Keeper of the Light: Saint Macrina the Elder, Grandmother of Saints

by Bev Cooke, Bonnie Gillis (Illustrator)

The road to sainthood takes a lifetime to travel. . . . Late in the fourth century, Christians are labeled enemies of the Roman Empire--hounded, arrested, tortured, and executed. Macrina and her husband Basil, once-wealthy Christians, flee with their small son to the mountainous forests south of the Black Sea. There, Macrina embarks on a seven-year journey of unexpected tests and trials that will take her through a harsh and hungry wilderness pilgrimage, only to plunge her into poverty and danger on the streets of Neocaesarea. So begins Macrina's adventure in faith, as she undertakes the process of becoming one of the most influential women in sacred history, the mother and grandmother of saints. Readers of all ages will be fascinated by the story of St. Macrina the Elder, who had a profound influence on her grandchildren, St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory of Nyssa, and St. Macrina the Younger. She is truly a great confessor of the Orthodox Christian faith.

Genres: Childrens, Christianity, Religion

204 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2006

About the author

Born in the last century, lived in Canada all my life, moved to the west coast when I was in my twenties, married with two grown kids, a husband, two cats and a garden.

Reviews

[Jane G Meyer]

A lovely historical novel about Saint Macrina the Elder, a true heroine of her time. It's a fun, fast read, that takes you back to the world of the first Christians, and to a family who showed enormous dedication and love for Christ.

[Saint Katherine BookstoreVA]

Keeper of the Light is at the top of my reading list and I highly recommend it. It is beautifully
written and very moving. Saint Macrina grew up in a well-off pagan family, but changed
after marrying a Christian. This was the saint’s first step outside
of the ordinary. Macrina very quickly fell in love with the Church. She participated tirelessly in the services.

Being a Christian was dangerous and you could be arrested or even executed for it. Some Christians fooled the Romans by putting pagan images in their homes. However, Saint Macrina
and her family were proud to be Christian, hiding nothing. As a result, Roman soldiers attempted to arrest Macrina and her husband.. They were forced to flee into the woods, staying there for seven years. Sometimes, they attempted to go back into the city, but it was too dangerous. When they finally returned to their home, soldiers drove them into the streets, homeless.

Saint Macrina felt that God was testing her through hardship. She was tempted to give up, but her family helped keep her Faith alive. These trials only made her faith stronger.

Life on the streets was difficult. The saint did not want to beg, but often had to rely on charity. Macrina told stories from the Bible and of various saints to the crowds. This was stepping far
out of the average person’s comfort zone. Not only was she ridiculed as a beggar, but telling such stories could have gotten her killed.

Eventually Saint Macrina did get her house and some of her possessions back. This happened after the new Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity. She lived peacefully for the rest of her
life and lived to see her son get married and have six children. The oldest three became very famous saints: Saint Basil the Great, Saint Macrina the Younger, and Saint Gregory of Nyssa.

[Christina Z.]

Well-written. Enjoyed the story of St. Macrina and her family. Great read for families.

[Chloe Hey]

A truly beautiful and heartbreaking- but also heartwarming story. I reccomend for everyone.