St Gregory of Nyssa Biography, Feast Day, Date of Birth, Country of Birth, Profession, Place of Work, Date of Death, Place of Death, Beatification Date, Canonization Date
St Gregory of Nyssa, Profile |
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| Date of Birth | 333 AD |
|---|---|
| Country of Birth | Turkey of Asia |
| Matrimony/Holy Orders | Saints who were Married |
| Profession | Teacher, Priest, Hermit, Bishop, Archbishop |
| Place of Work | Athens, Greece |
| Date of Death | 398 AD |
| Place of Death | Turkey |
| Feast Day | March 9 |
| Beatification | Beatified by N/A |
| Canonization | Canonized by Pre-Congregation |
| Patron Saint of | |
St Gregory of Nyssa Biography
St Gregory of Nyssa was born in 33 AD at Caesarea, Cappadocia. Gregory was the younger brother of Saint Basil the Great. Also, the friend of Saint Gregory of Nazianzen. Gregory was educated in Athens, Greece. He was influenced by the works of Origen and Plato. Gregory was married to Theosebeia, who also may have been a deaconess. He was the professor of rhetoric.
He disillusioned with his life as a teacher, became a priest and hermit. His mother and sister already lived the monastic life.
He became the Bishop of Nyssa, Lower Armenia, in 372 AD. Gregory was also the Archbishop of Sebaste. He fought against Arianism, but not as successful as he hoped.
Gregory gets cheated and deceived to the point that Demosthenes, governor of Pontus, had to accuse him of stealing Church property and had him imprisoned. He fortunately escapes but is deposed by a synod of bishops in 376 AD. He wanders in exile for two years, then restores to his see.
Gregory attended the Council of Antioch. Fought the Meletian heresy. Participated in the second ecumenical Council at Constantinople as a theologian.
Gregory also fought Arianism and reaffirmed the decrees of the Council of Nicaea. The council then calls him, “Father of the Fathers” because he is widely venerated as the great pillar of orthodoxy and the great opponent of Arianism.
Father of the Church.
There is some debate about Gregory’s relationship with his wife following his episcopal consecration. Though some say Gregory continued to live with her, but Saint Jerome says that the eastern churches did not permit this.
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