St. Leo was born at Rome, in Italy and spent his life in that city. When Leo grew up he studied at the Benedictine monastery near St. Peter’s Basilica to become a priest. As a priest he performed his ministry at St. John Lateran’s, a large, famous basilica. Leo was well-known and loved by two popes, Gregory IV who died in 844, and Sergius II who died in 847.

Around the time Pope Sergius II died, rumors of a barbarian invasion of Saracens had the Romans terrified. Neither the people nor the cardinals wanted to be left without a pope. Leo’s life changed forever, because they quickly elected him as pope and he took the name Leo IV.

As pope, Leo had the city walls around the Vatican and other areas repaired and strengthened. The walls had been damaged the previous year by a Saracen attack. He made the churches more beautiful and had St. Peter’s Basilica rebuilt. He brought many relics (remains of things that were holy) to Rome.

He called a meeting of all Roman priests and passed forty-two rules which helped priests live more fervent, prayerful and joy-filled lives. A few bishops lived bad lives and this caused Leo great suffering. They boldly faced the pope and would not change their wrong ways. No matter how much Pope Leo was hurt, he was always fair, patient and humble. He never let his troubles dishearten him but gave all his time and energy for Jesus and his Church.

He loved the beautiful prayers of the liturgy and encouraged liturgical chant and music. People loved St. Leo and with God’s grace he performed many miracles. It is said that he was responsible for stopping the terrible fire in the English quarter of Rome.

Pope Leo IV continued serving the Church with cheerfulness right up to the end of his life. He died on July 17, 855.

St. Basil the Elder and St. Emmelia had ten children. They raised their family at Caesarea in Cappadocia. Their first child, Macrina, was named after her grandmother St. Macrina (the Elder). Emmelia taught Macrina to read and write at a very young age.

As was the custom in those days, when Macrina was twelve, she was engaged to a young lawyer. But he died before the wedding and Macrina told her parents she wished to remain unmarried.

Macrina was the big sister to nine brothers and sisters. Along with her parents and herself, three of her brothers are saints. St. Basil the Great (January 2), St. Peter of Sebaste and St. Gregory of Nyssa were all bishops.

Macrina helped raise the children and they loved her. The youngest, St. Peter of Sebaste who was born after their father died, remembers her especially with gratitude for the love and care he received as a baby.

The children grew up and St. Basil the Great found an estate for his mother and Macrina in Pontus. It was like a convent and many women in the area came to live a holy life there. After St. Emmelia died, Macrina continued to live like a nun. She worked hard and gave away everything the family owned except what she really needed.

Her brother Basil died in 379 and a year later Macrina too, became ill. Her brother, St. Gregory of Nyssa, who had been away for eight years, came home to visit her. He found Macrina frail and weak, resting on two boards. And a few hours later, she died.

St. Gregory, the local bishop and two priests carried Macrina’s coffin to the grave. The funeral procession was long and many people wept. St. Gregory wrote about Macrina and that is how the beauty of her life became known.