Gregory of Nyssa (ca335-395) was the brother of Basil the Great and the friend of Gregory Nazianzus. Collectively, they are known as the Cappadocians, after the region in Anatolia where they spent most of their lives. Gregory of Nyssa had a strongly philosophical bent--he was especially influenced by Plotinus--and he aimed to engage his theology with the best philosophical thought of his day. He played a key role in formulating the late fourth-century theological understanding of the Trinity, which remains foundational for orthodox theology. He is commemorated by the Episcopal Church on March 9. Below is an excerpt from his treatise on the Lord's Prayer. Along with other quotes by Gregory, it can be found here
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"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God". Who are these? Those who imitate the Divine love of others, who show forth in their own life the character of the Divine energy. The Lord and Giver of good things completely annihilates anything that is without affinity and foreign to goodness. This work he ordains also for you, namely to cast out hatred and abolish war, to exterminate envy and banish strife, to take away hypocrisy and extinguish from within resentment of injuries smoldering in the heart. Instead, you ought to introduce whatever is contrary to the things that have been removed.
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"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God". Who are these? Those who imitate the Divine love of others, who show forth in their own life the character of the Divine energy. The Lord and Giver of good things completely annihilates anything that is without affinity and foreign to goodness. This work he ordains also for you, namely to cast out hatred and abolish war, to exterminate envy and banish strife, to take away hypocrisy and extinguish from within resentment of injuries smoldering in the heart. Instead, you ought to introduce whatever is contrary to the things that have been removed.
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