Saint Gregory of Nyssa
by Priest Aleksandar Radunovic
A profound theologian and mystic, is one of the greatest minds and luminaries of the Orthodox Church.
Born around 335 in a pious family in Neocaesarea, which produced many saints, Gregory displayed an early inclination toward the sublime contemplation of divine mysteries as the younger brother of Saint Basil the Great.
Saint Gregory of Nyssa had a sister, Saint Macrina the Younger, who was a great saint and spiritual figure in their family. Saint Macrina played a significant role in the spiritual lives of her brothers, including Saint Gregory of Nyssa and Saint Basil the Great. Through her example of piety, wisdom, and life dedicated to monastic devotion, she influenced the formation of their characters and spiritual aspirations. Their family is renowned for its deep faith and extraordinary devotion, which led to the canonization of many of its members.
The life work of Saint Gregory of Nyssa was permeated with apophatic theology, in which the human mind does not strive to comprehend the essence of God but rather to experientially know His uncreated energies.
Gregory received a broad education, studying both secular sciences and the Holy Scriptures. Initially, he was a teacher of rhetoric, but after the death of his devout wife, Theosebia, he withdrew into monastic life under the spiritual guidance of his brother.
In 371, he was ordained as Bishop of Nyssa, a small town in Cappadocia, at the insistence of Saint Basil. As a bishop, he demonstrated exceptional courage in combating the Arian heresy, which attacked the foundation of the Orthodox faith—the doctrine of the consubstantiality of the Son with the Father.
The Arians accused him of embezzlement and deposed him from his episcopal seat in 375, leading to his exile for eight years. Despite this persecution, he remained steadfast in his witness to the truth, and after the death of Emperor Valens in 378, he returned to his episcopal duties. His pastoral service was marked by care for the spiritual state of his flock and an uncompromising commitment to preserving Orthodoxy.
His works, such as The Great Catechism, The Life of Moses, and On the Soul and the Resurrection, represent a profound synthesis of Christian teaching and Platonic philosophy. Gregory emphasizes that man is created as the image of God and is called to unceasing progress in virtue. His teaching on epektasis—the eternal ascent of the soul toward God—reveals a vision of Christian life as an ongoing transformation into the likeness of Christ. He reminds us that the Divine, being infinite and incomprehensible, remains an eternal mystery, while the soul, in love, strives for ever greater knowledge of God.
At the Second Ecumenical Council in 381, Saint Gregory played a key role in formulating the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. His funeral oration for Saint Meletius testifies to his rhetorical skill and profound pastoral sensitivity. At the same time, his teaching on apokatastasis, the eschatological restoration of all things in Christ, reflects a deep trust in Divine love, which surpasses every human concept.
Gregory’s theological method is imbued with the understanding of mystical experience, wherein man is called to purification of the heart as a prerequisite for true knowledge of God. He teaches that the goal of Christian life is not merely moral perfection but the inner transformation of man through the grace of God. In his work, we find a call to gather the mind and direct the heart toward the Divine light, which illuminates the path to eternity.
Saint Gregory of Nyssa reposed around 395, leaving behind a rich theological legacy that continues to enlighten the souls of the faithful. His life and work testify to the boundless greatness of God’s love, which calls us to unceasing effort and union with God in eternal transformation. His message remains an everlasting call to the path that leads to infinite knowledge of God, where every creature finds its fulfillment in God, Who is all in all.
O Saint Gregory of Nyssa, great teacher of the mysteries of God and tireless intercessor before the throne of the Most High,
look upon us who pray to you with troubled and darkened hearts.
Cleanse our souls from every stain of sin through your holy prayers,
and grant us pure minds, humble hearts, and steadfast wills to always strive toward God.
Teach us, as you taught through your holy works,
to grow daily in virtue and to never cease seeking His face.
Fill us with an unquenchable love for the Lord,
so that, freed from all earthly attachments, we may continually strive for the eternal Kingdom.
O saint of God, pray to Christ the Savior to grant us His mercy and salvation,
so that, together with you, we may glorify the Holy Trinity unto the ages of ages. Amen.
