The Five Theological Orations
St. Gregory the Theologian
Summary
Five sermons delivered in Constantinople that articulate the Orthodox doctrine of the Holy Trinity with unsurpassed precision and rhetorical brilliance, earning Gregory the title 'the Theologian.'
Who Should Read This
Those studying Trinitarian theology, readers comfortable with rhetorical prose, anyone who wants to understand the Nicene Creed more deeply.
Key Excerpts
"Not everyone can philosophize about God — not everyone! It is not so cheap and low a subject. And not before every audience, nor at all times, nor on all points, but on certain occasions, before certain persons, and within certain limits."
— Oration 27
"When I say God, I mean Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."
— Oration 38
Editorial Commentary
These orations are why Gregory is one of only three saints honored with the title 'Theologian' in the Orthodox Church. Preached during the Arian crisis, they defend the full divinity of the Son and Holy Spirit with a combination of philosophical rigor and poetic beauty. The first two orations on the nature of theology itself are among the finest things ever written on the subject.