From Encyclopedia of the Ancient World
Basil attained a reputation in the early church for his efforts in liturgy, monasticism, and doctrine. The honors extended to him single him out among the greatest Christian teachers of his age: one of the “Three Holy Hierarchs” (the others are John Chrysostom and Gregory Nazianzus), one of the three “Cappadocian Fathers” (the others are his brother Gregory of Nyssa and Gregory Nazianzus), and generally referred to as Basil the Great.
From Encyclopedia of World Religions
AKA Saint Gregory of Nazianzen; Saint Gregory of Nazianzos. Known in the Eastern Church as “The Theologian,” Gregory of Nazianzus was one of the pillars of what came to be called orthodoxy. He is famous for defending the Nicene faith with his five sermons, which strongly influenced the Council of Constantinople I in 381.
From Encyclopedia of World Religions
Bishop and theologian in Asia Minor; younger brother of Basil the Great. Gregory of Nyssa was one of three Cappadocian fathers (including Basil the Great of Caesarea and Gregory of Nazianzus) who lived and worked in the middle of the fourth century in what is now central Turkey. While Gregory is respected for his defense of Christian orthodoxy, as a theologian he is most remembered for his discussion of the human soul and its movement toward perfection.
The Eastern Roman Empire 395-1453, with its capital at Constantinople (formerly Byzantium, modern Istanbul). It was the direct continuation of the Roman Empire in the East, and inherited many of its traditions and institutions.
Ancient region of Asia Minor, watered by the Halys River (the modern Kizil Irmak), in present E central Turkey. The name was applied at different times to territories of varying size.
[Gr.,=Holy Wisdom] or Santa Sophia, Turkish Aya Sofia, originally a Christian church at Constantinople (now Istanbul), later a mosque, and now converted into a museum.
