Great Catechesis

work by Gregory of Nyssa

Also known as: “Address on Religious Instruction”, “Great Catechetical Oration”(Show More)

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The Great Catechesis, also known as the Address on Religious Instruction, is a significant theological work by Saint Gregory of Nyssa. Written around the 4th century, it is a foundational text in orthodox theology.1

The work systematically explains the role of sacraments in restoring the image of God within human nature, which was lost through sin. Gregory of Nyssa, a prominent theologian and mystic, aimed to balance Platonic philosophy with Christian teachings. The Great Catechesis is notable for its comprehensive approach to religious instruction, reflecting the early Christian practice of preparing candidates for baptism. Gregory's synthesis of Greek and Christian traditions made his writings influential, particularly within the Eastern Orthodox Church.123

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patristic literature
The Cappadocian Fathers
…successful of which is the Great Catechetical Oration, a systematic theology in miniature. The output of Gregory of Nazianzus was much smaller, but his 45 Orations, as well as being masterpieces of eloquence, contain his classic statement of Trinitarian orthodoxy. Basil’s vast correspondence testifies to his practical efforts to reconcile…
Read More
…successful of which is the Great Catechetical Oration, a systematic theology in miniature. The output of Gregory of Nazianzus was much smaller, but his 45 Orations, as well as being masterpieces of eloquence, contain his classic statement of Trinitarian orthodoxy. Basil’s vast correspondence testifies to his practical efforts to reconcile…
Read More

Saint Gregory of Nyssa
…of orthodox theology in his Great Catechesis (or Address on Religious Instruction). The latter work is especially notable for developing systematically the place of the sacraments in the Christian view of restoration of the image of God in human nature—lost through sin in the fall of Adam. His brief treatise…
Read More
…of orthodox theology in his Great Catechesis (or Address on Religious Instruction). The latter work is especially notable for developing systematically the place of the sacraments in the Christian view of restoration of the image of God in human nature—lost through sin in the fall of Adam. His brief treatise…
Read More