St Gregory of Nyssa When the persecution of Decius

[Mary Naeem]

St Gregory of Nyssa (c 335-c 395)

When the persecution of Decius began in 250, the bishop counselled his faithful to depart and not expose themselves to trials perhaps too severe for their faith and none fell into apostasy. He himself retired to a desert and when he was pursued, was not seen by the soldiers. On a second attempt, they found him praying with his companion, the converted pagan priest, now a deacon – they had mistaken them the first time for trees. The captain of the soldiers was convinced this had been a miracle and became a Christian to join him. Some of his Christians were captured, among them Saint Troadus the martyr, who merited the grace of dying for the Faith. The persecution ended at the death of the emperor in 251.

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