On 19 July each year the Anglican Church celebrates the life of Macrina, who was the sister of Gregory of Nyssa. Macrina was the eldest child, two of her brothers, Gregory of Nyssa and Basil the Great are two of the Cappadocian Fathers. She was a great influence on them. They lived in Cappadocia, in central Turkey. Another Gregory (of Nazianzus) is the other Cappadocian Father.Macrina was probably born in 327AD into a long-established and wealthy Cappadocian family whose faith in Christ had been tried and tested during Diocletian’s persecutions in 303-4. Her father died when she was about 12 years old. She seems, according to her brother Gregory‘s ‘Life of Macrina’, to have taken responsibility for running the family estate and eventually set up a monastic settlement for women. She was noted for taking on menial, ordinary jobs such as preparing bread for the household. She exercised a strong spiritual influence on her brothers as well. Persuading Basil to be a priest rather than become a rhetorician. At a young age she committed to remaining a virgin and remaining unmarried. She was also given the name Thekla, after a Christian woman from Iconium (modern day Konya) who was a convert through the Apostle Paul’s preaching. Thekla was a martyr who braved much in her commitment to Christ. More about her in the weeks to come!
Collect about St Macrina
in your Son Jesus Christ you open for us the way to resurrectionthat we may enjoy your bountiful goodness:may we who celebrate your servants Gregory and Macrina
press onwards in faith to your boundless loveand ever wonder at the miracle of your presence among us;through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,who is alive and reigns with you,in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Copyright © 2018 Rev Ros Wilkinson