Select Orations (Fathers of the Church Patristic Series)

This translation makes available nineteen orations by the fourth-century Cappadocian father Gregory of Nazianzus. Most are appearing here in English for the first time. These homilies span all the phases of Gregory's ecclesiastical career, beginning with his service as a parish priest assisting his father, the elder Gregory, in his hometown of Nazianzus in the early 360s, to his stormy tenure as bishop of Constantinople from 379 to 381, to his subsequent return to Nazianzus and role as interim caretaker of his home church (382-83). Composed in a variety of rhetorical formats such as the lalia and encomium, the sermons treat topics that range from the purely theological to the deeply personal. Up until now, Gregory has been known primarily for his contributions as a theologian, indifferent to the social and political concerns that consumed his friend Basil. This view will change. It has been due in large measure to the interests and prejudices of the nineteenth-century editors who excluded the sermons translated here from the Select Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Church. This new translation will help the English-speaking reader appreciate just how deeply Gregory was engaged in the social and political issues of his day. Exemplifying the perfect synthesis of classical and Christian paideia, these homilies will be required reading for anyone interested in late antiquity. The introduction and notes accompanying the translation will assist both the specialist and the general reader as they seek to navigate the complex environment in which Gregory lived and worked. Martha Vinson is Associate Professor of Byzantine Studies at Indiana University. PRAISE FOR THE BOOK: "[W]ith the appearance of Vinson's volume, for the first time all of the orations have English translations. . . . The works contained in her volume are of great interest." ― Nonna Verna Harrison, St. Vladimir's Theological Quarterly "[M]ost of these sermons appear here for the first time in an English translation. . . . [R]eading them dose not only provide us with information about a crucial period in the history of the church or about the personal struggle of one of the central figures in that period and not only do we get some glimpses of the concerns of a good pastor in troubled times long past: reading them can inspire to self-reflection and commitment so necessary at all times." ― H. Rikhof, Bijdragen This Translation Makes Available Nineteen Orations By The Fourth-century Cappadocian Father St. Gregory Of Nazianzus. Most Are Appearing Here In English For The First Time. These Homilies Span All The Phases Of Gregory's Ecclesiastical Career, From His Service As A Parish Priest Assisting His Father, The Elder Gregory, In His Hometown Of Nazianzus In The Early 360s, To His Stormy Tenure As Bishop Of Constantinople From 379 To 381, To His Subsequent Return To Nazianzus And Role As Interim Caretaker Of His Home Church (382-83). Composed In A Variety Of Rhetorical Formats Such As The Lalia And The Encomium, The Sermons Treat Topics That Range From The Purely Theological To The Deeply Personal. Exemplifying The Perfect Synthesis Of Classical And Christian Paideia, These Homilies Will Be Required Reading For Anyone Interested In Late Antiquity. The Introduction And Notes Accompanying The Translation Will Assist Both The Specialist And The General Reader As They Seek To Navigate The Complex Environment In Which Gregory Lived And Worked.--jacket. St. Gregory Of Nazianzus ; Translated By Martha Vinson. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Known as 'the Theologian', St Gregory of Nazianzus is, with St Basil and St Gregory of Nyssa, one of the celebrated Cappadocian Fathers of the fourthcentury Christian Church. Highly educated in both Christian theology and classical Greek literature, he found himself torn between a solitary, contemplative life and the reluctantly accepted, though in actuality relished, public figure of bishop - vigorous in the defence of orthodoxy against the attacks of the Arians. He was even, briefly, bishop of Constantinople and chairman of the council in 381 which produced what we know as the Nicene Creed. This, the first modern edition of his poems, brings together his theological acumen in a formative period and shows his ability to operate in the genre of didactic verse going back the the eighth century BC. The poems cover a range of topics, from the strictly theological to others dealing more broadly with the creation of the world, providence, the world of spiritual beings, and the human soul. They give a unique new insight into both the theological ideas of the period and the uneasy emergence of Christian culture from the pagan past. Maximos the Confessor's penetrating theological vision found expression in an unparalleled synthesis of biblical exegesis, ascetic spirituality, patristic theology, and Greek philosophy. On Difficulties in Sacred Scripture, presented here in a complete English translation, contains Maximos's theological interpretations of sixty-five difficult passages from the Old and New Testaments. CONTENTS Abbreviations Select Bibliography Introduction Select Orations ORATION 6 ORATION 9 ORATION 10 ORATION 11 ORATION 13 ORATION 14 ORATION 15 ORATION 17 ORATION 19 ORATION 20 ORATION 22 ORATION 23 ORATION 24 ORATION 25 ORATION 26 ORATION 32 ORATION 35 ORATION 36 ORATION 44 Indices General Index Index of Holy Scripture These sermons by Ambrose of Milan (340-397 AD) provide a window into the preaching and scriptural exegesis of the legendary bishop, whose exposition of the Old Testament was instrumental in the conversion of Augustine of Hippo and in the development of Latin theology. DESCRIPTIONThis volume presents nineteen orations by the fourth-century Cappadocian father Gregory of Nazianzus. Many of them appear here for the first time in English.