Chief among them were Athanasius, the assertive bishop of Alexandria, and three church leaders from Cappadocia, Asia Minor ​ — Basil the Great, his brother Gregory of Nyssa, and their friend Gregory of Nazianzus.
Ievērojamākie tā laika teologi bija pašapzinīgais Aleksandrijas bīskaps Atanasijs un trīs baznīcas vadītāji no Mazāzijas provinces Kapadokijas — Basilijs Lielais, viņa brālis Nīsas Gregors un abu draugs Nazianzas Gregors.