Three Cappadocians
The collective term Three Cappadocians or Three Cappadocian Fathers refers to the three Cappadocian theologians Basilius the Great († 379), his younger brother Gregory of Nyssa († after 394) and his older college friend Gregory of Nazianzen († 390). These three church fathers of the 4th century played a decisive role in ensuring that the Trinitarians prevailed in the Arian dispute . They made a theologically in-depth understanding of the First Council of Nicaea (325) and carried out preparatory work for the First Council of Constantinople (381), over which Gregory of Nazianzen took the chair after the death of Meletius of Antioch . They also had an influence on the Council of Chalcedon (451).
The collective name comes from the patristic of the 19th century. Starting from Constantinople , Basil and Gregory of Nazianzen have been referred to as the Three Hierarchs together with John Chrysostom since the 11th century .
Individual evidence
- ↑ New Theological Dictionary: Cappadocians