Living Bulwark

.Brief Bios of Early Church Fathers
.
edited by Don Schwager .

Gregory of Nyssa was born in Caesarea, the capital of Cappadocia (in present day Turkey) around 335 AD. He came from a large Christian family – four brothers and five sisters. Gregory became a professional orator like his father, married, and settled down to the life of a Christian layman. Basil, his eldest brother who became a bishop (who earned the title "Basil the Great"), and his friend Gregory of Nazianzus persuaded him to dedicate his life to the work of the gospel and the defense of the Christian faith. Gregory became a married priest around 362 and was later ordained as a bishop. Along with Basil and fellow-Cappadocian Gregory of Nazianzus (c. 329-391), Gregory of Nyssa forms the third of a trio of Christian thinkers, collectively known as the Cappadocians, who established the main lines of orthodoxy in the Christian East.

John Chrysostom (c. 349-407) was an important early church father. He was born of noble parents in Antioch in 349. John acquired the skills for a career in rhetoric, as well as a love of the Greek language and literature. As he grew older he became more deeply committed to Christianity and went on to study theology. John became a hermit around 375. He was ordained a deacon in 381, and then ordained as a presbyter (priest) in 386 by Bishop Flavian I of Antioch.

Over the course of twelve years, he gained popularity because of the eloquence of his public speaking, especially his insightful expositions of Bible passages and moral teaching. Known as "the greatest preacher in the early church", John's sermons have been one of his greatest lasting legacies. The most valuable of his works from this period are his Homilies on various books of the Bible. He emphasised charitable giving and was concerned with the spiritual and temporal needs of the poor. He also spoke out against abuse of wealth and personal property. He founded a series of hospitals in Constantinople to care for the poor.

In 398, John was requested, against his will, to take the position of Archbishop of Constantinople. John was fearless when denouncing offences in high places. He was banished twice by the secular authorities. After his death, which occured in 407) he was named Chrysostom, which comes from the Greek word which means, "golden-mouthed."

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