Mothers of Saints – The True Influencers

In a world of Instagram and YouTube influencers, the Orthodox Church has long been giving us positive influencers to live by, the Holy Saints. It’s easy to look outward and compare, I do it too. But when I remember that we have a host of Saints who have gone before us and show us exactly what we need to do to raise God-loving and God fearing children, I feel less alone and find more enthusiasm in my everyday life.

Because as easy as it is to compare ourselves to moms on the internet or at co-op or at Church, the only comparison we should have is from the saints. When we compare our lives to the saints we not only see how to live our lives but we see that each was called to raise their children in a different manner. 

These three woman had very different circumstances but all three followed the Gospel, took up their cross and followed Christ. They’re a beautiful example that whether you have one child or 10, you can raise saints who honor and love the Lord. I pray you find them as encouraging as i do.

St. Nonna

St. Nonna, the mother of St. Gregory the Theologian, is a mother of which I can only strive to emulate. She was patient, steadfast, prayerful, and fervent in her love of God. She prayed for her husband so emphatically that he converted from paganism and became a Saint of the Church – St. Gregory of Arizanus (January 1).

She was tireless in her work for Christ and His church, first by dedicating herself to her family and then by caring for the poor and destitute. Though she faced many hardships, like watching two of her children die before her, her faith did not faulter. After her husband died, it’s said that she rarely left the church and finally reposed in prayer. “St. Nonna was a model wife and mother, a remarkable woman who devoted her life to God and the Church without neglecting her other responsibilities.”

St. Emmilia

St. Emmilia is known as the mother of Saints. She bore 10 children, five girls and five boys. Five of her children went on to be canonized saints: Basil the Great; Macrina (July 19) was an exemplar of ascetic life, and exerted strong influence on the life and character of St Basil; Gregory, afterwards Bishop of Nyssa (January 10); Peter, Bishop of Sebaste (January 9); and Theosebia, a deaconess (January 10).

We don’t have many details about St. Emmilia’s life but we do know that she was the daughter of a martyr and the daughter-in-law of St. Macrina the elder. She suffered a terrible loss when her son Naukratios fell asleep in the Lord at 27 years old. Her daughter Macrina was by her side and encouraged her to not lose faith and mourn without hope. For as Christians, we have eternal hope in the Resurrection. 

After her children were grown she followed her daughter, Macrina, and the two founded a convent where they lived out the remainder of their lives. At the end of her life, she had her youngest son and oldest daughter with her. She called them the fruit of her womb and her tithe to the Lord. She prayed that they would be accepted as a right sacrifice to the Lord. She reposed in the year 375. 

St. Anthousa

The mother of St. John Chrystostom, was a highly educated and God fearing woman. St. Anthousa was widowed around the age of 20 and dedicated her life to raising her son in a God pleasing manner. She didn’t want to send him to school and lose the responsibility of his education so she taught him all she knew, rooted in scripture and guided by the Holy Spirit. 

When St. John was old enough, he was sent off to prestigious schools but he always gave his mother the most credit for his firm foundation in the teachings of Scripture and shaping as a man.

Lessons to Glean from Saintly Mothers

These three mothers all give me great comfort in my vocation of motherhood. I don't know about you, but there are days of motherhood that are long and trying. I often wonder if I should leave the home and do “more important work”. But when I look to these women, I am encouraged and reminded that a mothers work is the most important work. 

St. Sophrony of Essex relates, “The mother’s blessing and prayers plays an important role in the child’s life, since the mother usually prays with pain, and when prayer is accomplished by pain, it is powerful.”

So, the next time you are in the doldrums of messy dishes, 1000 questions, and endless laundry, try to remember these mothers. Make your efforts your prayers and little by little you will instill in your children a love of God as these beautiful saints did. 

Apolytikion of the Saints in the First Tone. The Three Great Lights.

The three Holy Mothers of the Teachers let us honor, who bore the Hierarchs, and preached Christ, and watered them with the milk of piety, and nurtured them on the glorious faith, training them as trees. Emmelia the divine, and Nonna the thrice-blessed, and the chaste Anthousa, the astonishment of Lebanon. Come, the imitators of their struggles, let us gather together to offer hymns to them, as they intercede for us to the Trinity.

The four beautiful souls entrusted to my care.