Saint of the Day: St. Gregory of Nyssa – January 10, 2024

Born into the esteemed family of saints, Basil and Emmilia, young Gregory was nurtured by his older brother, St. Basil the Great, and his sister, Macrina, in what is now modern-day Turkey. Early signs of promise in Gregory’s academic pursuits hinted at a future marked by greatness.

Despite starting as a professor of rhetoric, Gregory’s trajectory shifted when he felt compelled to dedicate his knowledge and efforts to the Church. Despite being married at the time, Gregory pursued further studies for the priesthood and ultimately received ordination, as the requirement for priestly celibacy was not yet established.

In 372, Gregory was elected Bishop of Nyssa in Lower Armenia during a tumultuous period dominated by tension over the Arian heresy, which challenged the divinity of Christ. Despite a brief period of unjust arrest on allegations of embezzling Church funds, Gregory was reinstated to his bishopric in 378, a moment met with immense joy by his community.

Following the death of his beloved brother, Basil, Gregory found his true calling. He emerged as a formidable opponent of Arianism and other doctrinal deviations, earning a reputation as a staunch defender of orthodoxy. Gregory undertook missions to combat various heresies and played a pivotal role in the Council of Constantinople. While his sterling reputation endured throughout his lifetime, the certainty of authorship of his writings gradually waned over the centuries. Fortunately, diligent scholarship in the 20th century has restored appreciation for his contributions.

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St. Gregory of Nyssa is now recognized not only as a champion of orthodoxy but also as a significant contributor to the mystical tradition in Christian spirituality and to the development of monasticism. His legacy, once obscured, has been illuminated once again, allowing modern observers to appreciate the profound impact he had on the theological landscape of his time.