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Gregory of Nyssa (ca. 335 – after 394) was a Christian bishop and saint. He was a younger brother of Basil the Great, and a good friend of Gregory Nazianzus. His significance has long been recognised in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Roman Catholic branches of Christianity. Some historians identify Theosebia the deaconess as his wife, others hold that she, like Macrina the Younger, was also a sister of Gregory and Basil.
Biography
Despite reservations, he consented to become bishop of Nyssa in 372. Nyssa is in modern day Turkey, in a region then called Cappadocia. His brother Basil appointed him bishop in Nyssa because he wanted an episcopal ally near to his metropolitan see of Caesarea. He was present at the Council of Antioch, and later at the Second Ecumenical Council which took place in Constantinople. There he was a defender of the Nicene Creed against the Arians.
Theology
Trinity
Gregory is remembered above all for two major contributions to theology. The first is his doctrine of the Trinity, a development of the theology of Basil and their mutual friend Gregory Nazianzus. Following Basil's lead, Gregory argues that the three Persons of the Trinity can be understood along the model of three members of a single class: thus, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three in the same way that Peter, Paul, and Timothy are three men. So why do we not say there are three Gods? Gregory answers that, normally, we can distinguish between different members of the same class by the fact that they have different shapes, sizes, and colours. Even if they are identical, they still occupy different points in space. But none of this is true of incorporeal beings like God. Even lesser spiritual beings can still be distinguished by their varying degrees of goodness, but this does not apply to God either. In fact, the only way to tell the three Persons apart is by their mutual relations — thus, the only difference between the Father and the Son is that the former is the Father of the latter, and the latter is the Son of the former. As Gregory puts it, it is impossible to think of one member of the Trinity without thinking of the others too: they are like a chain of three links, pulling each other along. More on [ Gregory of Nyssa ]
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For All the Saints: Gregory of Nyssa - Biographical essay.
Gregory of Nyssa, Saint - Very brief biographical entry in the Columbia Encyclopedia.
Meta Description: [ Gregory of Nyssa, Saint. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-05 ]
James Kiefer's Christian Biographies: Gregory of Nyssa - Profile of this theologian. With prayer in traditional and contemporary language.
Patron Saints Index: Gregory of Nyssa - Profile.
Meta Description: [ Patron Saint Index profile of Saint Gregory of Nyssa ]
Preface - By William Moore. Preface to the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, second series, vol. 5, which appeared in 1893 and was the first translation of any of Gregory of Nyssa's works into English.
St. Gregory of Nyssa - Bishop, one of the Cappadocian Fathers, d. after 385 or 386.
Meta Description: [ Bishop, one of the Cappadocian Fathers, d. after 385 or 386 ]
The Ecole Glossary: Gregory of Nyssa - Short biography, by Karen Rae Keck.
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The Gregory of Nyssa Homepage - Biography, texts and introductions, links, and bibliography.
The Life and Writings of Gregory of Nyssa - By William Moore and Henry Austin Wilson.
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