Editing Gregory of Nyssa (section)

==Biography==

=== Early life and education ===
Gregory was a [[Cappadocian Greeks|Cappadocian Greek]],<ref>{{cite book|author= Prokhorov, Aleksandr Mikhaĭlovich |title= Great Soviet encyclopedia, Volume 7 |publisher= Macmillan |year= 1982 |page=412 |oclc=417318059 |quote= One of the most prominent Greek patristic figures. Gregory of Nyssa was the brother of Basil the Great and a friend of Gregory of Nazianzus, and with them, he formed the so-called Cappadocian circle of church figures and thinkers. }}</ref> born around 335, probably in or near the city of [[Neocaesarea]], [[Pontus (region)|Pontus]].<ref name=Brill-103>Maspero & Mateo Seco, p. 103</ref> His family was aristocratic and Christian—according to [[Gregory of Nazianzus]], his mother was [[Emmelia of Caesarea]], and his father, a rhetorician, has been identified either as [[Basil the Elder]] or as a Gregory.<ref name=Brill-103/><ref>Van Dam (2003), p. 77</ref> Among his eight siblings were [[Macrina the Younger|St. Macrina the Younger]], [[Naucratius|St. Naucratius]], [[Peter of Sebaste|St. Peter of Sebaste]] and [[Basil of Caesarea|St. Basil of Caesarea]]. The precise number of children in the family was historically contentious: the commentary on 30 May in the ''[[Acta Sanctorum]]'', for example, initially states that they were nine, before describing Peter as the tenth child. It has been established that this confusion occurred due to the death of one son in infancy, leading to ambiguities in Gregory's own writings.<ref>Pfister (1964), pp. 108, 113</ref> Gregory's parents had suffered persecution for their faith: he writes that they "had their goods confiscated for confessing Christ."<ref name="Lowther Clarke 1916">Lowther Clarke, W.K., ''Life of Macrina'' (London: SPCK, 1916)</ref> Gregory's paternal grandmother, [[Macrina the Elder]], is also revered as a saint<ref name=Brill-104>Maspero & Mateo Seco, p. 104</ref> and his maternal grandfather was a martyr, as Gregory put it "killed by Imperial wrath"<ref name="Lowther Clarke 1916"/> under the persecution of the Roman [[Maximinus II|Emperor Maximinus II]].<ref>Gregory Nazianzen, Oration, 43.5-6</ref> Between the 320s to the early 340s, the family rebuilt its fortunes, with Gregory's father working in the city of Neocaesarea as an advocate and rhetorician.<ref>Gregory of Nyssa: The Letters. Translated by Anna M. Silvas, p. 3.</ref>

Gregory's temperament is said to have been quiet and meek, in contrast to his brother Basil who was known to be much more outspoken.<ref>{{harvnb|González|1984|p=185}}</ref> Gregory was first educated at home, by his mother Emmelia and sister Macrina. Little is known of what further education he received. Apocryphal hagiographies depict him studying at [[Athens]], but this is speculation probably based on the life of his brother Basil.<ref name=Drijvers-120>Watt & Drijvers, p. 120</ref> It seems more likely that he continued his studies in [[Kayseri|Caesarea]], where he read [[classical literature]], [[philosophy]] and perhaps [[medicine]].<ref name=Brill-105>Maspero & Mateo Seco, p. 105</ref> Gregory himself claimed that his only teachers were Basil, "Paul, John and the rest of the Apostles and prophets".<ref>Ludlow 2000, p. 21</ref>

While his brothers Basil and Naucratius lived as [[hermit]]s from {{Circa|355}}, Gregory initially pursued a non-ecclesiastical career as a [[rhetorician]]. He did, however, act as a [[Reader (liturgy)|lector]].<ref name=Brill-105 /> He is known to have married a woman named Theosebia during this period, who is sometimes identified with [[Theosebia|Theosebia the Deaconess]], venerated as a saint by Orthodox Christianity. This is controversial, however, and other commentators suggest that Theosebia the Deaconess was one of Gregory's sisters.<ref>
Daniélou, pp.&nbsp;73–76</ref><ref name=Brill-106>Maspero & Mateo Seco, p.106</ref>

