Cappadocian Fathers
Fourth-century Trinitarians
The Cappadocian Fathers are three fourth-century Christian theologians from Cappadocia in Asia Minor: Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Gregory of Nyssa.
They were central to formulating the doctrine of the Trinity and defending Nicene orthodoxy against Arianism.
Their influence shaped Eastern Orthodox theology and monasticism.
The Cappadocian Fathers established that the three persons of the Trinity share one divine essence.
- TrinityGodhead as three persons
- 4th centuryYears 301-400 CE
- hypostasisUnderlying essence or substance
- Arian controversyDebate over Christ's divinity
- PlatonismPhilosophy emphasizing ideal Forms
Eastern Orthodoxy · monasticism · Nicene Creed · pastoral care · Roman Empire · Christology · sermons · Council of Nicaea · Anatolia · Holy Spirit · metaphysics · ethics · Byzantine · Constantinople · creed · bishop · desert · asceticism
- Orthodox ChristianityOrthodox Church, Nicene Creed, Hagia Sophia, Greek Orthodox, patriarchate
- monasteriesabbey, abbeys, abbot, abbots, abbess
- Eastern OrthodoxyEastern Orthodox, Greek Orthodox Church, Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodoxy, Greek Orthodox
- Orthodox SpiritualityDesert Fathers, stillness, holy silence, deification, watchfulness
- Orthodox Theologydeification, Church Fathers, ecclesiology, sacred tradition, dogmatics
- Trinity DisputesNicene Creed, consubstantial, subordinationism, Athanasius, Council of Nicaea