The Ideal of Christian life

Abstract

The Figure of st. Macrina the Younger in the writings of St. Gregory of Nyssa. St. Macrina, mentioned in St. Gregory’s of Nyssa memories included in Epistula 19, Vitae sanctae Macrinae and Dialogus de anima et resurrectione, shows specific embodiment of ideal of Christian love. Way of life of St. Macrina, who wanted to be unified with God from an early age, leads through synergism of various forms of love (ἀγάπη, φιλία, φιλανθρωπία φιλοσοφία, στοργή), which, owing to St. Gregory’s references to category of ἔρως, gainful of passion and ecstatic expression. Therefore Macrina represents a paradigm of philosopher of love, who, thanks to her own experience, teaches about heights of intimacy with God and supported by prayer, contemplation and work for neighbor, reaches top levels of voyage to angelic and divine reality (ἀπαθέια).