Righteous 4th century

Righteous Nonna of Nazianzus

c. 305 – 374

Also known as Nonna mother of Gregory the Theologian

Mother of St Gregory the Theologian and wife of St Gregory the Elder, whom she brought to Christ; she reposed in prayer, having served as a deaconess, in 374.

Feast Day

August 5

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Commemorated as

The Righteous Nonna of Nazianzus, Deaconess

Come to them for

Children

Life

Righteous Nonna of Nazianzus was a fourth-century Christian woman of Cappadocia, venerated as a saint in the Orthodox Church on August 5 for her piety, her role in the conversion of her husband, and her ministry as a deaconess. She was the daughter of Christian parents named Philotatos and Gorgonia, and was the aunt of Amphilochius, later Bishop of Iconium. Through her faithful witness within her marriage, her husband Gregory of Arianzus — a wealthy landowner who had followed the Hypsistarian sect — was converted to Christianity, baptized, ordained to the priesthood, and eventually consecrated Bishop of Nazianzus. All three of their children — Gregory the Theologian (died 389), Caesarius (died 368), and Gorgonia (died 369) — are venerated as saints in the Orthodox Church.

Nonna died on August 5, 374, while at prayer in the church, a death her son Gregory the Theologian described as befitting her lifelong dedication. Her son Gregory, who became one of the Cappadocian Fathers and one of the most celebrated theologians of the early Church, wrote extensively about her character and drew on her as a model of Christian womanhood. She is commemorated as a patron of Christian mothers and women in ecclesiastical service.

Timeline 7 moments Read Hide

c. 305 Birth in Cappadocia Nonna is born in Cappadocia (in the region of Nazianzus, modern-day Turkey) to Christian parents named Philotatos and Gorgonia.
c. early 4th century Marriage to Gregory of Arianzus Nonna marries Gregory, a wealthy landowner who belonged to the Hypsistarian sect — a group that venerated a supreme god, observed certain Jewish rituals, and worshipped fire, a movement blending elements of Jewish and pagan religion.
c. 325 Conversion of Gregory the Elder Through Nonna's persistent prayer and fasting, Gregory receives a divine vision involving Psalm 121:1, which prompts his conversion. He attends the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea, where he is baptized, subsequently ordained to the priesthood, and later consecrated Bishop of Nazianzus.
329 Birth of Gregory the Theologian Nonna gives birth to her eldest son, Gregory, who will become one of the greatest theologians of the Eastern Church and a Father among the Three Hierarchs.
351 Illness and vision During a serious illness that brought Nonna near death, she experienced a vision — recounted by her son Gregory the Theologian — after which she recovered.
c. 360s Consecrated deaconess Upon the consecration of her husband Gregory as bishop, Nonna herself is ordained as a deaconess, dedicating herself to charitable service within the church of Nazianzus.
August 5, 374 Repose at prayer Nonna dies at prayer in the church, aged approximately 100 years. Her son Gregory the Theologian describes her death as an expression of the wholeness of her Christian life.

Contributions & Legacy

2 contributions Read Hide

Conversion of Gregory the Elder

Nonna's most celebrated act in the tradition is the conversion of her husband. Gregory the Elder had belonged to the Hypsistarians — a sect that combined monotheistic veneration of the 'Most High' (Hypsistos) with Jewish observance and elements of fire worship. According to the account transmitted through their son Gregory the Theologian, Nonna brought about her husband's conversion through sustained prayer and fasting. Gregory the Elder went on to be baptized, ordained, and made Bishop of Nazianzus, serving in that role for many years alongside his wife.

Gregory the Theologian wrote warmly of his mother as the driving spiritual force of the household, crediting her with laying the foundation for his own theological formation.

A Saintly Family

Nonna's three children are all venerated as saints in the Orthodox Church: Gregory the Theologian (commemorated January 25), who became one of the Cappadocian Fathers and presided at the Second Ecumenical Council; his brother Caesarius of Nazianzus, a physician (commemorated March 9); and their sister Gorgonia (commemorated February 23). Nonna thus occupies a unique place in Orthodox hagiography as the mother of three canonized saints in the same generation, all within a family that also produced a bishop.

Notes

Member of the Cappadocian saintly family.

Sources: GOARCH calendar; OCA / J. Sanidopoulos cross-check