On this diaconal site, for once, St Macrina will precede her influential brother!
Gregory wrote a memoir of his sister’s life: http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/gregory_macrina_1_life.htm
Here’s a taster, which may appeal to big sisters everywhere:
Macrina’s brother, the great Basil, returned after his long period of [966C] education, already a practised rhetorician. He was puffed up beyond measure with the pride of oratory and looked down on the |28 local dignitaries, excelling in his own estimation all the men of leading and position. Nevertheless Macrina took him in hand, and with such speed did she draw him also toward the mark of philosophy that he forsook the glories of this world and despised fame gained by speaking, and deserted it for this busy life where one toils with one’s hands
Gregory of Nyssa
Info and images from http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/gregory_macrina_1_life.htm https://cohdayton.com/2011/07/19/19-july-2011-st-macrina-deaconess__trashed/macrina/
CofE Network of Distinctive Deacons 
I loved this, and those icons are simply stunning.xxx
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The brevity and succinct nature of the extract on its own speaks volumes. The language is beautiful. I can think of many individuals and groupings that would undoubtedly benefit from some of Macrina’s gentle diplomatic powers of deflation.
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So can I! 🙂
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