Macrina the Younger
A Catholic Saint
Saint Macrina the Younger was born in 324 in Caesarea, Cappadocia. Her family was part of the aristocracy that was renowned for its financial support of Christians during the persecutions of the Emperor Diocletian. She was the daughter of Basil the Elder and Emmelia. She was eldest one of ten children. Two of her younger brothers, Basil the Great and Saint Gregory of Nyssa, were two of the three Cappadocian Fathers. The Cappadocian Fathers were theologians who emphasized the role of the Holy Spirit in Christianity. This is why the Holy Spirit is now known as the third part of the Trinity.
Macrina’s father arranged a marriage for her, but her fiancé died before the wedding. Macrina decided to become a nun. She became known as a holy woman and was one of the most prominent nuns in the Eastern Church. After her father’s death in 340, she helped her mother manage the family estates at Annisa, near the Black Sea.
Asceticism
Macrina’s greatly influenced her more famous brothers. She urged them to be baptized and was the primary influence in their theological education. Macrina was provided an ascetic lifestyle for her family to follow. She gave away many of the family’s belongings to others in an effort to simplify the family’s lifestyle. She treated the servants and slaves as equals. She wore clothing similar to the lower classes, slept in a similar bed, and shared a table with the servants at meals.
Monastic Community
Her family founded and developed one of the earliest monastic communities. Macrina was recognized for her intellect and was known as “the Teacher.” The family estate became known as the School of Virtue and attracted both men and women. The women lived in a compound on one side of the River Isis, while the men, led by Macrina’s brother Peter of Sebaste, lived on the other side. The community supported itself through manual labor.
As Macrina approached death, her bed was turned toward the East in anticipation of the resurrection. She began to speak only to God. She died in 379 and is buried next to her parents at the Church of the Holy Martyrs. Her brother Gregory wrote a book on her life titled the Life of Macrina. Her feast day is July 19.
Sources:
Catholic Encyclopedia “St. Macrina the Younger” (accessed November 20, 2009)
Gregory of Nyssa. "Life of Macrina" Medieval Sourcebook (accessed November 24, 2009)
Swan, Laura. The Forgotten Desert Mothers. New York: Paulist Press, 2001.
St. Macrina the Younger
|
What do you think about this article?
More in History
Latest Articles