Makrina

Abstract

Makrina, whose life is transmitted to us by her brother Gregory,1 bishop of Nyssa from 371--376, was born in Neocaesarea, in the old town Kabeira which had become the metropole of the Roman province Pontus Polemoniacus in the second century. Makrina was from an aristocratic family. Basilius and Emmelia, her parents, belonged to those aristocrats who owned a big estate (latifundium) in the area of the Pontus. They survived seven years (304--311) of persecution of Christians under the government of Galerius and Maximilius Daja by hiding themselves with their whole household and servants in the wilderness. Their property was confiscated, but probably returned when Constantine, the Great, came to power. Makrina's paternal grandmother, the famous Makrina, the Older, was a pupil of Gregory Thaumaturgos, who preached the gospel in the area of the Pontus and was a man well educated in Christian religion and Greek philosophy as well. Gregory of Nyssa tells us how his sister Makrina lived an ascetic life on the family estate Annesi, northwest from Neocaesarea, together with her mother Emmelia, former slave women, and other aristocratic lady-companions. The choice for the ascetic life was also made by Makrina's brothers Basil and Petrus. The latter stayed in the convent when Basil thought it his duty to return to the life of active church politics.