Contents
- 1 Patron Saint
- 2 Saint Basil the Great
- 3 St. Basil the Great – Saints & Angels
- 4 Saint Basil the Great
- 5 Early life and ecclesiastical career
- 6 Anti-Arian activities
- 7 Works and legacy
- 8 Who Is Saint Basil? — St. Basil the Great Greek Orthodox Church
- 9 Saint Basil the Great
- 10 Our Patron – St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church
- 11 Saint Basil’s Day
- 12 History of Saint Basil’s Day
- 13 Saint Basil’s Day timeline
- 14 Saint Basil’s DayFAQ s
- 15 How To Celebrate Saint Basil’s Day
- 16 5 Important Facts About Saint Basil
- 17 Why Saint Basil’s Day is Important
- 18 Saint Basil’s Day dates
- 19 Saint Basil the Great – Feast Day – January 2
- 20 Saint Basil the Great Life History
- 21 Saint Basil the Great’sbirth
- 22 Saint Basil the Great’sDeath
- 23 Saint Basil the GreatFeast Day
- 24 Beatification
- 25 Canonized
- 26 Patron Saint of
- 27 Saint’s Attributes
- 28 Major works and Legacies
Patron Saint
He was born in Caesarea of Cappadocia, at the end of the year 329, to a family that was famous for its wisdom and holiness. Saint Basil the Great was the first Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. His parents’ names were Basil and Emily, and he was born to them. His mother Emily (celebrated on July 19) and grandmother Macrina (celebrated on January 14) are both Saints of the Church, as are all of his brothers and sisters: Macrina, his elder sister (celebrated on July 19), Gregory of Nyssa (celebrated on January 14), Peter of Sebastia (celebrated on January 9), and Naucratius.
His mother and sister Macrina were already on the path of asceticism when he left Caesarea for a hermitage on the Iris River in Pontus, not far from Annesi, where he wrote his ascetical homilies and where he visited monks in Egypt, Palestine, Syria, and Mesopotamia.
Emperor Valens and Eparch of the East Modestus attempted to coerce the Saint into accepting their own confession by threatening him with exile and torture.
Ultimately, they were unsuccessful.
- Modestus was taken aback by Basil’s lack of fear in his presence and remarked that he had never heard someone speak like that to him before.
- It was almost as though Basil’s dignity and intelligence were winning over the Emperor Valens himself.
- After promising Valens that his son would be restored if Valens consented to have him baptized by the Orthodox, the Saint prayed, and the boy was resurrected.
- Later, Valens, convinced by his advisors, planned to exile the Saint since he would not allow the Arians into communion; however, his pen broke as he was writing the order of exile, and the Saint died as a result.
- The genuinely great Basil, whose life had been spent in intense ascetical practices and constant labors at the helm of the church, passed away on the 1st of January, 379, at the age of forty-nine, and was resurrected by the Lord.
- “The revealer of heavenly things” and “the Great” are two titles that have been bestowed upon him in recognition of his grandeur and sharpness of speech.
- Fourth Tone Apolytikion (Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone) Your voice resounded across the universe that had received your message, through which you taught theology, defined the nature of creatures, and put the character of individuals in order in a godly manner.
- In the Fourth Tone, there is a Kontakion.
This is the basis of the Church. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is the source of this information.
Saint Basil the Great
The Life and Times of Saint Basil the Great Basil was well on his way to become a well-known teacher when he made the decision to enter a monastic life of gospel poverty, which he continues to this day. The monk created what was possibly the first monastery in Asia Minor after studying various styles of monastic life for several years. In many ways, he is to Eastern monks what Saint Benedict is to Western monks, and the values he espoused continue to inspire Eastern monasticism today. He was ordained a priest, served as an assistant to the archbishop of Caesarea (now in northeastern Turkey), and eventually rose to the post of archbishop himself, despite opposition from some of the bishops beneath him, who were likely concerned about the impending reforms.
- Emperor Valens persecuted orthodox Christians and exerted considerable pressure on Basil to keep silent and allow the heretics to participate in the Eucharist.
- However, there was still problems.
- He worked tirelessly to unify and rally his fellow Catholics, who were being crushed by dictatorship and torn apart by internal divisions at the time of his death.
- He was accused of heresy and ambition as well.
- “It appears like I am a failure in everything because of my crimes.” Basil devoted his time and energy to pastoral care.
- He also organized famine relief and worked in a soup kitchen himself as a child, and he was a fierce opponent of prostitution in his childhood.
- Despite the fact that he was not well acknowledged during his lifetime, his works rightfully position him among the great teachers of the Church.
- Reflection “The more things change, the more they remain the same,” as the French proverb says.
- When it came to sainthood, it required working to retain the spirit of Christ in the midst of confusing and unpleasant issues such as reform and organization while battling for the poor, and keeping balance and harmony in the midst of miscommunication.
