Spiritual Leaders & Religious Figures, FUR-HER
Religious and spiritual leaders have shaped beliefs, practices, and traditions throughout history. Learn more about influential religious leaders, spiritual teachers, founders, reformers, mystics, and other notable figures.
Spiritual Leaders & Religious Figures Encyclopedia Articles By Title
Fursey, Saint
Saint Fursey ; feast day January 16) was a monk, visionary, and one of the greatest early medieval Irish monastic......
Fénelon, François de Salignac de La Mothe-
François de Salignac de La Mothe-Fénelon was a French archbishop, theologian, and man of letters whose liberal......
Gaius, St.
St. Gaius ; feast day April 22) was the pope from 283 (possibly December 17) to 296. Nothing about him is known......
Galen, Blessed Clemens August, Graf von
Blessed Clemens August, Graf von Galen was a Roman Catholic bishop of Münster, Germany, who was noted for his public......
Galerius
Galerius was a Roman emperor from 305 to 311, notorious for his persecution of Christians. Galerius was born of......
Gall, Saint
Saint Gall ; feast day October 16) was an Irish monk who helped spread Irish influence while introducing Christianity......
Gallitzin, Demetrius Augustine
Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin was one of the first Roman Catholic priests to serve as a missionary to European......
Ganioda’yo
Ganioda’yo was a Seneca chief and prophet who founded the religious movement known as Gai’wiio (“Good Message”)......
Garbett, Cyril Forster
Cyril Forster Garbett was the archbishop of York and an ecclesiastical writer who promoted a social conscience......
Gasparri, Pietro
Pietro Gasparri was an Italian cardinal who, by appointment of Pope St. Pius X, in 1904 directed the new Code of......
Gasquet, Francis Aidan
Francis Aidan Gasquet was an English Roman Catholic historian, a cardinal from 1914, and prefect of the Vatican......
Gavrilo
Gavrilo was the patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church (1938–50), noted for his anti-Nazi stand and, later, for......
Geiger, Abraham
Abraham Geiger was a German-Jewish theologian, author, and the outstanding leader in the early development of Reform......
Gelmírez, Diego
Diego Gelmírez was a Spanish bishop and archbishop of Santiago de Compostela, site of the supposed shrine of St.......
Geneviève, St.
St. Geneviève ; feast day January 3) was the patron saint of Paris, who allegedly saved that city from the Huns.......
Gennadios II Scholarios
Gennadios II Scholarios was the first patriarch of Constantinople (1454–64) under Turkish rule and the foremost......
Gennadius I of Constantinople, Saint
Saint Gennadius I of Constantinople ; feast day August 25) was a Byzantine theologian, biblical exegete, and patriarch.......
Gennadius Of Marseilles
Gennadius Of Marseilles was a theologian-priest whose work De viris illustribus (“On Famous Men”) constitutes the......
Gennadius Of Novgorod
Gennadius Of Novgorod was a Russian Orthodox archbishop of Novgorod, Russia, whose leadership in suppressing Judaizing......
Geometres, John
John Geometres was a Byzantine poet, official, and monk, known for his short poems in classical metre. Geometres......
George Of Cappadocia
George Of Cappadocia was an opponent of and controversial successor (357) to Bishop Athanasius the Great of Alexandria,......
George of Laodicea
George of Laodicea was a bishop of Laodicea who was one of the principal champions of the homoiousian, or moderate......
George The Syncellus
George The Syncellus was a Byzantine historian and author of a world chronicle of events from the creation to the......
Gerard, St.
St. Gerard ; feast day September 24) was a Venetian Benedictine monk, one of the chief Christian evangelizers of......
Germanus I, Saint
Saint Germanus I ; feast day May 12) was a Byzantine patriarch of Constantinople and theologian who led the orthodox......
Germanus of Auxerre, Saint
Saint Germanus of Auxerre ; feast day: Wales, August 3; elsewhere, July 31) was a Gallic prelate who was twice......
Gershom ben Judah
Gershom ben Judah was an eminent rabbinical scholar who proposed a far-reaching series of legal enactments (taqqanot)......
Gibbons, James Cardinal
James Cardinal Gibbons was an American prelate who, as archbishop of Baltimore from 1877 to 1921, served as a bridge......
Gideon
Gideon, a judge and hero-liberator of Israel whose deeds are described in the Book of Judges. The author apparently......
Gikatilla, Joseph
Joseph Gikatilla was a major Spanish Kabbalist whose writings influenced those of Moses de León, presumed author......
Gilbert Foliot
Gilbert Foliot was an Anglo-Norman Cluniac monk who became bishop of Hereford and later of London; he was an unsuccessful......
Gilbert of Sempringham, Saint
Saint Gilbert of Sempringham ; canonized 1202; feast day February 4, feast day in Northampton and Nottingham February......
