St. Gregory the Thelogian ~ God bearer of all names and beyond any name

Gregory’s teaching on the relative and partial character of the names of God, which was to become very important for the subsequent theological tradition of the Orthodox East, is expressed in both his orations and mystical poetry. One of his poems is addressed to God as a bearer of all names and at the same time someone beyond any name, Who is glorified by both word and silence:


O You Who are beyond everything (o panton epekeina)! For what else can be sung about You?
What word can glorify You? For You are unutterable for any word!
What intellect can look at You? For You are incomprehensible for any intellect!
You alone are unspeakable, for You have begotten all speakable things.
You alone are unknowable, for You have generated all that is knowable.
Everything that has speech and that has not proclaimed You.
Everything reasonable and unreasonable venerates You.
The desires and pains which are common for all
Are directed at You! Everything prays to You.
Everything capable to understand Your commandment sends to You a speechless hymn.
All exists because of You alone. All in its entirety longs for You.
You are the limit of all, You are both One and All, yet You are None,
And You are neither One, nor All. O You Who have all names! How can I name You,
Who are alone nameless? What heavenly intellect
Would be able to break through clouds that hide You? Be merciful,
O You, Who are beyond everything. For what else can be sung about You?[13]



[13] PG 37,507-508.

Thanks to Source:

http://hilarion.ru/en/2010/02/25/1081