Catechetical Discourse: A Handbook for Catechists

St. Gregory of Nyssa wrote the Catechetical Discourse as a handbook for his catechists, designed to help them defend and articulate the core tenets of the faith, including the Trinity, creation, the image of God, the fall and the nature of evil, the saving work of Christ, and the sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist. The Discourse draws extensively from earlier traditions—particularly the works of Origen, St. Methodius of Olympus, and, most notably, St. Athanasius' On the Incarnation (PPS 44)—and it significantly influenced later theologians like St. John of Damascus in his On the Orthodox Faith (translation forthcoming from SVS Press).

This intricate work is also noted for its ambiguous stance on Origen's universalism, potentially including the notion that even the devil might be saved. The translator's introduction contextualizes this debate, offering a clear understanding of the Catechetical Discourse within the framework of St. Gregory's rhetorical style, his other writings, and the broader patristic tradition.