Gregory of Nyssa

Bishop of Nyssa, brother of Basil the Great.

St. Gregory of Nyssa was the younger brother of St. Basil the Great, born in Cappadocia in the fourth century to a family rich in saints. As Bishop of Nyssa he defended the Nicene faith against Arianism, endured exile for the truth, and took part in the Second Ecumenical Council in Constantinople in 381.

A theologian of great depth, he wrote profoundly on the Holy Trinity, the creation of man, and the soul's endless ascent toward God. He is commemorated on January 10.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Gregory of Nyssa is commemorated on January 10. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on January 23 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Grigorios, Grigoris, Gregory, Grzegorz

Also commemorated on January 10

• Dometian of Melitene

  Hierarch, Δομετιανός

  St. Dometian, Bishop of Melitene in Armenia.

• Markianos the Presbyter

  Venerable, Μαρκιανός

  St. Markianos, priest and steward of the Great Church of Constantinople.

• Theosebia the Deaconess

  Holy Woman, Θεοσεβία

  Blessed Theosebia the Deaconess, sister of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory of Nyssa.

  Name days: Theosebia, Theosevia

• Antipas of Valaam

  Venerable, Αντίπας ο Αθωνίτης

  Venerable Antipas of Calapodesti, Athonite and Valaam ascetic.

• Ammonios the Venerable

  Venerable, Αμμώνιος

  Venerable Ammonios, an Egyptian desert ascetic.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.