St. Basil the Great – Saints & Angels
In the year 330, St. Basil the Great was born in the city of Caesarea of Cappadocia. He was one of the ten children of St. Basil the Elder and St. Emmelia, who died in the same year. Several of his siblings and sisters have been elevated to the ranks of the saints. He went to school in Caesarea, as well as at Constantinople and Athens, where he met St. Gregory Nazianzen in 352, and they became friends. He went on to create a school oforatory in Caesarea and practice law a short time later. In the end, he opted to become a monk and established a monastery in Pontus, which he oversaw for a period of five years.
- After constructing numerous more monasteries, he was ordained and elevated to the position of Bishop of Caesaria in 370.
- During his lifetime and after his death, this earned him the title of “Great” and “Doctor of the Church,” respectively.
- He was largely important for the victory of Niceneorthodoxy over Arianism in the Byzantine East, and his efforts resulted in the repudiation of Arianism at the Council of Constantinople in 381-82, which was a significant step forward.
- He was a man of tremendous learning and accomplishment in statesmanship, as well as a man of great personal piety and one of the great orators in the history of Christianity.
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Saint Basil the Great
The early Church Father St. Basil the Great, LatinBasilius (born 329 in CaesareaMazaca, Cappadocia—died January 1, 379 in Caesarea; Western feast day January 2; Eastern feast day January 1), a staunch opponent of the Arianheresy, was a martyr. As the Archbishop of Caesarea, he authored various books on monasticism, theology, and canon law throughout his tenure. Immediately following his death, he was canonized.
Early life and ecclesiastical career
Originally from Caesarea, the capital of Cappadocia, Basil was born into a famous family in the 4th century. Cappadocia was an important province of Asia Minor in the 4th century because of its strategic location on the military path between Constantinople and Antioch. Christianization of the family had begun during the persecutions of Christians, which ended in the early fourth century and continued to the present day. One of Basil’s uncles served as a bishop, as did two of his brothers later in life (Gregory and Peter of Sebaste).
- He had his education at Caesarea, Constantinople, and, lastly (c.351–356), atAthens, where he formed a connection with St.
- He resumed a secular profession after coming home, but the influence of his religious sister Macrina, who went on to become a nun and abbess, reaffirmed his early inclination toward the asceticlife.
- The monasteries of Egypt were visited by him in 357, and he aided the Cappadocian bishops at the Synod of Constantinople in 360, according to tradition.
- Basil was reconciled with Dianius shortly before his death (362), and he was afterwards appointed as a presbyter (priest) to help Dianius’ successor, the newly converted Eusebius, after his death.
- When the church was endangered by the Arian emperor Valens in 365, he was summoned back to Caesarea.
His theological and ecclesiastical policy thereafter aimed to unite against Arianism the former semi-Arians, and the supporters of Nicaea under the formula “three persons (hypostases) in one substance (ousia),” thus preserving both unity and the necessary distinctions in the theological concept of the Godhead in theological concept of the Godhead When Eusebius died in 370, Basil was appointed as his successor, despite the opposition of some of the other bishops in the province at the time.
Anti-Arian activities
While serving as bishop of Caesarea, Basil was also the metropolitan (ecclesiastical primate of a province) of Cappadocia, and his owndiocese covered the vast estates of eastern Cappadocia, where he was aided by a number of “country bishops” (chorepiscopi). In addition, he established charity organizations to assist the impoverished, the sick, and travelers. When Valens arrived through Caesarea in 371 and demanded that Basil submit, Basil responded in a spectacular manner. When Valens partitioned the province, Basil felt it a personal attack, because Anthimus of Tyana was elevated to the position of metropolitan for the cities of western Cappadocia as a result of the division.
Gregory of Nazianzus at Sasima and St.
Despite the fact that this strategy was only partially effective, Basil was spared the attacks on orthodox bishops that Valens had undertaken elsewhere.
Meletius, the former semi-Arian bishop of Antioch (one of the five major patriarchates in early Christianity), against Paulinus, the leader of the strictNiceneminority, because he feared that the extreme Nicenes at this point were slipping intoSabellianism, a heresy that overstated the oneness of God.
Basil’s health was in terrible shape, possibly as a result of the rigors of his austere life.
Vigorous and staunch in his convictions, he appears to have been revered rather than loved in his own time, even by his closest associates. However, he was profoundly mourned and was quickly elevated to the ranks of the saints.
Works and legacy
Basil’s extensive and significant publications arose from his practical problems as a monk, pastor, and church leader, which he addressed in his writings. They were to have a significant impact on the monastic life of Eastern Christianity. TheLonger RulesandShorter Rules(formonasteries) and other ascetic writings distill the experience that began at Annesi and continued during his supervision of the monasteries of Cappadocia: they were to have a significant impact on the monastic life of Eastern Christianity.
- The majority of Basil’s sermons that have survived are concerned with ethical and social issues.
- When Basil preaches theHexameron (also known as the “Six Days”), a series of nineLenten sermons on the six days of creation, he describes the various beauty of the universe as reflecting the brilliance of God.
- Basil’s personality is most clearly portrayed in his letters, of which more than 300 have been saved to this day.
- Several of his Canonical Epistles, which include rulings on matters of discipline, have been incorporated into the canon law of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
- Basil, or the Liturgy of St.
