Venerable Macrina was born and raised in Cappadocia during the reign of Constantine the Great. Her parents, Basil and Emmelia, raised ten children, among whom there were Basil the Great and Saint Gregory of Nyssa, her brothers.
When the saint was twelve years old, her beauty and grace led many young men to seek her hand in marriage. Her parents decided to marry her to a young man, who, however, soon lost his life. After his death, the saint wanted to preserve her virginity and dedicate herself to God. She cared for her mother and siblings, learned to write and read, while she also studied the sacred texts of the Church.
Inspired by her brothers and their ascetic way of life, she decided to follow the monastic path. With her advice, her mother and sisters also became nuns. They lived in humility and love, praying and striving to imitate the angels.
As she grew older and approached the end of her life, she devoted her time to caring for her mother, who, shortly before her death, bestowed upon her her blessing. The saint mourned the death of her brother Basil the Great, while not long afterward she herself departed to the Lord, leaving behind an ascetic example and a legacy of God-pleasing works. Before closing her eyes, she prayed for her soul, asking God for forgiveness.
Her body was buried with great honor close to the relics of her mother. Saint Gregory of Nyssa, spoke of her life and the miracles she performed, including the healing of a blind girl.
