Opinion
By Valentine Obienyem
TODAY, we celebrate the feast of two great saints: St. Gregory Nazianzen and St. Basil. Among its “Fathers,” the early medieval Church recognised eight as “Doctors of the Church.” In the East, these were St. Athanasius, St. Basil, St. Gregory Nazianzen, St. John Chrysostom, and St. John of Damascus. In the West, they included St. Ambrose, St. Jerome, St. Augustine, and St. Gregory the Great. But what does it mean to be a Doctor of the Church?
In 2007, during my wedding, I received a remarkable gift from Rev. Frs Simon Obiakor and Callistus Igwenagu – a book titled”33 Doctors of the Church,” written by Fr. Christopher Rengers, O.F.M., a Capuchin friar. At the time, the Church had recognised 33 Doctors; today, that number has grown to 37. As Fr. Obiakor handed me the book, he remarked: “Val, we carefully considered what to present to you. Knowing you may not value material gifts as much, we agreed, knowing your inclinations, that this book would be most meaningful to you.”
A Doctor of the Church is a saint officially recognised for exceptional contributions to theology, doctrine, and spirituality. These individuals are noted for their theological depth, holiness of life, and universal influence on the Church’s teachings, rooted in Scripture.
Before the Doctors of the Church, there were the Apostolic Fathers – apologists and theologians who had direct contact with the apostles or were their close contemporaries. These Fathers belonged to the earliest generation of Christian writers. Notable among them is St. Clement of Rome (35–99), whose writings reflected apostolic teachings and demonstrated the authority of the Roman Church in early Christianity. Similarly, St. Ignatius of Antioch (35–107), a disciple of St. John the Apostle, emphasised the unity of the Church and the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. He used the term “ Catholic” for the first time to mean universal. Another example is St. Polycarp of Smyrna, also a disciple of St. John, who actively refuted early heresies – similar to the kind Abel Damina resurrects today, falsely presenting them as newly discovered truths.
An invaluable document from this period is the “Didache,” an anonymous work outlining the teachings of the Twelve Apostles. It provides instruction on Christian ethics, worship, and Church organisation.
There is no aspect of Catholic practice today that the early Church Fathers did not address – whether confession, baptism, the Eucharist, or Marian devotion. For instance, confession was expounded upon by Tertullian, St. Cyprian of Carthage, and Origen. Baptism was discussed by St. Justin Martyr, St. Irenaeus of Lyons, and St. Hippolytus of Rome. The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist was affirmed by St. Ignatius of Antioch, St. Justin Martyr, and St. Irenaeus, while Marian theology was explored by St. Ignatius of Antioch, St. Justin Martyr, and Origen. These early writers laid the groundwork for later theological development, which the Doctors of the Church would build upon.
St. Gregory Nazianzen and St. Basil the Great, both key figures of the Cappadocian Fathers, exemplify the intellectual depth of early Christianity by blending faith with reason. St. Gregory, known as “The Theologian,” was instrumental in defending the Nicene faith against Arianism, particularly through his theological writings, including his “Five Theological Orations”, and his role in the Second Ecumenical Council. As Archbishop of Constantinople, he emphasized the mystery of God and the call to holiness, earning him recognition as a Doctor of the Church.
St. Basil, a champion of monasticism, theology, and liturgical reform, also defended the Nicene Creed and worked for Christian unity. His Rule formed the foundation of Eastern monastic life, and his contributions to social justice and theological writings, such as “On the Holy Spirit”, helped shape Trinitarian doctrine. Together with his siblings, he and Gregory of Nyssa, formed a family of saints devoted to the faith.
Why is this reflection relevant to modern Christianity? Today, many neglect the intellectual depth of the faith. In a society where some individuals, like Abel Damina, misinterpret Christianity by quoting isolated Bible verses without understanding their historical or theological context, the importance of Church tradition cannot be overstated. The man, with his half-baked theology, thought he was equipped to cross swords on Christianity with priests who had studied Patrology as part of their training. These days, when I see him on social media, it is evident he exhibits the reflexes of a heretic reveling in the furore caused by his false teachings. True understanding of Christianity requires knowledge of Church history and apostolic tradition.
The Catholic Church bases her practices not on arbitrary decisions or the pseudo-intellectualism of one man, but on the example of the apostles, their interpretation of Scripture, and how they applied it.
This is why the Church uniquely upholds apostolic tradition alongside the Bible. Furthermore, the Magisterium, or teaching authority of the Church, provides guidance on modern ethical issues not explicitly addressed in Scripture, such as in vitro fertilisation and contraception. Without this authority, Christianity risks being reduced to subjective interpretations of Scripture.
In summary, the Catholic Church stands as the custodian of apostolic tradition, offering clarity and continuity in faith and morals. A proper understanding of Church history reveals the errors of heretics and underscores the wisdom of the Church Fathers and Doctors in preserving the faith. Today, understanding the full depth of Christian teaching requires knowledge of this history and tradition, as the Church’s Magisterium provides essential guidance on ethical issues, ensuring clarity and continuity in faith and morals.
2nd January, 2025.
C.E.
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