- But at the at least, the primary prayer of consecration (which sets aside the bread and wine) reflects his spirit and was most likely in use at Caesarea during his lifetime.
- Hardy is a fictional character created by author Edward R.
Who Is Saint Basil? — St. Basil the Great Greek Orthodox Church
Saint Basil’s life and ministry should be especially inspiring to those of us who live and work in the Silicon Valley region. He is the patron saint of our church. Why? Because he would have been a perfect match for the kind of imaginative, innovative, and entrepreneurial problem-solving that individuals in the technology business are so well known for. He was not only the Archbishop of Caesarea, but he was also a monk and an abbot, in addition to his other roles. His monks, on the other hand, were required to live and serve in the city, among the people, in order to spread the Gospel message of being witnesses and creating disciples of Jesus Christ.
- Among all other saints, he stands out as one of Christendom’s most important witnesses to the method in which an entire community is taught the road to salvation by a creative and practical participation with the Holy Spirit in a lovingembodiment of the Lord Jesus Christ.
- He was born in the year 330 at Caesarea, which served as the capital of the Turkish province of Cappadocia.
- Saint Basil spent his early years on a magnificent estate that belonged to his parents, where he was educated and enlightened by his mother Emilia and grandmother Macrina, as well as by his father Basil (who also later became saints).
- Later, however, Basil was sent to a school in Constantinople, where he studied under the tutelage of some of the city’s most illustrious orators and thinkers.
- After only a few years at Athens, Basil had mastered all of the subjects he had been studying.
- His intense desire to unlock the mysteries of God’s creation fueled him to become what would now be referred to as a “renaissance man,” a person who embodied the spirit of the Renaissance.
- He was likewise moved by the zeal of their religious convictions and decided to live as an austere lifestyle.
At the age of 32, he was ordained a deacon, and at the age of 38, he was ordained to the priesthood, where he continues to preach everyday.
Suddenly, Basil found himself embroiled in a series of intense battles against a heretical faction known as the Arians.
During public arguments, Saint Basil, on the other hand, frequently defeated them, and he released papers that refuted their heretical doctrines.
While he was bishop, a devastating famine descended over Cappadocia and its neighboring territories, which he oversaw.
Our dear Saint Basil was filled with compassion for others and was always looking for new and innovative methods to share Christ’s love with them.
A group of monks who were particularly competent in different skills and vocations were recruited by him to work at the monastery.
In honor of the gracious economy of God’s Kingdom, this new charity institution was named ” theBasilas ” (the Kingdom), which means “the Kingdom.” Additionally, the name “Basilios” sounded like the name of the company’s creative creator, Basil.
Saint Basil’s visionary new town also contained innovative institutions to deal with the challenges of his day, such as a hospital, a leper clinic, residences for travelers and the poor, and small commercial facilities or manufacturing workshops for The destitute were put to work and even trained by competent monks in various industries in this new Basilias, which was built with the Church’s liturgical and sacramental life at its core.
This enabled the impoverished to become self-sufficient.
All of these ministries were created out of the practical experience and holy imagination of Saint Basil and his flock, with the goal of extending love to those who were dealing with the most pressing issues of the day.
In today’s economic estimates, this appears to be a financial disaster, but with the assistance of the Holy Spirit and Saint Basil’s use of his own and numerous other people’s practical skillsets, there were astounding repercussions.
Basil’s newBasilasproject was so successful that it soon surpassed Caesarea in importance and became known as the “New Caesarea.” The strategy used by Saint Basil (or, more accurately, God’s approach, of delivering physical compassion to suffering neighbors) resulted in the development of a self-sustaining, thriving economy for the people of his metropolitan area.
A healthy dose of Orthodox knowledge was added in to ensure that such a life would tangibly give out the fruit of God’s loving Kingdom into the lives of others in our immediate vicinity.
We were never supposed to stoically sing hymns about the saints as if they no longer had anything to teach us in terms of personal development or salvation.
When we sing about “the sound of Saint Basil’s voice traveling throughout the lands with teachings that divinely explain the nature of beings.and.that provide a rule of life for man,” we must remember that we are expected to do the same thing he did (because he was simply following Christ’s command).
What else might be the reason we’re here?
Consequently, we cease to be Christians.
Saint Basil the Great
Born from a noble family, he grew up in a religious environment — his mother, father, and four of his siblings, including Saint Gregory of Nyssa, were all canonized. Saint Macrina the Elder’s grandson, Saint Macrina the Younger. Basil was well-known as a young man for organizing famine relief efforts and for working in the kitchens personally, which was rare for a young nobleman. He traveled to Constantinople and Athens with his buddy Saint Gregory Nazianus to further his education. In the Caesarea, I ran a school, a foratory, and a legal firm.
- He sold all he owned, gave up the proceeds, and took the vow of apriestandmonk because of fear that it would undermine his religiosity.
- To the west, you’ll find SaintBenedict of Nursiawas.
- Two times a day, Mass and sermons were delivered to the people.
