Perichoresis In Gregory Nazianzen and Maximus the Confessor

The doctrine of perichoresis applied to Trinity is the mutual coinherence or interpentration of the Persons of the Godhead. Applied to Christology, perichoreo is, first, the reciprocal passing of characteristics and titles between the divine and human natures hypostatically united in Yeshua. Secondly, it also describes the distinct but intimate union between Christ\u27s natures. Historically, the Trinitarian use of perichoresis grew out of the christological use of perichoreo first developed by Gregory Nazianzen (A.D. 4th century) and then, subsuquently, explained by Maximus the Confessor (A.D 7th century). Maximus, often directly commenting on Gregory\u27s use of perichoreo, seeks to expound upon the union of the divine and human nature in Christ. This essay begins with an investigation into Gregory\u27s use of the term and concept of perichoreo followed by a summarization of the findings . After this, Maximus\u27 use of the concept and term of perichoreo/perichoresis in his Quaestiones Ad Thalassium, Ambigua 1-5, and the 2nd Letter to Thomas will be analyzed and summarized . Lastly, this essay demonstrates how Maximus follows and advances Gregory\u27s use of perichoreo in said works as well as notes the discontinuity between Maximus\u27 use and Gregory\u27s