Tag Archives: Cappadocians

St Basil the Great: Homily on the Beginning of the Gospel of John

Posted on 6 January 2023 by Fr Aidan Kimel

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. This one was in the beginning with God. (Jn 1:1-2) John 1:1-2 was a favorite text of St Basil the Great. He addresses … Continue reading →

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The Unitive Christology of St Gregory the Theologian

Posted on 20 December 2021 by Fr Aidan Kimel

The christology of St Gregory the Theologian, writes Christopher Beeley, “remains one of the great theological achievements of Christian tradition.”1 One is struck by how Gregory antici­pates the christology of St Cyril of Alexandria. Here is no God dressed in … Continue reading →

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Reflecting the Mystery: Analogy Beyond Negation and Affirmation

Posted on 30 October 2017 by Fr Aidan Kimel

by Robert F. Fortuin Silence is a mystery of the age to come, but words are instruments of this world. ~ St Isaac the Syrian The Holy Spirit, in delivering to us the Divine mysteries, conveys its instruction on those … Continue reading →

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The Impossibility of Comprehending the Incomprehensible God

Posted on 2 May 2014 by Fr Aidan Kimel

What does St Gregory of Nyssa mean when he so emphatically claims that human beings are incapable of comprehending the divine nature. As we have seen, it does not mean that we must remain silent before the unspeakable Deity. Christians … Continue reading →

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The Cappadocian Brothers on the Propria of God

Posted on 20 April 2014 by Fr Aidan Kimel

I’m sure it did not come as a surprise to either St Basil of Caesarea or St Gregory of Nyssa. Once they began to elucidate the mystery of the Trinity by means of the analogy between three human beings and … Continue reading →

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St Gregory of Nyssa: Perichoretic Trinity

Posted on 8 April 2014 by Fr Aidan Kimel

How do we know God as Holy Trinity? Through the contemplation of Holy Scripture. During the height of the fourth century trinitarian debates, neither Orthodox nor Arians thought they were expositing a metaphysical Deity apprehended by reason alone. All parties … Continue reading →

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St Gregory of Nyssa: Differentiating Ousia and Hypostasis

Posted on 1 April 2014 by Fr Aidan Kimel

In the early fourth century the terms ousia and hypostasis were synonyms and virtually interchangeable in philosophical usage, yet by the end of the fourth century orthodox theologians were using them differently to speak of the one God who is … Continue reading →

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St Gregory of Nyssa: On the Divine Ousia and Hypostasis

Posted on 31 March 2014 by Fr Aidan Kimel

The epistle To Peter on the Divine Ousia and Hypostasis has long been attributed to St Basil of Caesarea; but during the past century patristic scholars have come to believe that it probably was composed by St Gregory of Nyssa, … Continue reading →

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