- Doctor of the Church in Greek.
- Avoid being disheartened and instead turn to Mary in your times of need.
- Saint Basil the Great is credited with inventing the term “saint.” Happiness awaits the person who, night and day, is preoccupied with nothing other than how he will be able to give an acceptable account of his life when he appears before the Judge.
– The bread that you eat is the bread that the hungry eat; the garment that hangs in your closet is the garment of the naked; the shoes that you do not wear are the shoes of the barefoot; and the acts of charity that you do not perform are a slew of injustices that you have committed against the world.
- In order to rescue sinners, Jesus Christ came into our world.
- It is the Word of God that summons us to repentance, exhorting us to “come to me, all you who work and are severely laden, and I will refresh you” (Matthew 11:28).
- If a neighbor’s granaries are overflowing with a bumper crop, if his efforts are rewarded with success, the jealous guy feels disappointed and depressed.
- The envious, on the other hand, are afraid to speak up since, while jealousy makes them appear happy on the outside, their hearts are aching on the inside.
- Not that his buddy’s pleasure frustrates him, nor does his joy make him unhappy, nor is he upset that his friend is prospering; rather, he is convinced that the prosperity of others is the source of his own suffering, and he believes this to be the case.
- Similar to how one’s shadow follows one when walking in the light, jealously follows individuals who are successful in their endeavors throughout life.
- The Faith has been taught, the nature of created things has been disclosed, and a royal priesthood of men has been established as a result of this act of teaching and revelation.
- – Saint Basil the Great’s Troparion of Victory Thy teachings, O holy Basil, revealer of the mysteries of heaven, established the Church on an unshakeable basis.
You granted all humans an inviolate dominion that you sealed with thy doctrine, establishing the Church on an unshakeable foundation. – Saint Basil the Great’s Kontakion (contemplation)
Our Patron – St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church
Saint Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, “belongs not only to the Church of Caesarea, nor merely to his own time, nor was he of benefit only to his own kinsmen, but rather to all lands and cities throughout the world, and to all people he brought and continues to bring benefit, and for Christians he has always been and will continue to be a most salvific teacher,” according to the Catholic Encyclopedia.
- Saint Basil’s contemporaries, Saint Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium, expressed himself in this way.
- He belonged to an aristocratic dynasty that was renowned for its eminence and riches, and he was a fervent believer in the Christian faith.
- Saint Basil’s mother, Saint Emilia, was the daughter of a martyr, who died in the service of her country.
- Basil was also the name of Saint Basil’s father, who was also named Basil.
- Basil and Emilia had a total of ten children, five males and five girls, throughout their marriage.
- Basil the Great was canonized as a saint in the year 550.
- He spent his early years of life on an estate owned by his parents near the River Iris, where he was reared by his mother Emilia and grandmother Macrina under the supervision of his mother Emilia and grandmother Macrina.
- Initially, Basil obtained his education under the supervision of his father, and then he went on to study under the best professors at Caesarea of Cappadocia, where he met and became acquainted with Saint Gregory the Theologian (January 25 and January 30).
- Saint Basil proceeded to Athens to continue his study, which was the epicenter of classical enlightenment at the time.
“He went through everything in great detail, far more than most people do while studying a particular subject.” In each science, he studied it in its entirety as though he were studying it for the first time.” Philosopher, scholar of the Greek language, orator, jurist, naturalist, and possessor of extensive knowledge in the fields of astronomy, mathematics, and medicine, “he was a ship fully laden with learning, to the extent permitted by human nature.” During their time together in Athens, Basil the Great and Gregory the Theologian (Nazianzus) formed a personal relationship that lasted throughout their respective lives.
- In reality, they considered themselves to be one soul inhabiting two bodies.
- In front of us were two paths: one leading to our hallowed temples and the instructors who reside inside, and another leading to preceptors of disciplines beyond.
- But, after turning down offers from Caesarea’s people who wanted to entrust him with the teaching of their children, Saint Basil decided to follow the path of asceticism and became a hermit.
- Upon being baptized by Dianios, the Bishop of Caesarea, Basil was given the honor of being tonsured as a Reader (On the Holy Spirit, 29).
- Later, in order to “acquire a guide to the understanding of truth,” the saint embarked on a voyage that brought him to Egypt, Syria, and Palestine, where he met the great Christian ascetics who lived in those countries.
- In order to help the less fortunate, he dispersed his fortune to those in need, then lived on the other side of the river, not far from his mother Emilia and sister Macrina, assembling a group of monks who were living a cenobitic life around him.
- Saints Basil and Gregory labored in severe abstinence in their living location, which had no roof or fireplace, and the diet was exceedingly modest.
Their hands were continuously calloused from the rigorous job.
He wore a hairshirt, but only at night, so that it would not be obvious.
They were guided by the writings of the Fathers and commentators of the past, especially the good writings of Origen.
Also at this time, at the request of the monks, Saint Basil wrote down a collection of rules for virtuous life.
Monasteries were organized for men and for women, in which places Basil sought to combine the cenobitic (koine bios, or common) lifestyle with that of the solitary hermit.
