Saint Basil the Great
Greek icon of St. An icon (from Greek εἰκών eikōn, "image" is a religious work of art most commonly a painting from Eastern Christianity. Basil the Great
Doctor, Great Hierarch
Born	ca. 330, Caesarea in Cappadocia
Died	January 1, 379[1], Caesarea in Cappadocia
Canonized	pre-congregation
Feast	East: January 1 (Repose) and January 30 (Three Hierarchs) West: January 2 (formerly June 14)
Attributes	Vested as bishop, wearing omophorion, holding a Gospel Book or scroll. Kayseri ( Ottoman Turkish:قیصریه Greek: Καισάρεια / Kaisareia: Latin: Caesarea Mazaca Zazaish Cappadocia (or Capadocia, Turkish Kapadokya, from Greek: Καππαδοκία / Kappadokía which in turn is from the Persian: New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Events By Place Roman Empire January 19 — Theodosius I is elevated as Roman Emperor at Sirmium. Canonization is the act by which a particular Christian church declares a deceased person to be a Saint and is included in the canon or list of recognized saints The Calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a Liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with one or more Saints New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain The Three Holy Hierarchs ( Greek: Οι Τρείς Ιεράρχες of Eastern Christianity refers to Basil the Great (known as Basil of Caesarea Events 366 - The Alamanni cross the frozen Rhine River in large numbers invading the Roman Empire. Events 1276 - While taking exile in Fuzhou in southern China, away from the advancing Mongol invaders, the remnants of the Christianity has used symbols from its very beginnings Each Saint has a story and a reason why he or she led an exemplary life In the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic liturgical tradition the omophorion ( Greek:; Slavonic: омофоръ omofor) The Gospel Book, or Book of the Gospels ( Greek:, Evangélion) is a Codex or bound volume containing one or more of the four Gospels A scroll is a roll of Papyrus, Parchment, or Paper which has been written drawn or painted upon for the purpose of transmitting information or using as St. Basil is depicted in icons as thin and ascetic with a long, tapering black beard. An icon (from Greek εἰκών eikōn, "image" is a religious work of art most commonly a painting from Eastern Christianity.
Patronage	Cappadocia, Hospital administrators, Reformers, Monks, Education, Exorcism, Liturgists
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Basil of Caesarea, also called Basil the Great (between 329 and 333 – January 1, 379) (Greek: Άγιος Βασίλειος ο Μέγας; Latin: Basilius), was the Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia and an influential 4th century Christian theologian. The patron saint of a particular group of people is a Saint who would protect and 'love' the group and its members Cappadocia (or Capadocia, Turkish Kapadokya, from Greek: Καππαδοκία / Kappadokía which in turn is from the Persian: A hospital is an institution for Health care providing treatment by specialised staff and equipment and often but not always providing for MONK is a Monte Carlo software package for simulating nuclear processes particularly for the purpose of determining the neutron multiplication factor or k-effective Education encompasses both the Teaching and Learning of Knowledge, proper conduct, and technical competency Exorcism (from Late Latin exorcismus, from Greek exorkizein - to adjure is the practice of evicting Demons or other evil A liturgy is the customary public worship done by a specific religious group according to their particular traditions New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Events By Place Roman Empire January 19 — Theodosius I is elevated as Roman Emperor at Sirmium. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight Kayseri ( Ottoman Turkish:قیصریه Greek: Καισάρεια / Kaisareia: Latin: Caesarea Mazaca Zazaish Cappadocia (or Capadocia, Turkish Kapadokya, from Greek: Καππαδοκία / Kappadokía which in turn is from the Persian: A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth Theology is the study of a god or the gods from a religious perspective Theologically, Basil was a supporter of the Nicene faction of the church, in opposition to the Arians on one side and the Appollanarians on the other. The First Council of Nicaea, held in Nicaea in Bithynia (present-day İznik in Turkey) convoked by the Roman Emperor Constantine Arianism is the theological teaching of Arius (c AD 250-336 who was ruled a heretic by the Christian church at the Council of Nicea. His ability to balance his theological convictions with his political connections made Basil a powerful advocate for the Nicene position.

