ST. GREGORY OF NYSSA (JAN. 10TH)

St. Gregory and His Wife, St. Theosebia of Nyssa 

By Bp. Joseph

INTRODUCTION

On Wednesday, January 10th, Orthodox Christians around the world come together to honor the profound legacy of St. Gregory of Nyssa. Born in AD 335, to Greek noblemen, his mother, Emilia, and grandmother, Macrina the Elder, being disciples of St. Gregory Thaurmaturgus. St. Macrina the Elder’s husband, St. Gregory’s maternal grandfather, died as a martyr during the persecutions of the Emperor Diocletian. St. Gregory emerged as a luminary philosopher and theologian, renowned not only for his familial ties to St. Basil the Great, and to his brothers and sister, among his eight siblings being St. Macrina the Younger, St. Naucratius, St. Peter of Sebaste, but also for his exceptional contributions as a mystic and theological writer later in life. 

EARLY FORMATION

St. Gregory of Nyssa's journey began in the cradle of a devout Christian family, marked by his close kinship with his elder brother, St. Basil the Great. Influenced by a rich spiritual environment of fasting and prayer, led primarily by his mother and grandmother, Gregory embarked on a path of asceticism and contemplation. His thirst for divine wisdom and mystical experiences shaped the essence of his spiritual pursuits later, when he was sent to study pagan philosophy with his brother at the Stoa in Athens. There, they met St. Gregory Nazianzus, were classmates with Julian the Apostate, the future Emperor, and interacted with many of the famous late pagan philosophers of the day. It was here that the young men would form a lifelong friendship that is still commemorated in the Church today by calling them all by the combined title of the "Cappadocian Fathers."

LIFE WORK 

St. Gregory's theological acumen quickly gained him prominence as a young man, establishing him as a distinguished figure in the Church, marrying a pious woman from Caesarea, St. Theosebia the Deaconess. St. Gregory was elected bishop of Nyssa in AD 372, supported by his brother and father, and was known for trying to reconcile various heretical groups to the Church. His writings as bishop were characterized by a profound blend of mysticism and intellectual depth, delved into the intricate nature of the Holy Trinity, the Incarnation, and the human soul's journey towards God. His notable work, "Life of Moses," exemplifies his ability to intertwine mysticism with practical Christian living and established a paradigm for Orthodox theologians for the ages. 

St. Gregory of Nyssa emerged as a staunch defender of Orthodoxy during the turbulent times of ecclesiastical controversies over the influence of the heretic Arius, teaching that Christ was not co-equal with God. His unwavering commitment to the Nicene Creed and the orthodox faith solidified his role as a beacon of doctrinal purity, leading to his brief election as bishop in an Armenian missionary diocese, a mission to Arabia where he preached powerfully to heretics, and then his moderation of a scandal surrounding St. Cyril of Jerusalem, who was accused of Arianism because the bishop that consecrated Cyril later on confessed that dread heresy. St. Gregory outlived his luminous brother, St. Basil, attending the First Council of Constantinople in AD 381, supporting St. Gregory Nazianzus, who had become Archbishop of the City, and defended the Creed with St. Basil’s Pneumatology and the writing the Holy Spirit clause of the Creed. Much of our philosophical understanding of the Holy Spirit is dependent upon what the Cappadocian Fathers achieved at this Second Ecumenical Council of the Church.

The teachings of St. Gregory of Nyssa reverberate through the corridors of Christian theology, East and West, influencing generations of believers and scholars. His emphasis on the transformative power of mystical encounters with God and his nuanced theological writings continue to guide seekers of truth on their spiritual journeys today. His writings continue to influence the philosophy of Universalism in the Church, seeing the hope of Apokatastasis (the final reconciliation of all) as the ultimate realization of God’s Will for His creation. This all makes St. Gregory of Nyssa even more important and relevant today for the Church than he has ever been before. 

SUMMARY 

On this special day, as Christians commemorate the life and witness to Christ of St. Gregory of Nyssa, let us delve into the treasures of his wisdom. May his legacy inspire us to seek the mystical depths of our faith, enriching our understanding of the divine mysteries. St. Gregory of Nyssa, a true luminary of the Church, invites us to explore the boundless realms of God's love and wisdom.

 COLLECT 

ALMIGHTY GOD, Thou hast revealed to Thy Church Thy eternal Being of glorious majesty and perfect love as one God in Trinity of Three Persons: Give us grace that, like Thy bishop Saint Gregory of Nyssa, we may continue steadfast in the confession of the Holy Orthodox Faith, and ever be constant in our worship of Thee, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; Through Jesus Christ Our Lord, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.