Saint Basil returned to Caesarea.
In 364 he was ordained to the holy priesthood by Bishop Eusebius of Caesarea.
To avoid causing Church discord, Basil withdrew to his own monastery and concerned himself with the organization of monasteries.
Saint Basil hastily returned to Caesarea at the request of Bishop Eusebius.
He preached daily, and often twice, in the morning and in the evening.
He wrote a work “On the Six Days of Creation” (Hexaemeron) and another on the Prophet Isaiah in sixteen chapters, yet another on the Psalms, and also a second compilation of monastic rules.
Saint Gregory the Theologian, speaking about the activity of Basil the Great during this period, points to “the caring for the destitute and the taking in of strangers, the supervision of virgins, written and unwritten monastic rules for monks, the arrangement of prayers, the felicitous arrangement of altars and other things.” Upon the death of Eusebius, the Bishop of Caesarea, Saint Basil was chosen to succed him in the year 370.
- As Bishop of Caesarea, Saint Basil the Great was the newest of fifty bishops in eleven provinces.
- Under Valens, the external government belonged to the Arians, who held various opinions regarding the divinity of the Son of God, and were divided into several factions.
- In his books Against Eunomios, Saint Basil the Great taught the divinity of the Holy Spirit and His equality with the Father and the Son.
- Saint Basil’s difficulties were made worse by various circumstances: Cappadocia was divided in two under the rearrangement of provincial districts.
- There was the negative and haughty attitude of Western bishops to the attempts to draw them into the struggle with the Arians.
- Basil had been connected to him by ties of close friendship.
- The holy bishop wrote numerous letters to the churches, to bishops, to clergy and to individuals.
He has been compared to a bee, stinging the Church’s enemies, yet nourishing his flock with the sweet honey of his teaching.
He sent the prefect Modestus to Saint Basil.
Saint Basil said, “If you take away my possessions, you will not enrich yourself, nor will you make me a pauper.
Exile means nothing to me, since I am bound to no particular place.
Better to say: every place is God’s.
38/39:13)?
I am so weak, that the very first blow would render me insensible.
“No one has ever spoken so audaciously to me,” he said.
In all else we are meek, the most humble of all.
Then fire, sword, wild beasts and iron rods that rend the body, serve to fill us with joy, rather than fear.” Reporting to Valens that Saint Basil was not to be intimidated, Modestus said, “Emperor, we stand defeated by a leader of the Church.” Basil the Great again showed firmness before the emperor and his retinue and made such a strong impression on Valens that the emperor dared not give in to the Arians demanding Basil’s exile.
“ On the day of Theophany, amidst an innumerable multitude of the people, Valens entered the church and mixed in with the throng, in order to give the appearance of being in unity with the Church.
The emperor beheld a sea of people, and in the altar and all around was splendor; in front of all was Basil, who acknowledged neither by gesture nor by glance, that anything else was going on in church.” Everything was focused only on God and the altar-table, and the clergy serving there in awe and reverence.
- He was particularly concerned with the exact fulfilment of the Canons of the Church, and took care that only respectable persons should come into the priesthood.
- A cathedral dedicated to the Forty Martyrs (March 9) whose relics were interred there was erected by Saint Basil in Caesarea, where he established two monasteries, one for men and one for women.
- Saint Basil was granted an exemption from taxation because of his clerical position.
- After being sick since childhood, the toil of teaching, his life-long abstinence, as well as the worries and sorrows of pastoral service took their toll on him.
- Saint Gregory the Theologian was blessed by the saint shortly before his death, allowing him to take the See of Constantinople.
During his eulogy for Saint Basil the Great on November 23, Bishop Amphilochius of Iconium said, “It is neither by chance nor for no reason that holy Basil has taken leave from the body and had repose from the world unto God on the day of the Circumcision of Jesus, which is celebrated between the days of Christ’s Nativity and his Baptism.
As a result, let it be decreed that this day be observed yearly to commemorate the memory of Basil the Great in a joyful and somber manner.” As well as “the revealer of heavenly mysteries” (Ouranophantor), a “famous and dazzling star,” as well as “the splendor and beauty of the Church,” Saint Basil is known by many other titles.
In various parts of the world, it is usual to perform special carols in honor of Saint Basil on this day.
Everyone pays their respects to the houses of friends and relatives, and each household’s mistress bestows a modest present on each kid.
Following the Liturgy, a special bread (Vasilopita) is blessed and handed to the congregation. A silver coin is baked inside the bread, and whomever receives a piece of the bread that contains the coin is considered to have received the blessing of Saint Basil for the next year.
Saint Basil’s Day
The Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, St. Basil the Great, “belongs not only to the Church of Caesarea alone, nor merely to his own time, nor was he of benefit only to his own kinsmen, but rather to all lands and cities throughout the world, and to all people he brought and continues to bring benefit, and for Christians he has always been and will continue to be a most salvific teacher.” Saint Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium, a contemporary of Saint Basil, said as much.
