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Greek Name Days

4th century

Saint Nonna of Nazianzus

Wife of Gregory the Elder and mother of Saint Gregory the Theologian, Caesarius and Gorgonia, who lived in Cappadocia in the 4th century.

5 August

Biography

Nonna was the wife of Gregory the Elder, who belonged to the Hypsistarian sect and did not believe in the Trinity. Through her prayers and patience she led him to the orthodox faith, and he later became a distinguished bishop.

They had three children who became major figures of the Church: Gregory the Theologian, Caesarius and Gorgonia. According to her son Gregory, Nonna was a model of piety, honesty and modesty.

She outlived her husband and two of her children and died peacefully, probably in 374.

Sources and further reading