From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
March 9th - St. Gregory of Nyssa
10 January (Eastern calendar)
14 October (Coptic calendar)
22 November (Coptic calendar)
Gregory was the child of an illustrious 4th century family of C=C3=A6sarea,
in Cappadocia, Greece. His parents, St. Basil the Elder and St.
Emmelia apparently died when he was young because he was raised by his
brother, St. Basil of C=C3=A6sarea and his sister, St. Macrina (July 19th).
His younger brother, Peter of Sebaste (January 9th) also became a
saint.
He received an excellent education and was especially astute as a
philosopher. He initially decided to direct his life to the service of
the Church and was ordained reader, but then decided to follow in his
father's footsteps and became a rhetorician and married Theosebeia.
The couple apparently never had any children. Gregory became
disillusioned by his colleagues who seemed more interested in military distinction than in academics.
Gregory was influenced by his friend Gregory of Nazianzus to return to
the service of the Church and subsequently he was ordained to the
priesthood. One tradition says that he and his wife lived a celibate
life together. Another tells us that Theosebeia entered the convent
which had been founded by Gregory's sister, Macrina.
After his wife's death, Gregory entered the monastery, which his
brother, Basil, had founded. In 371 he was consecrated bishop of Nyssa
by Basil. This was at the height of the Arian heresy. Gregory did not
have his brother's administrative abilities and another cleric who
wanted the bishopric accused him of negligence in the finances of the
diocese. Although he was proven innocent, he was deposed by an Arian
dominated synod in 376. However, in 378 he returned to Nyssa and in
379, when his brother Basil died, Gregory took over his work against
the Arian Heresy. He had a strong influence at the Council of Antioch
in 379.
Gregory was appointed metropolitan of C=C3=A6sarea in 380 and it was during this time that his holiness and great philosophic abilities came to be recognized. At the General Council of Constantinople in 381, he was
considered a mainstay of the orthodox Church and greatly influenced
the downfall of the Arian heresy. The details of his death are
uncertain, but it is believed that he died at Constantinople, in 394.
His feast is usually celebrated on March 9th.
Perhaps Gregory is best known for his writings. Although some
attributed to him are uncertain, there were many authentic writings of
major importance. He is greatly admired for his eloquent use of words
and his accurate exposition of the Christian faith. Many of his
writings were a refutation of heresies such as the Arian and the
Apollinarian controversy, among them the "Antirrheticuc adversus" and
the "Adversus Apollinaristas," both of which refuted the idea of "two
sons of God."
The major portion of his treatises was focused on the exposition of
Scripture. One can see his keen mind and his well-grounded
understanding of Greek philosophy. Unfortunately Gregory was
influenced by Originist tradition which led him to take some positions
which have not been fully accepted by later theologians. Yet his
dogmatic writings are highly orthodox. He is considered by some to be
the "Father" of mystical theology. Many of his writings are a mixture
of everyday ideas with intricate mystical and poetical reflections.
A good many of his writings survive:
Answer to Eunomius' Second Book
On the Holy Spirit (Against the Followers of Macedonius)
On the Holy Trinity, and of the Godhead of the Holy Spirit
On "Not Three Gods" (To Ablabius)
On the Faith (To Simplicius)
Funeral Oration on Meletius
On the Baptism of Christ (Sermon for the Day of Lights)
Letters
Canonical Epistle to St. Letoius
He surpasses the other Cappadocian fathers in the depth and richness
of his philosophy and theology and the appeal of his ascetical works.
On the Soul and the Resurrection is in the form of a dialogue with his
sister Macrina, and another dialogue, Against Fate, shows what a hold
astrology had on people's minds. His ascetical works, such as the Life
of Moses, and his sermons on the Song of Songs are well reputed.
One of his letters has a special interest in that it shows that the
custom of religious pilgrimage was already being seriously abused at
the end of the fourth century. A selection of translated texts from
Gregory's mystical writings, under the title From =E2=80=9CGlory to Glory= =E2=80=9D,
was published in 1963. Overall, Gregory's writings are remarkable for
depth of thought and lucidity of expression. Of the three 'great Cappadocians'--Basil, Gregory Nazianzen, Gregory of Nyssa--he is the
least prolific but the most profound.
Gregory was in Constantinople on several further occasions. At the
imperial court his eloquence was so highly esteemed that he was asked
to deliver the eulogy for the wife of Theodosius the Great and for his
daughter Pulcheria. The last account we have of him relates to his
appearance at a synod in Constantinople in 394. Presumably he died
soon after this, probably on January 10, the date on which the Greeks
have always kept his feast.
Apparently there is some debate about Gregory's relationship with his
wife following his episcopal consecration. Some imagine that he
continued to cohabit with her. But Saint Jerome testifies that the
custom of the eastern churches did not suffer such a thing. She seems
to have lived to see him ordained a bishop, and to have died about the
year 384; but she professed a state of continency (Attwater,
Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Farmer, Husenbeth, Schamoni).
Saint Quote:
"Just as the sun shines simultaneously on the tall cedars and on each
little flower as though it were alone on the earth, so Our Lord is
occupied particularly with each soul as though there were no others
like it."
--St. Therese of the Child Jesus "Story of a Soul" (p. 14)
Bible Quote
But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul
talk from your mouth. [Colossians 3:8] RSVCE
<><><><>
Hail, Saving Victim
Hail saving Victim, offered for me and for all mankind upon
the scaffold of the Cross. Hail, Precious Blood, flowing from
the wounds of our crucified Lord, Jesus Christ, and washing
away the sins of the whole world. Remember, O Lord, Thy
creature, whom Thou hast redeemed by Thy Precious Blood.
THE RACCOLTA
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