St. Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, was the younger brother of St. Basil the Great (commemorated on January 1). His birth and upbringing coincided with the height of the Arian controversy. Having received an excellent education, he was at one time a mentor of eloquence. In 372, he was ordained bishop of the city of Nyssa in Cappadocia by Saint Basil the Great.
Saint Gregory was a firm believer in Orthodoxy and, together with his brother Basil the Great, fought against the Arian heresy, suffering persecution from the Arians, who in 376 were falsely accused of misusing church property, deprived of the pulpit and exiled to Ancyra. The following year, Saint Gregory was deposed again in absentia by a council of Arianist bishops, but continued to strengthen his flock in Orthodoxy, moving from place to place. After the death of Tsar Valens (378), he was returned to his pulpit and was joyfully received by his flock. In 379, his brother, Saint Basil the Great, died. Saint Gregory was grieved by the loss of his mentor. He wrote a eulogy for him and completed the description of the six days of creation compiled by St. Basil, the so-called "Sixth Day." In the same year, Saint Gregory participated in the Council of Antioch against heretics who did not honor the immaculate virginity of the Mother of God and others who worshipped the Mother of God as a Deity. He was chosen by the Council to survey the churches in Arabia and Palestine and to affirm the Orthodox teaching about the Blessed Virgin Mary. On the way back, Saint Gregory visited Jerusalem and worshiped the holy places.
In 381, Saint Gregory was one of the main figures of the Second Ecumenical Council, convened in Constantinople against the Macedonian heresy, which incorrectly taught about the essence of the Holy Spirit. At this Council, on the initiative of St. Gregory, the Nicene Creed was supplemented.
Together with other bishops, St. Gregory confirmed St. Gregory the Theologian in the rank of Archbishop of Constantinople.
In 383, Saint Gregory of Nyssa was a participant in the Council of Constantinople, where he delivered a sermon on the Divinity of the Son and the Holy Spirit. In 386, he was in Constantinople again, and he was commissioned to pronounce the funeral oration to the late Queen Placilla. In 394, Saint Gregory was again present in Constantinople at a Local Council convened to resolve church affairs in Arabia.
St. Gregory of Nyssa was an ardent defender of Orthodox dogmas and a zealous teacher of his flock, as well as a merciful and compassionate father of his flock, their intercessor before judges; he was distinguished by generosity, patience and peacefulness.
Having lived to a great old age, Saint Gregory of Nyssa died peacefully shortly after the Council of Constantinople. Together with his great contemporaries, Saints Basil the Great and Gregory the Theologian, Saint Gregory of Nyssa had a significant influence on the church life of his time. His sister, Saint Macrina, wrote to him: "You are known to cities, national assemblies, and entire regions.: The churches are sending and calling for your help." St. Gregory went down in history as one of the most prominent theologians and figures of Christian thought of the fourth century. Possessing a deep philosophical gift, he understood philosophy only as a means for deeper insight into the true meaning of Divine revelation.
Saint Gregory left behind many dogmatic writings, words and teachings.

The Church remembers St. Gregory of Nyssa
23.01.2025, 06:00