A Word from Bob: You’re reading Part 1 of a four-part blog mini-series on The Forgotten Church Mothers. When we ponder early church history, our minds naturally focus on the Church Fathers. Sadly, we normally fail even to consider the Church Mothers. In our modern Western Evangelical world, where the worth and role of women is often debated—and demeaned—it is helpful to learn from church history. These posts are taken from my book, co-authored with Susan Ellis, Sacred Friendships: Celebrating the Legacy of Women Heroes of the Faith.
Mothers of the Church Fathers
When discussing the great Church Fathers, names like the three Cappadocian Fathers (Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, and Gregory of Nazianzus) come to mind, as do John Chrysostom and Augustine. However, in most cases, we have forgotten their mothers: Emmelia the mother of the Cappadocian Fathers, Nonna, the mother of Gregory of Nazianzus; Anthusa, the mother of John Chrysostom; and Monica, the mother of Augustine.
It is to this lost tradition that we now turn our attention.
Nonna: Stirring Up the Gift of God
The two brothers, Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa, along with their close friend and fellow theologian, Gregory of Nazianzus, were the
To continue...read the full-length post originally published on this site.
