Saint Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, was the younger brother of St. Basil the Great. He was born in AD 335 in Caesarea Mazaca (capital of Cappadocia), which was a province of Asia Minor, know today as Kayseri, Turkey. He was raised by Saint Basil, and his sister, Macrina. He was a good student and became a professor of language. Later he decided to devote his time to the Church. Though married, he studied for the priesthood and was ordained and then elected Bishop of Nyssa in 372. This was a time of tension over the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ. He was arrested briefly, for being falsely accused of embezzling Church funds, but later restored in 378. After the death of his brother Basil, he distinguished himself by his scholarly writings against questionable doctrines/heresies, and become a defender of orthodoxy. He also held a prominent position at the Council of Constantinople. “While Basil gave eastern monasticism its structure and organization, Gregory provided its heart and mystical vision. For this reason, he came to be known as “Father of Mysticism.”” (cited from Franciscan Media.)
