January: Day 30: Teaching 2: Commemoration of the Holy Three Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom

January: Day 30: Teaching 2:
Commemoration of the Holy Three Hierarchs: 
Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom
 
(On Mutual Love and Unanimity in Faith)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. “In the eleventh century, during the reign of the Christ-loving Emperor Alexios Komnenos, there arose a great dispute in Constantinople among the most learned lovers of wisdom,” writes Saint Dimitri of Rostov in his Lives of the Saints, in the account of the Synaxis of the Three Hierarchs, whose memory is celebrated today. Some exalted Saint Basil the Great as a teacher lofty in speech, firm in character, and strict toward those who sinned. Others, however, placed above him Saint John Chrysostom, who, with his extraordinary eloquence, was distinguished by gentleness of heart toward sinners. And finally, others considered Gregory the Theologian higher than both, as the most eloquent in word and one who deeply understood the dogmas of the faith.

Indeed, it was difficult to decide which of these three great hierarchs should be considered greater than the others: each of them was great in his own way. The disputes among those arguing about the greatness of the three hierarchs were heated and eventually led many of them to division: some were called Basilites, others Gregorians, and still others Johannites, and they regarded one another as bitter enemies. This quarrel among the faithful over these very hierarchs was offensive to the memory of the Saints and grievous to their holy souls.

And behold, they appeared to John, Bishop of Euchaita, who at that time was renowned for his piety and learning — first each one separately, and then all together — appearing not in a dream, but openly, and they declared unanimously: “We are one before the Lord our God; in each of us there neither was nor is anything for which others should contend; there is among us neither first nor second; if one of us is named, the other two follow him. Therefore we ask you to command those who are at enmity because of us to cease their dispute and not to be divided. For just as during our earthly life we cared for unity of mind among the faithful, so now our sole concern is that there be peace and unity of mind among all Christians under heaven. To this end, unite our commemoration into one day, telling the faithful that all of us are one before God. And we will continue as before to assist in your salvation, since we have a certain boldness before the Lord.”

Having said this, the three holy hierarchs, in divine radiance, ascended to heaven, calling one another by name. Saint John of Euchaita immediately hastened to inform the people of Constantinople of the vision granted to him, reconciled those who were disputing, and established a feast in honor of the Three Hierarchs on January 30. And wisely did Saint John do this, adds Saint Dimitri of Rostov, since in the month of January the memory of the three hierarchs is celebrated separately: Saint Basil the Great on January 1, Saint Gregory the Theologian on January 25, and Saint John Chrysostom through the translation of his relics on January 27. Therefore it was most fitting to establish at the end of this same month a common commemoration in honor of the three hierarchs, or their synaxis.

On this day, January 30, we glorify the light-bearing triad of hierarchs, the three most exalted servants of the Most Holy Trinity. Basil we call “great and divinely manifested, a luminary of the Church and a pillar of fire, enlightening the faithful and consuming enemies;” Gregory we call “divine and eloquent, heavenly in mind, a fire of lofty speech, a most great hierarch;” John we call “golden-tongued, all-golden in speech, the mouth of Christ, a river of spiritual gifts,” and so forth. All together, these hierarchs, as was said above, are our great teachers of love and unity of mind in the faith.

II. Nor is the lesson of the Three Hierarchs from the other world concerning unity of mind in the faith superfluous for you also, brethren. Unfortunately, even among you there sometimes appear those who imagine themselves to be wise, who out of pride, vanity, and other lusts of their heart raise various disputes about the faith, “understanding neither what they say nor what they affirm,” as the Apostle says (1 Tim. 1:7). By this we have especially in mind those pitiable brethren of ours who, having been caught in some heresy, schism, Stundism, and the like, try to sow among you false notions about the faith.

“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the teaching which accords with godliness, withdraw yourself from such,” writes the Holy Apostle Paul (1 Tim. 6:3, 5). “Avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and contentions and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and vain. Reject a heretic after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sins, being self-condemned” (Titus 3:9–10). “Avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife,” writes the same Apostle Paul in his epistle to Timothy. “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those who oppose themselves, if God perhaps will grant them repentance to the knowledge of the truth, that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will” (2 Tim. 2:23–26).

III. “I beseech you, brethren,” let us also say in conclusion once more in the words of the same Holy Apostle Paul, “mark those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them. For such people do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.”

 

Source: A Complete Annual Cycle of Short Teachings, Composed for Each Day of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.