The Three Holy Hierarchs of the Eastern Church refers to Basil the Great (known as Basil of Caesarea), Gregory the Theologian (known as Gregory of Nazianzus) and John Chrysostom. They were highly influential bishops of the early church who played pivotal roles in shaping Christian theology. In Eastern Christianity they are also known as the Three Great Ecumenical Doctors, while in Roman Catholicism the three are honored as Doctors of the Church. The three are venerated as saints in Orthodoxy, Catholicism and many other Christian churches. ... The Eastern Catholic Churches are autonomous particular Churches in full communion with the Pope of Rome. ... The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organising a liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with one or more saints, and referring to the day as that saints day. ... January 30 is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Gloriole. ... The term Eastern Church is variously used to refer to: The Eastern Orthodox Church, or Any of the Oriental Orthodox churches, or Any of the Eastern Rite Catholic churches, or The three groups collectively, when speaking of things they share in common with each other but not with Western churches. ... Basil (ca. ... St Gregory the Theologian: fresco from Kariye Camii, Istanbul, Turkey. ... John Chrysostom (349–407, Greek: , Ioannes Chrysostomos) was the archbishop of Constantinople. ... In Roman Catholicism, a Doctor of the Church is a theologian from whose teachings the whole Christian church is held to have derived great advantage and to whom eminent learning and great sanctity have been attributed by a proclamation of the Pope or of an ecumenical council. ...

During the eleventh century, disputes raged in Constantinople about which of the three hierarchs was the greatest. Some argued that Basil was superior to the other two above because of his explanations of Christian faith and monastic example. Supporter of John Chrysostom countered that the Golden Mouthed patriarch of Constantinople was unmatched in both eloquence and in bringing sinners to repentance. A third group insisted that Basil's close friend, Gregory the Theologian, was preferred to the others due to the majesty, purity and profundity of his homilies and his defense of the faith from the Ayrian heresy. The Eastern Churches teach that the three hierarchs appeared to St. John Mauropous, bishop of Euchaita, in the year 1084, and said that they were equal before God: "There are no divisions among us, and no opposition to one another."

The Three Holy Hierarch are often depicted together in icons. Their shared feast day is celebrated on January 30. The church also celebrates individual feast days for each.

See also

• Basil of Caesarea
• Gregory of Nazianzus
• John Chrysostom
• Cappadocian Fathers
• Patristics

Basil (ca. ... Saint Gregory of Nazianzus (329 - January 25, 389), also known as Saint Gregory the Theologian or Gregory Nazianzen was a 4th century Christian bishop of Constantinople. ... John Chrysostom (349–407, Greek: , Ioannes Chrysostomos) was the archbishop of Constantinople. ... The Cappadocian Fathers are the 4th century church fathers Basil the Great, Gregory Nazianzen, and Basils brother Gregory of Nyssa, who made major contributions to the definition of the Trinity finalized at the First Council of Constantinople in 381 and the Nicene Creed. ... Patristics is the study of early Christian writers, known as the Church Fathers. ...

External Links

• The Three Holy Hierarchs