Giles of Rome
Giles of Rome was a Scholastic theologian, philosopher, logician, archbishop, and general and intellectual leader......
Gillespie, Mother Angela
Mother Angela Gillespie was an American religious leader who guided her order in dramatically expanding higher......
Gillespie, Thomas
Thomas Gillespie was a Scottish Presbyterian minister who assisted in founding the Relief Church (Oct. 22, 1761),......
Gladden, Washington
Washington Gladden was an American Congregational minister, crusading journalist, author, and prominent early advocate......
Gobel, Jean-Baptiste-Joseph
Jean-Baptiste-Joseph Gobel was the archbishop of Paris whose resignation doomed him to association with the Hébertists,......
Godwin, Francis
Francis Godwin was a bishop and historian who wrote the first story of space travel in English literature, The......
Goliath
Goliath, (c. 11th century bce), in the Hebrew Bible (Christian Old Testament), the Philistine giant slain by David,......
González de Mendoza, Pedro, Cardinal
Pedro González, cardinal de Mendoza was a Spanish prelate and diplomat who influenced Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand......
Goodwin, Thomas
Thomas Goodwin was an English Puritan clergyman and a chaplain to Oliver Cromwell who helped draft a confession......
Gore, Charles
Charles Gore was an English theologian, Anglican bishop, and an exponent of the liberal tendency within the Anglo-Catholic......
Gotthard, Saint
Saint Gotthard ; canonized 1131; feast day May 4) was an abbot and archbishop, who helped foster the development......
Goślicki, Wawrzyniec
Wawrzyniec Goślicki was a Roman Catholic bishop and diplomat whose political writings were precursory to Catholic......
Grace, Charles Emmanuel
Charles Emmanuel Grace was an African American revivalist and founder of the United House of Prayer for All People.......
Graham, Billy
Billy Graham was an American evangelist whose large-scale preaching missions, known as crusades, and friendship......
Granvelle, Antoine Perrenot de
Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle was a minister of King Philip II of Spain; he played a major role in the early stages......
Gray, Walter de
Walter de Gray was an English churchman who rose to high ecclesiastical office through service to King John. He......
Greeley, Andrew
Andrew Greeley was an American Roman Catholic priest, sociologist, educator, commentator, and author who devoted......
Gregory II Cyprius
Gregory II Cyprius was a Greek Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople (1283–89) who strongly opposed reunion of the......
Gregory of Nazianzus, St
St. Gregory of Nazianzus ; Eastern feast day January 25 and 30; Western feast day January 2) was a 4th-century......
Gregory of Nyssa, Saint
Saint Gregory of Nyssa ; feast day March 9) was a philosophical theologian and mystic, leader of the orthodox party......
Gregory of Tours, St.
St. Gregory of Tours ; feast day November 17) was a bishop and writer whose Ten Books of Histories (often wrongly......
Gregory Thaumaturgus, St
St. Gregory Thaumaturgus ; feast day November 17) was a Greek Christian apostle of Roman Asia and champion of orthodoxy......
Gregory the Great, St
St. Gregory the Great ; Western feast day, September 3 [formerly March 12, still observed in the East]) was the......
Gregory the Illuminator, St.
St. Gregory the Illuminator ; feast day September 30) was, according to tradition, the 4th-century apostle of Christianity......
Gregory, Cardinal Wilton
Cardinal Wilton Gregory is an American Roman Catholic prelate, former archbishop of Washington, D.C. (2019–25),......
Grenfell, George
George Grenfell was an English Baptist missionary and West African explorer. In 1874 the Baptist Missionary Society......
Griesbach, Johann Jakob
Johann Jakob Griesbach was a rationalist Protestant German theologian, the earliest biblical critic to subject......
Grindal, Edmund
Edmund Grindal was an English archbishop of Canterbury whose Puritan sympathies brought him into serious conflict......
Grosseteste, Robert
Robert Grosseteste was an English bishop and scholar who introduced into the world of European Christendom Latin......
Grundtvig, N.F.S.
N.F.S. Grundtvig was a Danish bishop and poet, founder of Grundtvigianism, a theological movement that revitalized......
Guarini, Guarino
Guarino Guarini was an Italian architect, priest, mathematician, and theologian whose designs and books on architecture......
Guise, Henri II de Lorraine, 5 duc de
Henri II de Lorraine, 5e duke de Guise was the 5th duke of Guise whose multiple attempts to revive the family’s......
Guise, Louis I de Lorraine, 1 cardinal de
Louis I de Lorraine, cardinal de Guise was the brother of François, 2nd duc de Guise. Named bishop of Troyes (1545)......
Guise, Louis II de Lorraine, 2 cardinal de
Louis II de Lorraine, 2e cardinal de Guise was the brother of Henri de Lorraine, 3rd duc de Guise, whom he supported......
