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St. Gregory the Theologian

Painting
Painting on flat wooden panel covered by metal riza with floral and scroll border. A Cyrillic caption is engraved in the top center of the riza. The painting shows a man with greying-brown beard bent to the left holding a gospel book. He wears red robes with a olive green stole decorated in yellow cross motifs. He has a raised riza halo with circular decorations.

2005.02.075

Panel

Betsy Scheuring Icon Collection

2005.02

Betsy Scheuring

Gift

Gift of Betsy Scheuring

Russia

Icon

Symbol, Religious

Religious Objects

Ceremonial Objects

Category 08: Communication Objects

14-1/4 in

6-1/2 in

1-1/4 in

Spirit Made Tangible: The Scheuring Icon Collection (2006)

Surveying the Sacred: Analysis of the Scheuring Collection of Eastern Orthodox Icons (2025)

Cultural/Historical Context

"St. Gregory here holds a text, possibly a Bible or his own writings, which made him famous. During his lifetime, the accomplished orator/theologian/rhetorician Gregory Nazianzus was best known for the five treatises on Christianity that he wrote and delivered at Constantinople in 380 CE. He is known as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs, the other two being Basil the Great and John Chrysostom. Their feast day is January 30th. The metal riza over the icon has only one open section revealing the complete figure of the saint painted underneath, as opposed to the usual cutouts of only the face or hands. The foliate border and beaded outlining complement the ornate metal halo of the icon. Dark rich colors of red and yellow, the rendering of the tile floor, and the figure’s elongated body reflect the Byzantine style."

St. Gregory the Theologian picture number 1