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struggling to articulate their belief in the Triune God and translate their
insights into the life of the faith communities of which they were a part.
Whitworth ably describes the interdependence of their thinking and their
influence on each other and us: Their thoughts on the Trinity, Creation,
Incarnation, reading of the Scriptures, and their spiritual disciplines have a
contemporary relevance.
This book is accessible but not an easy read, constantly demanding
reflection on the fundamentals of the Christian faith in its formative period.
Whitworth seeks to direct us through the unfamiliar territory of the fourth
century with its ‘interminable wrangling over the meaning of Greek words,
fierce conflicts and equally fierce and ascetic spiritualities pursued in the wild
fastness of the desert…’ He does this by offering us three stars to guide us.
‘Solitude’ – the life of contemplation, prayer, fasting, renunciation
practiced in out of the way places.
‘Struggle’ – for orthodoxy, for a disciplined mind struggling to defend
the Son’s full divinity, for the careful use of words to describe what was true, as
expressed in the Scriptures.
‘Service’ – these monks ‘gave up to serve others’, in fact the poor was at
the heart of their ministry and they spoke up for them.
Cappadocia is now often full of tourists clambering into rock churches
from the 10th to 12th century looking at the extraordinary beautiful frescoes.
What remains of the Cappadocian Fathers? Very little in the sense of physical
buildings, but in terms of their theological and spiritual influence, they are
fascinating and inspiring architects of Christian doctrine which broadens our
understanding, deepens our insight and stimulates our prayerfulness and
charity.
Contemplating Whitworth’s three stars of solitude, struggle and service
during our time in Cappadocia, allowed us pilgrims to come close to the
heartbeat of the ministry of these three wise men from the East, Basil and the
two Gregorys. We also learnt how many significant points of contact there are
between them and ourselves in our reading, understanding and living out the
Christian faith. We were to return home by another way…

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