- Caesarea, the administrative center of Cappadocia, is where Saint Basil was born in the year 330.
- During the persecution under Diocletian, the saint’s grandfather and grandmother on his father’s side were forced to take refuge in the Pontus forests for seven years.
- A celebration of her life is held on May 30th, according to the Greek calendar.
- Caesarea was home to him, and he was a lawyer and renowned rhetorician.
They were later canonized as saints: Basil the Great; Macrina (July 19), who was a model of ascetic life and had a significant influence on the life and character of Saint Basil the Great; Gregory, later Bishop of Nyssa (January 10); Peter, Bishop of Sebaste (January 9); and Theosebia, a deaconess (July 9).
- (January 10).
- They were ladies of great refinement, who recalled a previous bishop of Cappadocia, Saint Gregory the Wonderworker, who had died in a battle against the Romans (November 17).
- The next year, Basil went to a prestigious school in Constantinople, where he listened to illustrious orators and thinkers.
- Basil had mastered all of the disciplines offered to him throughout his four or five-year sojourn in Athens.
In each science, he studied it in its entirety as though he were studying it for the first time.” Philosopher, scholar of the Greek language, orator, jurist, naturalist, and possessor of profound knowledge in the fields of astronomy, mathematics, and medicine, “he was a ship fully laden with learning, to the extent permitted by human nature.” During their time together in Athens, Basil the Great and Gregory the Theologian (Nazianzus) formed a deep relationship that lasted the rest of their respective lives.
- In actuality, they considered themselves to be one soul inhabiting two different physical forms.
- At some point around the year 357, Saint Basil returned to Caesarea and dedicated himself to the study of rhetoric for a period of time.
- Following the death of Basil’s father, Basil’s mother, her eldest daughter Macrina, and numerous female servants relocated to the family estate at Iris, where they proceeded to live an austere lifestyle.
- he began by delivering a reading from the Holy Scriptures, followed by an explanation.
- “Wishing to obtain a guide to the understanding of truth,” the saint wrote afterwards.
- In order to help the less fortunate, he dispersed his fortune to those in need, then lived on the other side of the river, not far from his mother Emilia and sister Macrina, assembling a group of monks who were living a cenobitic lifestyle around himself.
- Saints Basil and Gregory toiled in rigorous abstinence in their tiny abode, which lacked a roof or a fireplace, and the food they ate was quite spartan in comparison.
Their hands were continually calloused as a result of the long hours of labor.
He wore a hairshirt only at night, in order to keep it from being too conspicuous.
In their decisions, they drew on the works of the Fathers and commentators from the past, particularly the excellent writings of Origen.
Saint Basil also set down a list of guidelines for living a virtuous life at this time, at the request of the monks, during the same period.
It was decided that monasteries would be established for men and women, and it was in these establishments that Basil attempted to merge the cenobitic (koine bios, or common) existence with the solitary hermit lifestyle.
Saint Basil made his way back to Caesarea.
Bishop Eusebius of Caesarea consecrated him to the holy priesthood in 364 and he served as a priest until his death.
So as not to stir up dissension within the Church, Basil retreated to his own monastery and devoted himself to the creation of monastic communities.
At the urging of Bishop Eusebius, Saint Basil returned to Caesarea in a hurried manner.
From this point on, Basil was in charge of the church’s administration, albeit he remained subject to the hierarch.
During this period, Saint Basil was composing his Liturgy, which is still in use today.
Saint Basil also published three works entitled “Against Eunomius,” which were written in response to an Arian instructor who, with the aid of Aristotelian conceptions, had presented the Arian doctrine in philosophic form, transforming Christian teaching into a logical structure of rational notions.
- In the year 370, after the death of Eusebius, the Bishop of Caesarea, Saint Basil was selected to succeed him as the new Bishop of the city.
- Saint Athanasius the Great (May 2), filled with joy and gratitude to God, welcomed the appointment to Cappadocia of a bishop like Basil, who was renowned for his reverence, deep knowledge of Holy Scripture, great learning, and efforts for the welfare of Church peace and unity.
- The Holy Spirit was at the center of these doctrinal debates, which lasted for several years.
- Following this, at the request of Saint Amphilochius, the Bishop of Iconium, Saint Basil authored his book On the Holy Spirit in order to offer a comprehensive explanation of Orthodox theology on the subject.
- Then there was a split in Antioch, which was precipitated by the consecration of a second bishop.
- There was also the departure of Eustathius of Sebaste from the Arian side, which was a significant development.
- St.
The holy bishop sent a plethora of letters to the churches, to bishops, to clergy, and to individual people during his lifetime.
Despite stinging the adversaries of the Church with his doctrine, he has been likened to a bee, nurturing his flock with the sweet honey of his instruction.
He dispatched the prefect Modestus to the city of Saint Basil.
“If you take away my belongings, you will neither enrich yourself, nor will you reduce me to the status of a pauper,” Saint Basil declared.
Exile means nothing to me since I am not tied down to any single location.
It would be more accurate to state that every location belongs to God.
