Cappadocian Fathers Christianity in the 5th century

the cappadocians promoted christian theology , highly respected in both western , eastern churches saints. 4th-century monastic family led saint macrina younger provide central place brothers study , meditate, , provide peaceful shelter mother. abbess macrina fostered education , development of 3 men collectively became designated cappadocian fathers: basil great second oldest of macrina s brothers (the first being famous christian jurist naucratius) , became bishop; gregory of nyssa became bishop of diocese associated thereafter name; , peter of sebaste youngest of makrina s brothers , later became bishop of sebaste.

these scholars along gregory nazianzus set out demonstrate christians hold own in conversations learned greek-speaking intellectuals , christian faith, while against many of ideas of plato , aristotle (and other greek philosophers), scientific , distinctive movement healing of soul of man , union god @ center—one best represented monasticism. made major contributions definition of trinity finalized @ first council of constantinople in 381 , final version of nicene creed formulated there.

subsequent first council of nicea, arianism did not disappear. semi-arians taught son of substance father (homoiousios), against outright arians taught son unlike father (heterousian). son held father not of same essence father. cappadocians worked bring these semi-arians orthodox cause. in writings made extensive use of formula 3 substances (hypostases) in 1 essence (homoousia), , explicitly acknowledged distinction between father , son (a distinction nicea had been accused of blurring) @ same time insisting on essential unity.