Basil The Great And Gregory Of Nazianzus (fourth Century)

Christianity changed considerably in the fourth century with the conversion of Constantine, who made Christianity legal and opened the door toward its accommodation with society. Worship developed rapidly through extensive building projects, the development of liturgies, the observance of the Christian year, creation of the lectionary, and the contributions of music and the arts. In this setting, preaching took on the characteristics of Roman rhetoric and became considerably more formal. Among the Greek Christians of the time, several stand out as exceptional preachers, especially Basil the Great, his brother Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory of Nazianzus-collectively called the Cappadocians-and John Chrysostom, who will be treated in the next entry. Basil the Great (329379) Basil the Great possessed all possible advantages. His family was rich and of high social position in Pontus and, from his grandparents down, had been remarkable for piety. Two of his brothers became bishops, one of the…