St Emmelia, Mother of Basil the Great (IV)

Saint Emmelia, the mother of Basil the Great, came of an influential and right-believing Cappadocian family. There is information that her grandfather died a martyr. All the family’s property was taken from them, but soon their lost standing was restored.

From her youth Emmelia was distinguished by virtue and love for God. She had ten children, five of whom were afterwards numbered among the saints: Macrina (commemorated 19 July), Basil the Great (commemorated 1 January), Gregory of Nyssa (commemorated 10 January), Peter of Sebaste (commemorated 9 January) and Theosebia the deaconess (commemorated 10 January).