A Saint for Grandparents

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

A saint for grandparents St. Macrina the Elder was the grandmother of St. Basil the Great, his brothers St. Gregory of Nyssa and St. Peter of Sebaste, and their sister, St. Macrina the Younger. Macrina raised all of her grandchildren (she had 10), and she took special care to give them a sound religious education. Her care paid off: Basil became a monk and wrote a monastic rule thatis still followed by monks in the East. Gregory became bishop of Nyssa and then archbishop of Sebaste. Peter preceded his brother as archbishop of Sebaste. All three brothers were champions of the Catholic faith against Arianism, a heresy that was raging across the Christian world at the time. And Macrina the Younger became abbess of a small community of nuns near the Black Sea. St. Macrina had been converted by St. Gregory Thaumaturgus (the name means “wonder-worker”), a renowned preacher. It was said that when he was made bishop of Caesarea, there were only 17 Christians in his diocese, but when he died there were only 17 pagans in his diocese he had not managed to convert. In 303, Emperor Diocletian began his empire-wide persecution of Christians. It would be the last Roman persecution of the Church, and it would prove to be the most ferocious. Thousands of Christians were killed, among them some of the most revered martyrs of the early Church, including St. Agnes, St. Sebastian, Sts. Cosmas and Damian, and St. Januarius, known to Italians as San Gennaro. As was true of so many Christians, Macrina and her husband went into hiding. They fled to a remote spot in a vast forest along the shores of the Black Sea, where they remained for seven years. It was a terrible time for the couple. In addition to the constant fear that they would be discovered and dragged off to a horrible death, they often had difficulty foraging for food. Several times Macrina and her husband nearly starved to death. Only in 311 did they feel safe enough to leave their refuge and return to civilization. Soon thereafter, Macrina’s husband died, and she filled her days raising and educating her grandchildren. She died in c. 340. She’s the patron for grandparents, and of the poor and widows. Her feast day is January 14. Thomas J. Craughwell writes from Connecticut..

Copy Link

Recommended publications

The Rule of St Basil in Latin and English
The Rule of St Basil in Latin and English The Rule of St Basil in Latin and English A Revised Critical Edition Translated by Anna M. Silvas A Michael Glazier Book LITURGICAL PRESS Collegeville, Minnesota www.litpress.org A Michael Glazier Book published by Liturgical Press Cover design by Jodi Hendrickson. Cover image: Wikipedia. The Latin text of the Regula Basilii is keyed from Basili Regula—A Rufino Latine Versa, ed. Klaus Zelzer, Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum, vol. 86 (Vienna: Hoelder-Pichler-Tempsky, 1986). Used by permission of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Scripture has been translated by the author directly from Rufinus’s text. © 2013 by Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by print, microfilm, micro- fiche, mechanical recording, photocopying, translation, or by any other means, known or yet unknown, for any purpose except brief quotations in reviews, without the previous written permission of Liturgical Press, Saint John’s Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, Minnesota 56321-7500. Printed in the United States of America. 123456789 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Basil, Saint, Bishop of Caesarea, approximately 329–379. The Rule of St Basil in Latin and English : a revised critical edition / Anna M. Silvas. pages cm “A Michael Glazier book.” Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 978-0-8146-8212-8 — ISBN 978-0-8146-8237-1 (e-book) 1. Basil, Saint, Bishop of Caesarea, approximately 329–379. Regula. 2. Orthodox Eastern monasticism and religious orders—Rules. I. Silvas, Anna, translator. II. Title. III. Title: Rule of Basil.
