Macrina Passed Her Faith to a New Generation
Macrina the Younger, one of several influential descendants of stout-hearted Macrina the Elder.
MACRINA AND HER HUSBAND (whose name we do not know) were Christians at Neocaesarea at a time when the Roman Empire still persecuted those who practiced faith in Christ. Around AD 311, during one of these persecutions, they fled into the forest of Pontus to escape from imperial soldiers. For seven years they lived exposed to cold and hunger, eating roots and wild plants.
After the terror subsided, they came home again. But their peace did not last long. Imperial officers confiscated their property and left them homeless. Despite these trials, Macrina and her husband clung fast to their faith in Christ. After the persecution ended, the church at Neocaesarea honored Macrina and her husband.
Although Macrina’s son Basil was not known for a deep spiritual life, he fathered ten children, three of whom were among the most notable Christians of their generation. They were Macrina the Younger, Basil the Great, and Gregory of Nyssa.
Macrina the Younger was a student of the Bible and founded a monastery for women. When she saw that her brother Basil was becoming puffed up and drifting from the faith because of his great skill as a lawyer, she chided him.
Basil ignored her warnings until he was brought to his senses by having another of his brothers suddenly die. He renounced the things of the world, dedicated himself to holy living, founded a monastery, fed the poor, tended the sick, and promoted art and learning. Chosen to be a bishop, he became a powerful preacher and writer. He defended the orthodox faith at a time when it faced great danger from Arian teachings. His wisdom and zeal earned him the nickname “great.”
Like his brother Basil, Gregory was half-hearted in his spiritual life for many years. What jolted him out of apathy was seeing the remains of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste—soldiers who had frozen to death rather than renounce Christ. When his brother Basil appointed him bishop of Nyssa, he did not fare well and a Roman emperor who favored Arian teachings forced him into hiding. After the emperor died, Gregory returned to his see (bishop’s seat) and became a prominent defender of theorthodox faith. He wrote many works on theology and the Bible.
Both Basil and Gregory mentioned their grandmother Macrina the Elder (so called to distinguish her from her famous granddaughter) in their writings. Even so, we don’t know much about her except that she had suffered persecution and had known Gregory the Wonder Worker, a famous evangelist of the third century. She loved to tell about him. Basil praised her for teaching him to love the Christian faith when he was just a little boy.
If Macrina had not been faithful, the church would have been poorer. Because of her faithful example, the church declared her to be a saint. She is honored in both the east and the west. In the west, her feast is on this day, 14 January.
—Dan Graves
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Macrina is also featured in "Other Women of the Early Church: Special Gallery Section" in Christian History #17, Women in the Early Church
