Righteous
Righteous Gorgonia of Nazianzus
IV век, †ок. 370-375
Righteous Gorgonia of Nazianzus — sister of St. Gregory the Theologian and St. Caesarius of Nazianzus, daughter of St. Gregory the Elder and St. Nonna; a devout married laywoman and mother of a family, renowned for combining domestic piety with asceticism, miraculously healed of a serious illness and an injury; her life is recorded in her brother St. Gregory the Theologian's funeral oration, Oration 8.
Righteous Gorgonia was born in the 4th century in Cappadocia, to St. Gregory the Elder, Bishop of Nazianzus, and St. Nonna. She was the sister of St. Gregory the Theologian and St. Caesarius of Nazianzus. She married Alypius and became the mother of several children, combining family duties with deep personal piety and ascetic discipline. According to her brother's testimony, she was once seriously injured in a fall from a carriage, and on another occasion suffered a severe illness — both times she received healing, which she attributed to prayer and receiving the Holy Mysteries. By her example and exhortations she brought her husband and entire household to firmer faith. She died peacefully, having foreknown the time of her death in advance, around 370-375. The principal source for her life is her brother St. Gregory the Theologian's funeral Oration 8, delivered in her memory — one of his most personal and moving works.