[Show full text]
Language and Theology in St Gregory of Nyssa
Durham E-Theses Language and theology in St Gregory of Nyssa Neamµu, Mihail G. How to cite: Neamµu, Mihail G. (2002) Language and theology in St Gregory of Nyssa, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/4187/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk University of Durham Faculty of Arts Department of Theology The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published without his prior written consent and information derived from it should be acknowledged. Language and Theology in St Gregory of Nyssa Mihail G. Neamtu St John's College September 2002 M.A. in Theological Research Supervisor: Prof Andrew Louth This dissertation is the product of my own work, and the work of others has been properly acknowledged throughout. Mihail Neamtu Language and Theology in St Gregory of Nyssa MA (Research) Thesis, September 2002 Abstract This MA thesis focuses on the work of one of the most influential and authoritative theologians of the early Church: St Gregory of Nyssa (f396).
[Show full text]
Diss Final 4.04.11
Senses of Beauty by Natalie Michelle Carnes Graduate Program in Religion Duke University Date:_______________________ Approved: ___________________________ Stanley Hauerwas, Supervisor ___________________________ Jeremy Begbie ___________________________ Elizabeth Clark ___________________________ Paul Griffiths ___________________________ J. Warren Smith Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate Program in Religion in the Graduate School of Duke University 2011 i v ABSTRACT Senses of Beauty by Natalie Michelle Carnes Graduate Program in Religion Duke University Date:_______________________ Approved: ___________________________ Stanley Hauerwas, Supervisor ___________________________ Jeremy Begbie ___________________________ Elizabeth Clark ___________________________ Paul Griffiths ___________________________ J. Warren Smith An abstract of a dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate Program in Religion in the Graduate School of Duke University 2011 Copyright by Natalie Carnes 2011 Abstract Against the dominant contemporary options of usefulness and disinterestedness, this dissertation attempts to display that beauty is better—more fully, richly, generatively—described with the categories of fittingness and gratuity. By working through texts by Gregory of Nyssa, this dissertation fills out what fittingness and gratuity entail—what, that is, they do for beauty-seekers and beauty-talkers. After the historical set-up of the first chapter, chapter 2 considers fittingness and gratuity through Gregory’s doctrine of God because Beauty, for Gregory, is a name for God. That God is radically transcendent transforms (radicalizes) fittingness and gratuity away from a strictly Platonic vision of how they might function. Chapter 3 extends such radicalization by considering beauty in light of Christology and particularly in light of the Christological claims to invisibility, poverty, and suffering.
[Show full text]
Saints Basil the Great and Gregory of Nazianzus
Saints Basil the Great and Gregory of Nazianzus SAINT OF THE DAY 02-01-2021 Saints in heaven, friends on earth, both were proclaimed doctors of the Church in 1568 by Saint Pius V: because they shared their lives in Christ, the Church remembers on the same day Saint Basil the Great (c. 329-379) and Saint Gregory of Nazianzus (c. 329-390), who belong to the group of «Cappadocian Fathers», also including Basil's own brother, Saint Gregory of Nyssa. In addition to sharing the same geographic origin, the Cappadocian Fathers distinguished themselves by the ability to communicate their faith to Greek-speaking intellectuals, to whom they demonstrated the perfect compatibility of Christianity with true philosophy. SAN BASIL THE GREAT. His was a family of saints, effectively a small domestic church. His grandfather [Basil the Elder] died a martyr under the persecutions of Diocletian, and became the first saint known to us in Basil's genealogical tree; the Church also venerates his parents, grandmother Macrina the Elder, his sister Macrina the Younger, his brothers the bishops Gregory of Nyssa and Peter of Sebaste. His grandmother Macrina the Elder proved fundamental in Basil's education to the Christian virtues: "In my life I will never forget the vigorous promptings that the speeches and examples of this most pious woman gave to my still tender heart", he wrote. After studying in his native Caesarea in Cappadocia, where his father (a wealthy rhetorician and lawyer) was his first teacher, Basil completed his education in Constantinople and then in Athens, where he was a pupil of the pagan philosopher Himerius, together with Gregory of Nazianzus, with whom he struck a lifelong friendship.
