Three Hierarchs (Basil, Gregory, John) icon (3)

Orthodox icon of Three Hierarchs (Hierarchs) (3): Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom. Commemorated January 30. The Icon of the Three Holy Hierarchs shows a meeting together of three of the greatest theologians in the Church's history: Ss Basil the Great, John Chyrstostom, and Gregory the Theologian. The icon show all three in unity vested in there vestments as Bishops. Saint Basil has dark hair with a long, pointed beard; Saint John is recognized by his high forehead and tuft of hair in the centre of his head; Saint Gregory is bearded with white hair. This celebration stems from a dispute about who was the the greatest of the Orthodox teachers: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom. One night in te midst of this dispute the three holy Hierarchs appeared in a dream to Saint John Mauropus, the Metropolitan of Euchaïta speaking with a single voice, they said: As you see, the three of us are with God and no discord or rivalry divides us. Each of us, according to the circumstances and according to the inspiration that he received from the Holy Spirit, wrote and taught what befits the salvation of mankind. There is not among us a first, a second or a third, and if you invoke one of us the other two are immediately present with him. Therefore, tell those who are quarreling not to create divisions in the Church because of us, for when we were on earth we spared no effort to re-establish unity and concord in the world. You can conjoin our three commemorations in one feast and compose a service for it, inserting the hymns dedicated to each of us according to the skill and knowledge that God has given you. " This common feast of these three teachers was instituted a little before the year 1100.