Gregory of Nyssa
bishop of Nyssa
Feast: 10 January (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Gregory, one of the Cappadocian Fathers, was the brother of Sts Basil and Macrina; his mother was a martyr's daughter. Basil was his 'father and master' in learning and faith.
As Bishop of Nyssa he was deposed by an Arian synod in 376 and wandered from town to town, later returning to his see to the joy of his people. After Basil's death in 379 he became a leading voice for the Nicene faith, taking part in the Council of Constantinople in 381. He died after 385.
The miracles
There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.
Why that counted as sanctity
A great Father of the Church and theologian of the Trinity.
Connected on this site
- Basil of Caesarea Saint Brother or sister“Basil, together with his brother Gregory of Nyssa and his friend Gregory of Nazianzus, are collectively referred to as the Cappadocian Fathers.” — Wikipedia
- Basil the Elder Saint Parent, Father
- Emmelia of Caesarea Saint Mother, Parent“She was the wife of Basil the Elder and bore nine or ten children, including Basil of Caesarea (born circa 330), Macrina the Younger, Peter of Sebaste, Gregory of Nyssa, and Naucratius.” — Wikipedia
- Macrina the Younger Saint Brother or sister“Macrina was elder sister of Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, Naucratius and Peter of Sebaste.” — Wikipedia
- Naucratius Saint Brother or sister“He was the younger brother of Macrina the Younger and Basil the Great, and an older brother of Gregory of Nyssa and Peter of Sebaste.” — Wikipedia
- Peter of Sebaste Saint Brother or sister“He was the younger brother of Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa, the famous Christian jurist Naucratius, and Macrina the Younger.” — Wikipedia
- Alexander of Comana Saint“Gregory of Nyssa, on the life of St.” — Wikipedia
- Gregory of Nazianzus Saint“Along with the brothers Basil of Caesarea and Gregory of Nyssa, he is known as one of the Cappadocian Fathers.” — Wikipedia
- Macrina the Elder Saint“340) was the mother of Basil the Elder, and the grandmother of Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, Peter of Sebaste, and Macrina the Younger.” — Wikipedia
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - St. Gregory of Nyssa
- Wikidata Q191734 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Gregory of Nyssa (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.