=== Episcopate ===
In 371, the [[Roman emperor|Emperor]] [[Valens]] split Cappadocia into two new provinces, Cappadocia Prima and Cappadocia Secunda.<ref>Van Dam, p. 77</ref> This resulted in complex changes in ecclesiastical boundaries, during which several new bishoprics were created. Gregory was elected bishop of the new [[Episcopal see|see]] of [[Nyssa (Cappadocia)|Nyssa]] in 372, presumably with the support of his brother Basil, who was [[metropolitan bishop|metropolitan]] of [[Caesarea Mazaca|Caesarea]].<ref name=Brill-107>Maspero & Mateo Seco, p. 107</ref> Gregory's early policies as bishop often went against those of Basil; for instance, while his brother condemned the [[Sabellianism|Sabellianist]] followers of [[Marcellus of Ancyra]] as [[heresy|heretics]], Gregory may have tried to reconcile them with the church.<ref name=Brill-107 />

Gregory faced opposition to his reign in Nyssa and, in 373, [[Amphilochius of Iconium|Amphilochius]], bishop of [[Konya|Iconium]], had to visit the city to quell discontent. In 375, Desmothenes of Pontus convened a [[synod]] at [[Ancyra]] to try Gregory on charges of [[embezzlement]] of church funds and irregular ordination of bishops. He was arrested by imperial troops in the winter of the same year but escaped to an unknown location. The synod of Nyssa, which was convened in the spring of 376, deposed him.<ref name=Brill-108>Maspero & Mateo Seco, p. 108</ref> However, Gregory regained his see in 378, perhaps due to an amnesty promulgated by the new emperor, [[Gratian]]. In the same year Basil died, and despite the relative unimportance of Nyssa, Gregory took over many of his brother's former responsibilities in Pontus.<ref name=Brill-109>Maspero & Mateo Seco, p. 109</ref>
[[File:Council of Constantinople 381-stavropoleos church.jpg|thumb|left|The First Council of Constantinople, as depicted in a [[fresco]] in the [[Stavropoleos Monastery]], [[Bucharest]], [[Romania]].]]
He was present at the [[Synods of Antioch|Synod]] of [[Antioch]] in April 379, where he unsuccessfully attempted to reconcile the followers of [[Meletius of Antioch]] with those of [[Paulinus, Bishop of Antioch|Paulinus]].<ref name=Brill-110>Maspero & Mateo Seco, p. 110</ref> After visiting the village of Annisa to see his dying sister, Macrina, he returned to Nyssa in August. In 380 he travelled to [[Sivas|Sebaste]], in the province of [[Armenia Prima]], to support a pro-Nicene candidate for the election to the bishopric. To his surprise, he himself was elected to the seat, perhaps due to the population's association of him with his brother.<ref name=Brill-111>Maspero & Mateo Seco, p. 111</ref> However, Gregory deeply disliked the relatively unhellenized society of Armenia, and he was confronted by an investigation into his orthodoxy by local opponents of the Nicene theology.<ref name=Brill-111 /> After a stay of several months, a substitute was found—possibly Gregory's brother Peter, who was bishop of Sebaste from 381—and Gregory returned home to Nyssa to write books I and II of ''Against [[Eunomius of Cyzicus|Eunomius]]''.<ref name=Brill-111 />

Gregory participated in the [[First Council of Constantinople]] (381), and perhaps gave there his famous sermon ''In suam ordinationem''. He was chosen to [[Eulogy|eulogise]] at the funeral of Meletius, which occurred during the council. The council sent Gregory on a mission to Arabia, perhaps to ameliorate the situation in [[Bostra]] where two men, Agapius and Badagius, claimed to be bishop. If this is the case, Gregory was unsuccessful, as the see was still contested in 394.<ref name=Brill-111 /><ref name=Brill-112>Maspero & Mateo Seco, p. 112</ref> He then travelled to [[Jerusalem]] where [[Cyril of Jerusalem]] faced opposition from local clergy due to the fact that he had been ordained by [[Acacius of Caesarea]], an [[Arian]] heretic. Gregory's attempted mediation of the dispute was unsuccessful, and he himself was accused of holding unorthodox [[Christology|views on the nature of Christ]].<ref name=Brill-112 /> His later reign in Nyssa was marked by conflict with his metropolitan, Helladius. Gregory was present at a 394 synod convened at Constantinople to discuss the continued problems in Bostra. While the year of his death is unknown,<ref name=Brill-114>Maspero & Mateo Seco, p. 114.</ref> it is generally accepted that he died in 394.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCambly |first=Richard |date=19 April 2024 |title=Introduction to Gregory of Nyssa's 'Concerning Infants Who Have Died Prematurely' |url=https://www.lectio-divina.org/images/nyssa/Concerning%20Infants%20who%20have%20Died%20Prematurely.pdf |access-date=19 April 2024 |website=lectio-divina.org}}</ref>