Bishop of Sasima, Nazianzus or Constantinople? Revisiting the question of the canonical status of St. Gregory the Theologian

In the article, based on a study of a wide range of sources, an attempt was made to determine the canonical status of the famous father of the Church of the 4th century, St. Gregory the Theologian. During the study, the canonical status of St. Gregory after his expulsion from Sasima and his return to Nazianzus in 372 as ἐπίσκοπος σχολάζων was established, and a reconstructed chronological list of the sees in which he performed his episcopal ministry is provided: Sasima - Nazianzus - Constantinople - Nazianzus. In addition, the article shows that the saint occupied each of the indicated sees canonically justifiably and legally, although in the case of Nazianzus and Constantinople, the highest hierarchical authority (the Council) applied the principle of ecclesiastical economy.