[Show full text]
Saints Who Studied (Or Taught) from Home
60 YEARS COURAGEOUSLY Living the Gospel August 23, 2020 WEEKEND MAGAZINE 21st Sunday in OT Saints who studied (or taught) from home Education has changed a lot through the centuries, but some saints are known for the lessons they gave or re- ceived at home. By Meg Hunter-Kilmer ith many parents choosing to home- school their children for the first time this year (and plenty more continuing W after years of educating their children at home), homeschooling families around the world would do well to look to the saints who’ve gone before. Though none of them had to deal with online learning or an abundance of curricula to choose from, all of these homeschooling and homeschooled saints are models of how to grow in holiness while learning (and teaching) at home. St. Emilia of Caesarea (d. 375) is known as the Mother of Saints. Among her 10 children are three bishops (one a Doctor of the Church) and a total of six saints. And while her sons eventually left home and went off to school, Emilia and her mother-in-law St. Macrina the Elder taught them all at home in their youth, with Emilia’s oldest daughter (St. Macrina the Younger) helping out with the little ones. This was the intellectual foundation of Sts. Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa. As in many large homeschooling families, the siblings learned nearly as much from each other as they did from their parents, and both Basil and Gregory considered their older sister Macrina enormously influen- tial on their intellectual and spiritual formation.
[Show full text]
Sex, Gender and Christian Identity in the Patristic Era1
UDK: 27-18 https://doi.org/10.2298/FID2102162C Original Scientific Article PHILOSOPHY AND SOCIETY Received 20.01.2021. Accepted 22.02.2021. VOL. 32, NO. 2, 157–334 To cite text: Cvetković, Vladimir (2021), “Sex, Gender and Christian Identity in the Patristic Era”, Philosophy and Society 32 (2): 162–176. Vladimir Cvetković SEX, GENDER AND CHRISTIAN IDENTITY IN THE PATRISTIC ERA1 ABSTRACT KEYWORDS Focusing on three historical examples of a different understanding of gender, sex, Christian Christian identity, the paper seeks to address the role of contemporary identity, martyrdom, concepts of sex and gender in the creation of Christian identity. In the virginity, ecstasy, love, first case study, focused on the literary representations of the Christian marriage. martyrdom from the second and third centuries, special emphasis is placed on the demand for the ‘manly’ or ‘masculine’ way of witnessing faith. The second historical example relates to the creation of a wider ascetic movement in the fourth-century Asia Minor, and its specific focus is on Macrina the Younger. In her Vita, Gregory of Nyssa distinguishes between Macrina’s gender identity based on her virginity on the one hand, and her social role as a widow, and ‘mother’ and ‘father’ of her monastic community on the other. Finally, the focus is shifted towards Dionysius the Areopagite and Maximus the Confessor, whose teachings about ecstasy, as a way to transcend oneself in the movement towards the loved one, provide the basis for establishing a theology of marriage and creating a Christian identity based not on sexual or gender roles, but on the uniqueness of human nature.
[Show full text]
Daily Saints - 2 January
Daily Saints - 2 January Feast of Saint Basil the Great Born: 330 Caesarea, Cappadocia Died: January 1 or 2, 379 (aged 48–50) Caesarea, Cappadocia Venerated in Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodoxy, Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, Lutheranism, Canonized: Pre-congregation, Attributes: Vested as bishop, wearing omophorion, holding a Gospel Book or scroll. St. Basil is depicted in icons as thin and ascetic with a long, tapering black beard. Patronage: Russia, Cappadocia, Hospital administrators, Reformers, Monks, Education, Exorcism, Liturgists St. Basil is the patron saint of hospital administrators, monks, and reformers. He is considered as the key to the founding of eastern monasticism as Saint Benedict of Nursia was to the west. He was born in 329 at Caesarea, Asia Minor (modern Turkey). His mother, father, and four of his nine siblings were canonized, including Saint Gregory of Nyssa. He was the grandson of Saint Macrina the Elder. As a youth, Basil was noted for organizing famine relief, and for working in the kitchens himself, quite unusual for a young noble. He studied in Constantinople and Athens with his friend Saint Gregory Nazianus. Ran a school of oratory and law in Caesarea. Basil was so successful, so sought after as a speaker, that he was tempted by pride. Fearful that it would overtake his piety, he sold all that he had, gave away the money, and became a priest and monk. After studying various modes of religious life, he founded what was probably the first monastery in Asia Minor. He drew up rules for monks living in the desert. He was ordained a priest, assisted the archbishop of Caesarea, and ultimately became archbishop himself, despite opposition from some of the bishops under him, probably because they foresaw coming reforms.
