Saturday, May 11, 2019

Mother’s Day Special- St. Nonna (mother of St. Gregory the Theologian).


Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

Venerable mothers of the holy fathers: St. Nonna (mother of St. Gregory the Theologian).
 
St Nonna
The second Sunday of May is celebrated throughout India as the ‘Mother’s Day'. John Milton mentions in his work:

‘He for God only, she for God in him’- [John Milton, Paradise Lost 4.299].  

This one line so beautifully presents the exponential possibilities of the role played by a woman, as the Holy Scriptures say, someone truly like the man, of his own flesh and bone who could help him unto salvation. Our church is blessed to have extraordinary women- pious mothers- who gifted their sons and daughters for the service of the Lord; paving way for the edification of not only their own families but influencing generations later on.

It was through prayers, tears and silent ministry of these women that the Church was blessed to witness such outstanding children of theirs. It wouldn’t be wrong to state that had it been not for such mothers, maybe we would have never got these saints, doctors and fathers of the Church! One such saintly lady is St Nonna, the mother of St Gregory the Theologian.

St. Gregory the Theologian (~AD329-390) was the Archbishop of Constantinople, who along with his close friend St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory of Nyssa are called ‘the Cappadocian fathers’. St Gregory is termed as ‘the Theologian’ because of his extensive work on Trinitarian theology. St Nonna’s life, her piety, her courage had great and positive influence on the young Gregory and it inspired him to seek a life consecrated to God.

St. Nonna’s life is an example of how a single woman spearheaded the spiritual growth of her entire family. St Nonna married St. Gregory the Elder (Bishop of Nazianzus) who, at that time, was a follower of sect called Hypsistarii. The followers of this sect were worshipers of fire and lights and observed certain Jewish rituals. Their marriage was a case wherein the bridegroom was well off socially but unsuitable as far as religion was concerned.

St. Gregory the Theologian mentions that his mother prayed to God with many fastings and tears for her husband’s spiritual transformation. St Gregory acknowledges that his father (St. Gregory the Elder who later became the Bishop of Nazianzus) was the result of St. Nonna’s prayers and guidance, and it was from her that he learned his ideal of a good shepherd's life.

St. Nonna’s prayers and pious conduct slowly influenced St. Gregory the Elder. St. Gregory the Theologian tells us that his father once had a vision of himself singing psalms of holy David and this seemed strange to him. He had never done this before, though his wife had often offered her supplications and prayers for it. The vision brought forth a desire in St. Gregory to go to the church. When St. Nonna heard about it, she told her husband that the vision would bring the greatest pleasure if it were fulfilled. At the same time several Bishops were hastening to the Council of Nicea to oppose the heresy of Arius. St. Gregory, too, went to the Council wherein he yielded himself to God and thus was received into the church.

St. Gregory the Elder and St. Nonna were blessed with three devout children (two sons and one daughter) – Gregory (later St. Gregory the Theologian), Caesarius and Gorgonia. Just like Prophet Samuel was consecrated to God by his mother-Hannah; the pious St. Nonna dedicated her son Gregory to His service even before he was born! St. Gregory says:

“it was on her part a great undertaking to promise me to God before my birth, with no fear of the future, and to dedicate me immediately after I was born.”

People (since time memorial) love boasting on the wealth they have left for their children; the world teaches us to admire those who have been born with silver spoon in their mouth. St. Nonna too, left a treasure for her children- but not the one that moth, and rust could destroy. St. Gregory the Theologian, as a proud son of a pious mother, reminisces the true wealth that St. Nonna gave to him and his siblings;

“the sole wealth she (St. Nonna) left to her children was the imitation of her example, and emulation of her merits”.

Though she was externally beautiful, St. Nonna was only concerned for the beauty of the soul. Her zeal for prayer was unmatchable. St. Gregory writes: “What time or place for prayer ever escaped her? To this she was drawn before all other things in the day”.  She zealously undertook fasting and vigils; the nights were spent in singing psalms. A compassionate being, her home always welcomed widows and orphans, she was comfort for the mourners. Indeed, what a wonderful spiritual atmosphere did St Nonna create in her home!

St. Nonna’s silent ministry- the ministry of edification of her home, is praiseworthy:

“she also won over her husband to her side, and made of him a good fellow-servant (of God)…And not only so, but she further made the fruit of her body, her children and her children's children, to be the fruit of her spirit, dedicating to God not her single soul, but the whole family and household.”

One should learn from St. Nonna as to how conduct oneself in churches and prayer gatherings. She never used to indulge in unnecessary talks; St. Gregory says that her voice was only heard when the laity had to respond during the services!

St Nonna was a staunch support to her husband in his pastoral ministry – “But she who was given by God to my father became not only, as is less wonderful, his assistant, but even his leader, drawing him on by her influence in deed and word to the highest excellence”

St. Gregory consider his father and mother- St. Gregory the Elder and St. Nonna to be the ornaments of the human race. It isn't surprising that an illustrious son (St. Gregory the Theologian) was born of such pious parents. St. Nonna was a remarkable woman who devoted her life (as well as her whole household) to God and the Church without neglecting her other responsibilities. Indeed, she is a role model for women, especially for the mothers. 

By the prayers of our holy mother among the saints- St. Nonna, may the Lord have mercy upon us.

In Christ,
Rincy

[Reference: Excerpts from Oration 8 and Oration 18; St. Gregory the Theologian; Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers; Series II, Volume VII; Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace]

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