Macrina the Elder
Mother of Saint Basil the Elder
About Macrina the Elder
Lived 270 – 340 (aged 69–70).
Macrina the Elder (; before AD 270 – ) was the mother of Basil the Elder, and the grandmother of Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, Peter of Sebaste, and Macrina the Younger.
Life The works of her grandson Basil indicate that she studied under Gregory Thaumaturgus, and that it was his teachings handed down through Macrina to Basil and Gregory, that were particularly formative for the two Cappadocian brothers.
Her home was at Neocaesarea in Pontus and according to Gregory Nazianzen, during the persecution of Christians under Galerius and Diocletian, Macrina fled with her husband to the shores of the Black Sea.
She was widowed and is the patron of widows. Macrina is also the patron against poverty. Her feast is celebrated on 14 January. She is said to have died in the early 340s AD.
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Important facts
People in Macrina the Elder's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Macrina the Elder's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Macrina the Elder?
Mother of Saint Basil the Elder
When was Macrina the Elder born?
Macrina the Elder was born in 270 in Kayseri.
When did Macrina the Elder die?
Macrina the Elder died in 340.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Macrina the Elder
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Macrina the Elder. https://biography.guide/macrina-the-elder/
MLA: "Macrina the Elder." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/macrina-the-elder/.
Chicago: "Macrina the Elder." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/macrina-the-elder/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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