Guise, Louis III de Lorraine, 3 cardinal de
Louis III de Lorraine, 3e cardinal de Guise was the last of the cardinals of the House of Guise, brother of Charles,......
Guru Amar Das
Guru Amar Das was the third Sikh Guru (1522–74), so named at the advanced age of 73. He is noted for his division......
Guru Angad
Guru Angad was the second Sikh Guru (1539–52) and standardizer of the Punjabi script, Gurmukhi, in which many parts......
Guru Arjan
Guru Arjan was an Indian spiritual leader, revered as the fifth Sikh Guru (1581–1606). He is considered to be the......
Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh was an Indian spiritual leader who is revered as the 10th and last of the human Sikh Gurus, known......
Guru Har Rai
Guru Har Rai was the seventh Sikh Guru (1644–61). Guru Har Rai’s grandfather was Hargobind, the sixth Guru and......
Guru Hargobind
Guru Hargobind was the sixth Sikh Guru (1606–44), who developed a strong Sikh army and gave the Sikh religion its......
Guru Hari Krishen
Guru Hari Krishen was the eighth Sikh Guru (1661–64), who was installed at five years of age and reigned for only......
Guru Nanak
Guru Nanak was an Indian spiritual teacher who is revered as the founder and the first Guru of Sikhism, a monotheistic......
Guru Ram Das
Guru Ram Das was the fourth Sikh Guru (1574–81) and founder of Amritsar, the center of Sikhism and the site of......
Guru Tegh Bahadur
Guru Tegh Bahadur was an Indian spiritual leader who is revered as the ninth Sikh Guru (1664–75). He is considered......
Gutiérrez, Gustavo
Gustavo Gutiérrez was a Roman Catholic theologian and Dominican priest who is considered the father of liberation......
Guérin, Mother Théodore, St.
St. Mother Théodore Guérin ; canonized 2006; feast day October 3) was a Franco-American religious leader who supervised......
Gülen, Fethullah
Fethullah Gülen was a Turkish Islamic scholar and spiritual leader of a movement for social and civic reform, known......
Hagar
Hagar, in the Old Testament (Gen. 16:1–16; 21:8–21), Abraham’s concubine and the mother of his son Ishmael. Purchased......
Hakuin
Hakuin was a priest, writer, and artist who helped revive Rinzai Zen Buddhism in Japan. Hakuin joined the Rinzai......
Halik, Tomáš
Tomáš Halik is a Czech Roman Catholic priest, sociologist, and author who advocated for religious tolerance and......
Hall, Joseph
Joseph Hall was an English bishop, moral philosopher, and satirist, remarkable for his literary versatility and......
Hall, Robert
Robert Hall was an English Baptist minister, writer, social reformer, and an outstanding preacher. In 1790 Hall......
Hannah
Hannah, (11th century bce), in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), the mother of the prophet Samuel. Childless as......
Hannington, James
James Hannington was an English Anglican missionary and the first bishop of Eastern Equatorial Africa. Educated......
Hardey, Mother Mary Aloysia
Mother Mary Aloysia Hardey was an American religious leader who expanded the presence of the Society of the Sacred......
Harris, Barbara
Barbara Harris was an American clergywoman and social activist who was the first female bishop in the Anglican......
Hatto I
Hatto I was the archbishop of Mainz and counsellor to the German king Arnulf of Bavaria, the last East Frankish......
Hayes, Patrick Joseph
Patrick Joseph Hayes was the archbishop of New York and cardinal who unified Roman Catholic welfare activities......
Healy, James Augustine
James Augustine Healy was the first African American Roman Catholic bishop in the United States and an advocate......
Hegesippus, Saint
Saint Hegesippus ; feast day April 7) was a Greek Christian historian and champion of orthodoxy who opposed the......
Helena, St.
St. Helena ; Western feast day August 18; Eastern feast day [with Constantine] May 21) was a Roman empress who......
Heller, Michał
Michał Heller is a Roman Catholic priest and mathematical cosmologist who championed a worldview that combined......
Heller, Yom Ṭov Lipmann ben Nathan ha-Levi
Yom Ṭov Lipmann ben Nathan ha-Levi Heller was a Bohemian Jewish rabbi and scholar who is best known for his commentary......
Helmold Of Bosau
Helmold Of Bosau was a German historian and priest who wrote Chronica Slavorum (Chronicle of the Slavs). Completed......
Henry
Henry was the king of Portugal and a Roman Catholic ecclesiastic whose brief reign (1578–80) was dominated by the......
Henry Of Blois
Henry Of Blois was the bishop of Winchester (from 1129) and papal legate in England (1139–43), who was largely......
Heribert Of Antimiano
Heribert Of Antimiano was the archbishop of Milan who for two years led his city in defying the Holy Roman emperor......