Editing Gregory of Nyssa (section)

=== 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>