aged father, on whose death (3 74) he retired to Seleucia in Isauria for some years. Towards 3 79 the small remnant of the orthodox party in Constantinople requested him to undertake the resuscitation of their cause, so long borne down by the Arians. His success was immediate, the famous five dis courses on the Trinity delivered there earning for him the distinc tive appellation of theologus. With the arrival of Theodosius in 38o came the visible triumph of the orthodox cause. The metro politan see was then conferred upon Gregory, and after the assem bling of the second oecumenical council in 381 he received conse cration from Meletius. In consequence, however, of a spirit of discord which appeared at his promotion, he soon resigned his dignity and withdrew into retirement. The rest of his days were spent partly at Nazianzus in ecclesiastical affairs, and partly on his neighbouring patrimonial estate at Arianzus. His festival is celebrated in the Eastern Church on Jan. 25, and in the Western on May 9.
Gregory's extant works, which consist of poems, epistles and orations, were published by Hervagius (Basle, 155o) ; by Billius (Paris, 1609, 1611) ; by Caillau (1840) and by Migne in Patrol. Graec., vols. The Theological Orations (ed. A. J. Mason) appeared separately at Cambridge in 1899. Of the poems, which include epigrams, elegies and an autobiographical sketch, the editio princeps is that of Aldus Partial English translations were made by Drant (1568), by Boyd (1826) and by Newman. A translation of selected orations and letters appeared in The Library of Nicene Fathers, vol. 7.