Number DOI: http://doi.org/10.33209/2519-4348-2707-9627-2024-12-151

VB. – № 12, 2024. – P. 17-31

Summary

The 4th-5th centuries in Church history are rightfully considered a period of greatest flourishing of Christian theological thought and literature. We know about the theological ideas of the great Church Fathers: Athanasius of Alexandria, Gregory the Theologian, Basil the Great, but unfortunately, we know very little about them as ordinary people, similar to us. Among all early Christian thinkers and writers of the first four centuries, Gregory the Theologian stands out for his exceptional openness and willingness to share personal spiritual experiences. His works – speeches, letters, and poetry – are replete with autobiographical elements. Particularly noteworthy is the extensive Autobiography in verse form created by Gregory at the end of his life, in which he describes in detail the key moments of his life, accompanying them with his own reflections and interpretations. This study is devoted to analyzing the personality of Gregory the Theologian through the lens of his autobiographical poetic works. The author of the article aims to reveal the human nature of the saint, making his image more understandable and relatable to the modern reader. In his works, the saint is not ashamed to express deep emotions – from joy to sadness, from confidence to doubt. This creates a very human and realistic image of the saint. His poetry also reveals human relationships – friendship, conflicts with opponents, love for family. The results of the study demonstrate that exploring the autobiographical elements in Gregory the Theologian’s works allows for creating a more realistic and humane image of the saint, which can be especially valuable for modern readers and researchers of patristics.

Key words: Gregory the Theologian, poetry, autobiography, prayer, humanity, pessimism, hope, trust in God, faith experience.

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