38/39:13 asks where I would be if I were neither a stranger nor a sojourner.
I am so weak that even the slightest blow would knock me completely unconscious.
“I’ve never had anyone speak so boldly to me before,” he claimed.
However, when it comes to God, and when people rise up against Him, we look to Him alone, disregarding all else in the world around us.
Basil the Great demonstrated his toughness in front of the emperor and his entourage once more, leaving such a lasting impression on Valens that the emperor was unwilling to cave in to the Arians’ demands that Basil be exiled.
His ears rang with the sound of thunder when the singing of Psalms began in the church.
Almost every day, the church services were conducted in honor of Saint Basil.
He was constantly making his way around his own church, making sure there was no infringement of Church discipline anywhere and putting everything unsightly back in its proper position.
Taking after the example of the monks, the saint’s clergy, including deacons and priests, lived in extraordinary poverty, toiled, and lived chaste and virtuous lives in the service of the community.
Every penny of his own fortune and every cent of his church’s revenue went to helping the needy; he erected poorhouses in every center of his diocese, as well as a refuge for wanderers and the homeless in the city of Caesarea.
Saint Basil died on January 1, 379, at the age of 49, according to historical records.
As soon as Saint Basil was laid to rest, the Church began to commemorate his life and legacy.
” Consequently, on this hallowed day of recollection of the Circumcision of Christ, this most blessed one, proclaiming and praising the Nativity and Baptism of Christ, glorifying spiritual circumcision, and himself leaving the flesh, ascends to Christ.
At the Great Lavra on Mount Athos, he rests his venerable head.
In the houses of the faithful, Jesus is said to make appearances, and a place at the table is prepared specifically for him.
It is customary to bless and distribute special bread following the Liturgy, which is known as Vasilopita. In the bread, a silver coin is baked inside the loaf, and whomever receives the slice containing the coin is considered to have received the blessing of Saint Basil for the next year.
History of Saint Basil’s Day
The young St. Basil was pursuing his dreams of becoming a lawyer and a teacher when he was abruptly called to the holy life. He went across Egypt, Palestine, Syria, and Mesopotamia, stopping at monasteries along the way, before returning to Caesarea in Cappadocia in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). The following day, he set off towards the Iris River in Pontus, where his mother and sister, Macrina the Younger, had already begun their ascetical journey. Because to the great impact of his sister, he decided to embrace this way of life and leave his worldly profession behind.
- They established a monastery village on his family’s farm near Annes, which is still in use today.
- Around the year 370, the bishop of his nation resigned, and St.
- From that point on, he was entrusted with the care of the Church of Christ, which he managed for eight years while living in voluntary poverty and asceticism.
- His ideals continue to have a great impact on Eastern monasticism to this very day.
- Basil’s bread,’ a delicious bread in which a penny is inserted for good luck.
- The leader of the family makes a cross sign over the loaf of bread and cuts the first slice as a sacrifice to Christ, and the second and third pieces as offerings to St.
- The following piece is reserved for the head of the home, and the subsequent sections are distributed equitably among the remaining members, starting with the eldest and working their way down to the youngest.
Saint Basil’s Day timeline
The year 330 A.D. marks the birth of a great man. Basil the Elder and Emmelia of Caesarea, members of a rich Cappadocian Greek family, have a son named St. Basil the Great. 356 A.D. A Revolutionary Turn in One’s Life As a result of his encounter with the charismatic ascetic Eustathius of Sebaste, St. Basil undergoes a spiritual awakening that alters the course of his life forever. Tour of Egypt in 357 A.D. St. Basil travels extensively throughout Egypt, visiting several monasteries. St. Basil provides assistance to the Cappadocian Bishops in 360 A.D.
Back to Caesarea in the year 365 A.D.
Basil is summoned back to Caesarea for a second time.
Basil’s Leaves for the Abode of the Sacred Heart, January 1, 379 A.D.
Basil passes away to be with the Lord in heaven. Change of Date in the 13th Century As of June 14, when he is thought to have been appointed a bishop, the Western Church has moved St. Basil’s Day to the 14th of June, a date that will be observed until 1969.
Saint Basil’s DayFAQ s
On the Feast of St. Basil, the Liturgy of St. Basil is celebrated across the Orthodox world. The origins of this recollection, on the other hand, may be traced back to ancient Roman practices.
What does ‘Basil’ mean in accordance with this holiday?
It is thought that the day of St. Basil’s Day commemorates the death of Basil of Caesarea. Besides being a forefather of the Greek Orthodox Church, St. Basil is also considered to be one of the most prominent Doctors of the Church.
What is St. Basil famous for?
St. Basil the Great was a Church Father who fought for the orthodox faith against the Arian heresy during the early fourth century. Additionally, he is credited for furthering Christian theology, particularly the dogma of the Holy Trinity, and is a saint who is greatly revered in both the Eastern and Western faiths.
How To Celebrate Saint Basil’s Day
- When it comes to honoring St. Basil’s Day, one of the most significant traditions is offering vasilopita, a delicious bread that is baked with a coin within. On this special day, gather your friends and family at your house to celebrate this significant ritual.
