The Life of Saint Macrina

Saint Macrina (327 - 370) was a major guiding force in the early development of monasticism and it was through her example that her brother Saint Basil the Great was inspired to establish one of the first monastic communities. This life written by her other famous brother Saint Gregory of Nyssa is one of the masterpieces of Christian literature. One of the most extraordinary texts in early monastic literature and full of unique information about female monasticism it is an essential complement to Basils monastic writings. --Columba Stewart OSB author of Cassian the Monk A luminous account of the practical forceful and effective work of this monastic founder and spiritual guide. --Susan Ashbrook Harvey author of Asceticism and Society in Crisis: John of Ephesus and The Lives of the Eastern Saints Saint Gregory Bishop of Nyssa (c. 330 - 395) theologian philosopher and orator was the last of the great Cappadocian fathers and an ardent supporter of Christian orthodoxy. The profundity and richness of his thought are revealed in his many doctrinal exegetical polemical and ascetical treatises. Kevin Corrigan is a professor at The Graduate Institute of the Liberal Arts Emory University. He is the author of Plotinus Theory of Matter-Evil and the Question of Substance (1996) and many articles on the patristic and medieval periods.