Saint Gregory of Nazianzus

Saint Gregory of Nazianzus: An Intellectual Biography by John McGuckin, 402 pages

St Gregory of Nazianzus (or St Gregory Nazianzen, or St Gregory the Theologian) was born in Cappadocia, now part of eastern Turkey, in the fourth century.  As a student in Athens he became the intimate friend of St Basil the Great, a relationship that shaped both their lives, for good and for ill.  After Basil's death, Gregory served as Bishop of Constantinople and presided over the early sessions of the First Council of Constantinople, the interpretation of which would be greatly shaped by his writings.  Likewise, Gregory and Basil's contrasting views on the nature of asceticism would have an impact on Eastern monasticism that continues to this day.

McGuckin attempts a deep psychological study of St Gregory, and largely succeeds, but occasionally he overreaches the facts.  Too much of the book depends on accepting McGuckin's analysis of the subtext of Gregory's writings, and faith in his powers of interpretation is weakened by the occasional jarring mistake, as when he conflates the story of Noah's drunkeness with that of Lot.  Likewise, there is too much focus on episcopal power politics to the detriment of the actual ideas involved.

This is an interesting treatment of one of the central figures in Christian history, and a figure who is too neglected in the West, but it never rises above its flaws.  Perhaps someday St Gregory will get the English language biography he deserves, but until then McGuckin's work will have to suffice.