Macrina the Elder

Who they were

Macrina the Elder of Neocaesarea knew St Gregory the Wonderworker in her childhood. In Diocletian's persecution she fled with her husband and suffered many hardships, a confessor of the faith.

She was grandmother of Sts Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa and Macrina the Younger, and planted in them the seeds of piety. She died in the 330s.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: she has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

A confessor of the faith and grandmother of saints.

Connected on this site

• Basil of Caesarea Saint Pupil
• Basil the Elder Saint Child
  “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
• Gregory Thaumaturgus Saint Teacher
• Emmelia of Caesarea Saint
  “Both her mother-in-law, Macrina the Elder, and her daughter Macrina the Younger are recognized as saints in the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church.” — Wikipedia
• Gregory of Nyssa 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
• Macrina the Younger 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
• Peter of Sebaste 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