TROSKA O CZYSTOŚĆ WIARY W RODZINIE I WE WSPÓLNOTACH EKLEZJALNYCH KAPADOCJI WEDŁUG ŚW. GRZEGORZA Z NYSSY
THE CARE FOR THE PURITY OF FAITH IN FAMILY AND ECCLESIAL COMMUNITIES IN CAPPADOCIA ACCORDING TO ST. GREGORY OF NYSSA

Summary/Abstract: St. Gregory of Nyssa came from a numerous family which, having already been Christian for few generations, gave few saints to the Church. The care for the purity of faith manifested itself in different ways. First, it appeared as a careful upbringing in a family environment, which was established by all family members, namely parents and elder children who assisted in educating younger siblings, and which became visible in the transfer of faith from oldest generations to youngest ones by creating some tradition. The second area in ecclesial circles was the care for the orthodoxy. A fragment of the letter of St. Basil the Great to the eldest of Neocezarea can be an example of the care for the purity of the deposit of the faith, which is strongly against heterodox teaching propagated in some ambiences. For the Cappadocian fathers heterodox sciences referring to the deity of the Son, the Holy Spirit and the appropriate understanding of the Holy Trinity, were a big challenge. St. Gregory of Nyssa appeared against different manifestations of the heterodoxy (such as Arians, eunomians, macedonians etc.) in a deliberate and determined way. Parallel to the theological reflection he progressed the realization of commandments and evangelical advices through establishing the care for needs of the poor and the elderly, and advanced attempts for strengthening faith instilled with baptism and for showing the prospect of participation in the life of God.

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