[Show full text]
Gregory of Neocaesarea: Evangelist in Pontus
Gregory of Neocaesarea: Evangelist in Pontus Graham Davis Lovell BA (Adelaide) MA (Macquarie) Ancient History Department Macquarie University 30 September 2004 (Revised August 2005) Sydney, 2005 HIGHER DEGREE THESIS AUTHOR’S CONSENT (DOCTORAL) This is to certify that I, /nP.v!^.^r being a candidate for the degree of Doctor of ......... am aware of the policy of the University relating to the retention and use of higher degree theses as contained in the University’s Doctoral Rules generally, and in particular Rule 7(10). In the light of this policy and the policy of the above Rules, I agree to allow a copy of my thesis to be deposited in the University Library for consultation, loan and photocopying forthwith. Signature of Witness Signature of Candidate Dated this day of M MACQUARIE The Academic Senate on 12 April 2005 resolved that Mr Graham Davis Lovell had satisfied the requirements for admission to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. This thesis represents a major part of the prescribed program of study. Table of Contents Table of Contents................................................................................................................................1 List of Figures, Maps & Tables........................................................................................................4 Summary............................................................................................................................................. 5 Candidate’s Statement......................................................................................................................
[Show full text]
HCHC School Catalog: Part III Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
HCHC School Catalog: Part III Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology Table of Contents Mission Statement p. 2 Faculty 2021-2022 p. 3 About Holy Cross p. 6 Academic Programs p. 10 Master of Divinity p. 13 Program Maps p. 16 Field Education Program p. 20 Master of Theological Studies p. 22 Program Map p. 24 Master of the Theology p. 25 Program for the Diaconate p. 29 Certificate in Byzantine Music p. 31 Program Map p. 32 Certificate in Youth & Young Adult Ministry & Leadership p. 33 Special Programs p. 35 Course Descriptions p. 38 HCHC ACADEMIC GUIDE DISCLAIMER The Hellenic College Holy Cross guide is intended as a general guide to the institution’s programs, courses, policies, fees, and procedures, all of which are subject to change without notice. All information contained within this document should be verified with the appropriate Hellenic College Holy Cross staff. All efforts have been made by Hellenic College Holy Cross to ensure that the material is accurate and up to date, but Hellenic College Holy Cross, its board of trustees, and its employees are not liable for any loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from the possession, publication, or use of or reliance upon that information. The provisions of this catalog are not intended to constitute a contract between the student and the institution. HCHC reserves the right to make changes at any time within the student’s term of enrollment. Courses and faculty are subject to change through normal academic channels. Students are responsible for meeting in full the requirements for graduation set forth in the school catalog upon date of entry.
[Show full text]
“In Pillars of Community, Terrence Kardong Serves As A
“In Pillars of Community, Terrence Kardong serves as a knowledgeable friend who walks with us through the lives and rules of those who were the first pillars of the cenobitic way of life. Thanks to his deft comments that don’t shy away from appreciating ancient texts in the light of modern situations, the curious customs, strong personalities, and situations of common life that we meet are recognizable, even across the centuries. “Kardong wants us to read the sources squarely in context, sometimes of contention, e.g. Basil against the hyper-ascetic Eustathians. Especially appeal- ing is his recounting of the life of Pachomius and the rules he formulated for his koinonia. As far-removed as Egyptians of the 4th century are from us of the 21st, one is startled at how familiar much of the legislation sounds. Both they and we have to contend with members who are tardy, surly, immature, and careless, and with situations that are tedious, unexpected, tricky, or irremediable. Kardong’s scholarship is true to the sources, and his lively style makes this book a pleasure to read.” Br. Andrew Thornton, OSB Saint Anselm Abbey Manchester, New Hampshire “This very interesting and important book is based on over twenty-five years of scholarly research spanning almost every aspect of cenobitic monasticism plus fifty years of lived monastic experience. As a scholar Terrence Kardong is famous for addressing significant topics and issues that other scholars tend to ignore. He always seeks to ask the better question and never settles for the easy answer no matter where the result leads.
