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Books About (All three of) The Cappadocian Fathers
The books suggested on this page consider the three Cappadocian Fathers together. For more specific suggestions on each of them, please refer to their own Reading Room page:

	Hans von Campenhausen, The Fathers of the Greek Church (London: Adam & Charles Black, 1963) ISBN: 0713608196
	This book dedicates a short chapter to each of 12 key figures from the early Eastern Church (who thought and wrote in Greek). Includes coverage of Justin, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria and Origen as well as the three Cappadocians Fathers. The style is very readable, and you don't have to be a specialist to get past the first page. A good place to start.

	*A. Meredith, The Cappadocians* (New York: St Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1998) ISBN: 0881411124**
	If you're ready to go into a little more depth, this book provide a good sketch of all three of the Cappadocian Fathers - Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus and Gregory of Nyssa. There’s an introduction to each of them which helps you to start seeing them as real people (rather than just "two Gregories and a Basil!") as well as an overview of some of the key texts which each of them has left behind. There’s also a valuable summary in the last chapter of "The Cappadocian achievement".

	G. A. Barrois (editor and translator), The Fathers Speak: St Basil the Great, St Gregory of Nazianzus, St Gregory of Nyssa (New York: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1986) ISBN: 0881410373
	In the usual rush to cover all the highlights of Early Church history, the Cappadocian Fathers are often presented solely as champions of doctrine, upholders of orthodoxy and chief combatants against the "evil Arian horde". Little is usually said about their individual personalities or personal struggles. This book (a collection of personal correspondance between the three of them) goes some way toward redressing the balance. The letters are grouped on specific topics, with enough background information also given to enable the context of the discussions to be understood. You'll end up smiling as well as wincing at some of the comments that pass between them. An excellent way to gain an insight into the men whose faces stare so sternly from their icons.

	*J. Peilkan, Christianity and Classical Culture: The Metamorphosis of Natural Theology in the Christian Encounter with Hellenism* (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1993) ISBN: 0300055544**
	An excellent survey of FOUR Cappadocians (Macrina - the sister of Basil and Gregory of Nyssa gets a well deserved look-in too!) and their key role in integrating classical (Greek) culture & philosophy with Christianity. Highly readable, both to those with little previous background in this topic, as well for those already familiar with the field.

	*S. R. Holman, The Hungry Are Dying: Beggars and Bishops in Roman Cappadocia* (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001) ISBN: 0195139127**
	The Amazon.co.uk review reads... "Susan R. Holman examines the theme of poverty in the fourth-century sermons of Basil of Caesarea, Gregory Nazianzen, and Gregory Nysson. These sermons are especially important for what they tell us about the history of poverty relief and the role of fourth century Christian theology in constructing the body of the redemptive, involuntary poor. Some of the topics explored include the contextualization of the poor in scholarship, the poor in late antiquity, and starvation and famine dynamics. In exploring this relationship between cultural context and theological language, this volume offers a broad and fresh overview of these little-studied texts."

	*J. Behr, The Formation of Christian Theology Volume 2: The Nicene Faith* (New York: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2004) ISBN: 088141266X**
	The paperback version of "Volume 2" actually comes as two separate books. Part 1 presents an overview of the 4th century background and then outlines the progress of the Trinitarian controversy between Nicaea and Constantinople. Particular attention is paid to the contribution of Athanasius. Part 2 examines the important contribution of the three Cappadocian Fathers (Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus and Gregory of Nyssa). Highly recommended. A review from the back cover: This is a masterpiece, comprehensive and lucid and always going into the depth and heart of the argument of the Fathers. It would be hard to find a better guide to the fourth century. It avoids clichés and “textbook” distortions of the theologies of the period, and succeeds in presenting the faith of Nicaea in all its evangelistic and transforming vigour. (Archbishop Rowan Williams)