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Let me introduce you to one of my favorite saints, my homegirl Macrina the Younger. She was born in Cappadocia around 330 CE. After the death of her betrothed, she decided at age 12 to remain a virgin, serving her parents although she had many suitors who desired her hand.
Macrina played a large role in the theological education of her siblings, namely three of her brothers who are also celebrated as Saints: Basil the Great, Peter of Sebaste, and Gregory of Nyssa.
After her father died, Macrina urged her mother to release their servants and take monastic vows with her. Some of their servants joined the monastery with them, and they lived as true equals in one family.
When Basil returned home from the university in Athens, full of pride, Macrina put him in his place and persuaded him to take up the monastic life. I love that. I picture her holy sass giving her brother a much needed humbling.
Macrina eventually became the leader of her monastic community. Her brother Gregory records a miracle Macrina performed—through prayer, she healed a child’s eye disease.
Her brother Gregory recorded her deathbed prayer: “O Lord, you have freed us from the fear of death. You have made the end of life here the beginning of a true life for us. You who compassionately gave paradise back to the man crucified with you, remember me also in your kingdom.
If I have committed sins in word, deed or thought because of the weakness of our nature, don’t let your eyes discover them. You who have power on earth to forgive sins, forgive me so that I may be refreshed.”
St. Macrina became one of my favorites after a popular evangelical leader asserted that women were not to play a role in the theological education of men. I feel called not just to minister to women, but to minister, period. I want to write Bible studies.
And not Bible studies “for women.” Just Bible studies. Period. This wise woman reminds me that God uses his children regardless of gender to teach and form the faith of his church. I hope you learned something and will read Nyssa’s book on her!
