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January 30: Feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs
17th century icon of the Three Holy Hierarchs held at the Historical Museum in Sanok, Poland. Left to right: Saint Basil the Great, Saint John Chrysostom, and Saint Gregory the Theologian. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons.
The Catholic Church recognizes 38 saints as “Doctors of the Church,” not in the sense of physicians but as academics, much like today when a university professor with a PhD is called a doctor. (Doctor derives from the Latin verb docere meaning “to teach”). The title honors these saintly men and women for their written contributions to philosophy, theology, prayer, spirituality, and more. Bishop Robert Barron describes Doctors of the Church as “those up and down the centuries who have articulated the Church’s teaching in some area so clearly and so powerfully that they become a sort of benchmark or criterion for others in that area.”
The 38 Doctors of the Church are remarkably different, having lived throughout the last two millennia, and they span Christendom east to west. The Ukrainian Catholic Church celebrates three of the four great Eastern Doctors of Church on January 30 with the “Feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs,” including Saint Basil the Great, Saint Gregory the Theologian, and Saint John Chrysostom.
Saint Basil the Great (c. 329-379)
Saint Basil the Great, also known as Basil of Caesarea, was a gifted scholar and ascetic who started a monastic movement with his elder sister, Macrina. Togther they are honored as the founders of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great. Basil and Macrina’s family and social circle produced saints over three generations.
Saint Gregory the Theologian (c. 325-389)
Saint Gregory the Theologian, also known as Gregory of Nazianzus, was a deeply talented orator and writer. His contributions to the faith survive in poems, letters, and orations. He met Basil during their schooldays in Caesarea where they struck up a friendship that lasted decades. Saint Gregory helped the Church overcome the heresy of Arianism which denied the full divinity of Christ.
Saint John Chrysostom (c. 347-407)
Saint John Chrysostom was first and foremost a brilliant speaker. In fact, Chrysostom is not a surname but Greek for “golden-mouthed.” Yet he was also an important theologian and served as Archbishop of Constantinople. Additionally, he headed a number of liturgical efforts and reforms which resulted in the “Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom,” the most commonly celebrated form of the Eucharist in the Byzantine Rite.
Saint Basil the Great, Saint Gregory the Theologian, and Saint John Chrysostom, pray for us!