Gregory of Nyssa

Also: Gregorius Nyssenus

Born perhaps between 331 and 340, perhaps in Caesarea (Cappadocia), now Kayseri, Turkey. Died probably between 394 and 396; the place is not known.

The younger brother of Basil and bishop of the small town of Nyssa. He is the deepest thinker of the three Cappadocian Fathers.

Wrote in Greek. A major author.

Nyssa is not in Pleiades. Its point is the ruin field north of Harmandalı (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyssa_(Cappadocia)); that he was bishop of Nyssa is sure, the site is the usual view.

Places lived

372 to 376Nyssa (now ruins north of Harmandalı, Aksaray province, Turkey)bishopyears probable, place probableFrom 376 to 378 he was in exile. No source names the place.
378 to 394Nyssa (now ruins north of Harmandalı, Aksaray province, Turkey)bishopyears probable, place probableHe was at Sebaste for some months in 380, and at Constantinople for the councils of 381, 382, 383 and 394.

Works

17 works, in the order they were written. 13 works can be read here.

On Virginityc. 370 to 372 · place not known · treatiseIn praise of the single life given to God.28,210 words
Lettersabout 371 to 394 · place not known · letterA selection of his letters, with the letter on pilgrimages to Jerusalem.21,831 words
On the Holy Trinity, to Eustathiusabout 375 to 381 · place not known · treatiseA short defence of the full Godhead of the Holy Spirit, written to a physician; it is also handed down as Letter 189 of Basil.2,880 words
On Not Three Godsc. 375 to 390 · place not known · treatiseA short answer to why we do not say three gods.5,745 words
On the Making of Man379 · place not known · treatiseOn the creation of human beings in the image of God.39,104 words
On the Holy Spirit, against the Macedoniansabout 380 to 381 · place not known · treatiseA defence of the worship of the Holy Spirit against those who made him less than God.11,019 words
Against Eunomius380 to 383 · place not known · treatiseA long answer to Eunomius's attack on Basil.268,202 words
Life of Macrinac. 380 to 383 · place not known · biographyThe life and death of his elder sister, the head of a house of nuns.11,251 words
On the Soul and the Resurrectionc. 380 to 386 · place not known · dialogueA talk with his dying sister Macrina on death and the life to come.42,991 words
On the Beatitudesc. 380 to 390 · place not known · homilyEight sermons on the Beatitudes as steps of a ladder.not yet on the site
On the Lord's Prayerc. 380 to 390 · place not known · homilyFive sermons on the Lord's Prayer.not yet on the site
Funeral Orations381 to 386 · probably in Constantinopolis (now Istanbul, Turkey) · orationHis speeches at the funerals of Bishop Meletius of Antioch, the princess Pulcheria and the empress Flacilla; the English text has the one on Meletius.5,285 words
On Infants' Early Deathsafter 381, perhaps after 386 · place not known · treatiseAn answer to Hierius, a governor, on what happens to children who die before they can do good or evil.9,848 words
On the Baptism of Christ383 · place not known · homilyA sermon for the feast of Epiphany on what baptism does.6,706 words
The Great Catechismc. 385 · place not known · treatiseA summary of Christian teaching for those who teach converts.39,559 words
Homilies on the Song of Songsc. 390 to 394 · place not known · homilyFifteen sermons on the Song of Songs, written out for the deaconess Olympias.not yet on the site
Life of Mosesc. 390 to 394 · place not known · treatiseThe life of Moses read as the endless climb of the soul to God.not yet on the site

How we know the dates and places

Born not sure: No ancient source. Scholars say about 335. See Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, 3rd ed. rev. (2005), 'Gregory of Nyssa'.
Place of birth not sure: No ancient source says so; it was the family home in Cappadocia
Neocaesarea in Pontus is also possible.
Died probable: He is last seen at a synod at Constantinople in 394; nothing later is known
Place of death not known: No ancient source names a place.
Nyssa, years probable: Basil, Letters 225, 231, 237 and 239
Nyssa, place probable: Basil, Letters 225, 231, 237 and 239
Nyssa, years probable: Gregory of Nyssa, Letters 6 and 19; Life of Macrina
Nyssa, place probable: Gregory of Nyssa, Letters 6 and 19; Life of Macrina