Macrina the Younger

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Our venerable mother, Saint Macrina the Younger (also Makrina), was born in Cappadocia at the beginning of the fourth century. She is called righteous and wonder-worker. Her feast day is celebrated on July 19.


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St. Macrina was born to a holy family: her parents were Ss. Basil the Elder and Emily; four of her nine brothers and sisters are commemorated as saints: Basil the Great, Peter of Sebaste, Gregory of Nyssa, and Theosebia the Deaconess; her grandmother, for whom she was named, is commemorated as St. Macrina the Elder.

Macrina greatly influenced her younger brother Peter in his religious training, directing him toward a spiritual and ascetic life. After her siblings grew up and the death of her father, she convinced her mother to take monastic vows with her. Following her mother's death, she led the nuns in the monastery. She died in 379/380 and was buried in a grave shared with her parents, with a eulogy by her younger brother, St. Gregory. He also wrote The Life of St. Macrina.

Hymns

Troparion (Tone 8) [1]

The image of God was truly preserved in you, O Mother,
For you took up the Cross and followed Christ.
By so doing, you taught us to disregard the flesh, for it passes away,
But to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal.
Therefore your spirit, O Holy Mother Macrina, rejoices with the Angels!

Kontakion (Tone 4) [2]

Since the light of righteousness shone brightly in thee,
thou wast an example of the life of piety for all,
teaching the virtues to them that cry:
Rejoice, Macrina, thou boast of virginity.

External links