Fr Peter Helman

Dear friends,

Today the church commemorates Saint Macrina the Younger (c. 327-379 CE), known by that name to distinguish her from her mother Macrina (the Elder), who was the sister of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa, two Cappadocian Fathers and patriarchs of the region of Cappadocia in modern-day Turkey, where Saint Paul spent time many years before while travelling the Mediterranean. Macrina the Elder is beloved of tradition for the women’s monastery she settled with her mother Emmelia and the pastoral guidance she offered Basil who is remembered as the founder of Eastern monasticism.

Macrina the Younger was the first of ten children, who at length, with her mother, formed a community of women given to the work of caring for the poor. The Younger’s uncle Gregory composed “The Life of Saint Macrina” that recalls his neice’s last visit with him before her death. In it he shares memories of her life and a beautiful departing prayer, a portion of which I'd like to share with you this morning:

“This was her prayer," Gregory said, "and there is no doubt that it made its way to God and that it was heard by God. She said:

O Lord, you have freed us from the fear of death; you have made the end of life here the beginning of a true life for us. For a time, you give rest to our bodies in sleep and you awaken us again with the last trumpet. The dust from which you fashioned us with your hands you give back to the dust of the earth for safekeeping, and you who have relinquished it will recall it after reshaping with incorruptibility and grace our mortal and graceless substance. […] O God everlasting, towards whom I have directed myself from my mother’s womb, whom my soul has loved with all its strength, to whom I have dedicated my body and my soul from my infancy up to now, prepare for me a shining angel to lead me to the place of refreshment where is the water of relaxation near the bosom of the holy Fathers. […]

As she said this, she made the sign of the cross upon her eyes and mouth and heart, and little by little, […] she was no longer able to speak clearly; her voice gave out and only from the trembling of her lips and the motion of her hands did we know that she was continuing to pray. [...] Then evening came on and the lamp was brought in. Macrina directed her eye towards the beam of light and made it clear that she was eager to say the nocturnal prayer and, although her voice failed her, with her heart and the movement of her hands, she fulfilled her desire and moved her lips in keeping with the impulse within her. When she had completed the thanksgiving and indicated that the prayer was over by making the sign of the cross, she breathed a deep breath and with the prayer her life came to an end."

Blessed Macrina, pray for us, your siblings in the Lord, and by your intercessions attain for us the grace to follow the road that you have already walked and at last arrive at our heavenly home.

Your in Christ,
Fr. Peter