Visit your friends and family’s homes
- Visits to friends and relatives’ houses on St. Basil’s Day have become a traditional tradition. Allow for some New Year’s carol singing, and set aside a special place at the table for Saint Basil.
Feed the poor
- On St. Basil’s feast day, it would be appropriate to pay honor to his charitable deeds by carrying on his tradition of helping the underprivileged. Meanwhile, while you are enjoying your lunch at home, prepare some extra food that will be given to those in need in the honor of St. Basil.
5 Important Facts About Saint Basil
- In the early Christian theology, St. Basil, his brother Gregory of Nyssa, and friend Gregory of Nazianzus are generally known to as the Cappadocian Fathers, for their contributions to the advancement of the discipline.
Great Hierarch
- Among those honored with the title of Great Hierarch are St. Basil, Gregory of Nazianzus, and John Chrysostom, according to the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Churches.
The Ouranophantor
- As a result of his work, St. Basil is known with the appellation “Ouranophantor,” which means “revealer of heavenly secrets.”
St. Basil’s writings
- The “On the Holy Spirit” and the “Refutation of the Apology of the Impious Eunomius” are two of St. Basil’s most important compositions.
Long Christian pedigree
- While growing up, St. Basil was raised in a Christian family that was devout at a time when Christians were being persecuted on an unprecedented scale. His maternal grandfather had died as a martyr, his uncle had become a bishop, and his parents and all four of his siblings were all canonized as saints.
Why Saint Basil’s Day is Important
- In addition to his academic prowess, St. Basil was an altruistic humanitarian who cared deeply for the impoverished. He even added a modicum of moderation to the austere behaviors that had traditionally been associated with monastic life. He is the patron saint of several monastic orders in Eastern Christianity as a result of his influence.
He is highly commemorated
- In the Roman Catholic Church, he is commemorated by the Congregation of St. Basil, which was founded in his honor. In recognition of his contributions to the discussion sparked by the Arian dispute, he was awarded the title of “Doctor of the Church.”
He made many significant contributions
- ‘ousia’ (essence/substance) and ‘hypostasis’ (person/reality) are two concepts attributed to St. Basil, who is also credited with defining them. He also defined the traditional formulation of three individuals in one nature, which is attributed to him as well. It was his insistence on the divinity and consubstantiality of the Holy Spirit that made him the most significant contributor.
Saint Basil’s Day dates
Year | Date | Day |
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2022 | January 2 | Sunday |
2023 | January 2 | Monday |
2024 | January 2 | Tuesday |
2025 | January 2 | Thursday |
2026 | January 2 | Friday |
Saint Basil the Great – Feast Day – January 2
He was born in 329 in Caesarea in Asia Minor (now Turkey), Europe, and was known as Saint Basil the Great. He lived and worked in Turkey, where he died on January 1st, 379. His feast day is observed on the second of January every year.
Saint Basil the Great Biography | |
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Date of Birth | Saint Basil the Great |
Country of Birth | Turkey of Europe |
Profession | Priest, Bishop, Archbishop |
Place of Work | Turkey |
Date of Death | January 1 379 |
Place of Death | Turkey |
Feast Day | January 2 |
Beatification | Pre congregation |
Canonization | Pre congregation |
Patron Saint of |
Saint Basil the Great Life HistorySaint Basil the Great was born about the year 330 in the city of Caesarea, in the country of Turkey (modern Turkey). This Basil had nine siblings, and his family was well-known in the community. His mother, Saint Emmelia, his father, Saint Basil the Elder, and four of his nine siblings, including Saint Gregory of Nyssa, were all canonized, as was his father. Basil’s ancestors have been Christians since the persecution of Christians began in the early centuries. In Caesarea, Constantinople, and Athens, Basil studied and made a friendship with Saint Gregory of Nanzianzus, whom he met while studying in these cities.
Saint Basil the Great’sbirthSt Basil the Great was born in 329 at Caesarea, Asia Minor (modern Turkey), Europe, and is known as the “Great Basil.” Saint Basil the Great’sDeathNaturally occurring circumstances brought to Basil’s death on January 1, 379, at Caesarea, Asia Minor (now Turkey). Saint Basil the GreatFeast DaySt Basil the Great is one of the well-known saints who have a feast day on January 2 every year, and he is among those who are honored on this day. BeatificationHe was beatified by the congregation of the Pre-Congregational Church. CanonizedThe canonization of St Basil the Great was approved by the Pre congregation. Patron Saint ofHe is the patron saint of Cappadocia, hospital managers, monks, reformers, and the Russian Orthodox Church, among other things. Saint’s AttributesSt Basil the Great is typically shown with a scroll or book, alluding to his great writings and miraculous fire, and with a dove hovering close, according to popular belief. Major works and LegaciesBasil delivered sermons such as “Address to Young People,” in which he addressed issues of ethics and social justice. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, some of his Canonical Epistles, which include judgements on questions of discipline, have been incorporated into the canon law of the church. Daily Catholic Readings App Download
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