Who Presided at Constantinople (381)?
A brief correction
As often happens, the moment after I send out a Newsletter to my email list, I find a critical error. Just seconds after I sent out my article on Basil of Caesarea, I found one.
I said that Gregory of Nyssa presided over the Council of Constantinople, which is untrue. It was a few people: first, Meletius of Antioch, then Gregory of Nazianzus, and lastly, Nectarius of Constantinople.
Emperor Theodosius I favoured Gregory, and the latter became something of an authorized interpreter of the Nicene faith. But he did not preside over the council. When I saw my error, I had something of a *face palm* moment. Sigh.
In any case, I find Gregory’s status fascinating since Gregory himself had a rather philosophical approach to the faith. And he even has a more than hopeful view of salvation for all in his “Then Also the Son Himself Will Be Subjected to the One Who Subjected All Things to Him” (In illud: Tunc et ipse Filius, GNO 3.2).
I will say that I must write more on Gregory since he remains one of, if not my favourite, fourth century theologian to read. Reading his On the Making of Man (De Hominis Opificio) some years ago left a lasting impression upon me. His work on Moses, the Song of Songs, and interpretation has been of deep spiritual comfort and help to me as well.
More to come.