[Show full text]
Basil of Caesarea - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
Basil of Caesarea - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil_of_Caesarea From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Basil of Caesarea, also called Saint Basil the Great, (330[2] – January 1, 379) (Greek: Άγιος Βασίλειος ο Μέγας) was the bishop of Caesarea Mazaca in Cappadocia, Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). He was an influential 4th century Christian theologian and monastic. Theologically, Basil was a supporter of the Nicene faction of the church, in opposition to Arianism on one side and the followers of Apollinaris of Laodicea on the other. His ability to balance his theological convictions with his political connections made Basil a powerful advocate for the Nicene position. In addition to his work as a theologian, Basil was known for his care of the poor and underprivileged. Basil St. Basil depicted on the left, mass of St. Basil by established guidelines for monastic life Pierre Subleyras which focus on community life, liturgical prayer, and manual labor. Bishop, Confessor and Doctor of the Church; Together with Pachomius he is Great Hierarch remembered as a father of communal Born ca. 330 monasticism in Eastern Christianity. Caesarea, Cappadocia, He is considered a saint by the [1] traditions of both Eastern and Western Died January 1, 379 Christianity. Caesarea, Cappadocia, Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) Basil, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Gregory of Nyssa are collectively Ve ne rate d Eastern and Western Christianity referred to as the Cappadocian in Fathers. The Eastern Orthodox Church Canonized Pre-Congregation and Eastern Catholic Churches have 1 of 17 12/30/2010 12:22 AM Basil of Caesarea - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil_of_Caesarea given him, together with Gregory of Nazianzus and John Chrysostom, the Feast January 1 and January 30 (Eastern title of Great Hierarch.
[Show full text]
Learning Theology
Learning Theology Tracking the Spirit of Christian Faith Amos Yong Contents Preface xi Introduction: What Is a Theologian? 1 Macrina as Lay Theologian 2 Thomas Aquinas as Classical (Professional) Theologian 4 John Wesley as Pastoral and Practical Theologian 6 You and I as Those Who Love God and Want to Know and Serve God 8 Part I The Sources of Theology 1. Scripture: The Word and Breath of God 15 1.1 Behind of the Text 16 1.2 The World of the Text 18 1.3 In Front of the Text 20 1.4 The Spirit of the Text 22 2. Tradition: The Living Body of Christ and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit 27 2.1 Church and Tradition: Charisma and Institution 28 2.2 The Spirit/s of Protestantism 30 2.3 The Church Catholic as the Fellowship of the Spirit 33 2.4 The Spirit of Tradition in Its Contextuality 35 3. Reason: Renewing the Mind in the Spirit 39 3.1 Rationality as Traditioned 40 vii viii Contents 3.2 Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, and Universal Reason 42 3.3 Postmodern (Ir)Rationalities(!) 45 3.4 The Reasoning Spirit 48 4. Experience: Life in, by, and through the Spirit 53 4.1 Socialization 54 4.2 Intersectionality 56 4.3 Encountering the Living God, Experiencing Redemption 59 4.4 The Fullness of the Spirit and the Life of the Mind 61 Part II The Practices of Theology 5. Theology as Spiritual Practice: What Difference Does It Make in Personal Lives? 67 5.1 Knowing and Loving God 68 5.2 Loving and Serving Our Neighbors 70 5.3 Discerning the Spirit 72 5.4 Eschatological Rationality 74 6.
[Show full text]