In addition to his work as a theologian, Basil was known for his care of the poor and underprivileged. Basil established guidelines for monastic life which focus on community life, liturgical prayer and manual labor. Together with Saint Pachomius he is remembered as a father of communal monasticism in Eastern Christianity. Saint Pachomius (ca 292-348 also known as Abba Pachomius and Pakhom in Arabic الأنبا باخوميوس, is generally recognized as the founder of A coenobium (plural coenobia is a Colony containing a fixed number of cells with little or no specialization He is considered a saint by the traditions of both Eastern and Western Christianity. A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity Families of churches Eastern Christians have a shared tradition but they became divided ( Schism) during the early centuries of Christianity in disputes about Western Christianity is a term used to cover the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, the Churches of the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran Church

Basil, Gregory Nazianzus, and Basil's brother Gregory of Nyssa are collectively referred to as the Cappadocian Fathers. Gregory of Nazianzus (329 – January 25 389) (also known as Gregory the Theologian or Gregory Nazianzen) was a 4th-century Archbishop Gregory of Nyssa ( Greek: Άγιος Γρηγόριος Νύσσης Latin: Gregorius Nyssenus; Arabic: غريغوريوس النيصي The Cappadocians (or Cappadocian philosophers, Cappadocian Fathers) are significant figures in the history of the Church Fathers, who significantly The Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches have given him, together with Gregory of Nazianzus and John Chrysostom, the title of Great Hierarch, while the Roman Catholic Church has named him a Doctor of the Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world This article refers to Eastern Churches in full communion with the Holy See Gregory of Nazianzus (329 – January 25 389) (also known as Gregory the Theologian or Gregory Nazianzen) was a 4th-century Archbishop This article refers to the Christian saint For other uses of the name see Chrysostomos. The Three Holy Hierarchs ( Greek: Οι Τρείς Ιεράρχες of Eastern Christianity refers to Basil the Great (known as Basil of Caesarea Doctor of the Church ( Latin doctor, teacher from Latin docere, to teach is a title given by a variety of Christian Churches to individuals He is also referred to as "the revealer of heavenly mysteries" (Ouranophantor). ^[2]

Contents 1 Life 1.1 Early life and education 1.2 Arnesi 1.3 Caesarea 2 Writings 3 Legacy 3.1 Liturgical contributions 3.2 Influence on monasticism 4 Commemorations of Basil 5 See also 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External links

Life

Early life and education

Basil was born into the wealthy family of Basil the Elder, a famous rhetor,^[3] and Emelia around 330 in Caesarea Mazaca in Cappadocia^[4] (now known as Kayseri, Turkey). Saint Basil the Elder raised in Neocaesarea in Pontus. The son of Macrina the Elder, Basil is said to have moved with the family to the shores of the Saint Emelia was the wife of Basil the Elder, and the mother of Saint Basil the Great. Kayseri ( Ottoman Turkish:قیصریه Greek: Καισάρεια / Kaisareia: Latin: Caesarea Mazaca Zazaish Cappadocia (or Capadocia, Turkish Kapadokya, from Greek: Καππαδοκία / Kappadokía which in turn is from the Persian: Kayseri ( Ottoman Turkish:قیصریه Greek: Καισάρεια / Kaisareia: Latin: Caesarea Mazaca Zazaish Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches It was a large household, consisting of ten children, the parents, and Basil's grandmother, Macrina the Elder. Saint Macrina the Elder (before 270 - c 340 was the mother of Saint Basil the Elder, and the grandmother of Basil the Great, Saint Gregory of Nyssa, His parents were known for their piety,^[5] and his maternal grandfather was a Christian martyr, executed in the years prior to Constantine's conversion. The term martyr ( Greek μάρτυς martys "witness" is most commonly used today to describe an individual who sacrifices their life (or personal freedom Constantine ( Latin: Cōnstantīnus, Greek:) is a given name and surname derived from the Latin word constans, meaning constant or ^[6][7] Four of Basil's siblings are known by name, and considered to be saints by various Christian traditions. His older sister Macrina the Younger was a well-known nun. A Nun is a Woman who has taken special vows committing her to a religious life His older brother Peter served as bishop of Sebaste in Armenia, and wrote a few well-known theological treatises. Peter of Sebaste (ca 340 — 391 was a bishop taking his usual name from the city of his bishopry Sebaste in Armenia. His brother Naucratius was an anchorite, and inspired much of Basil's theological work. Saint Naucratius was the son of Basil the Elder and Emmelia of Caesarea. Anchorite (male/ anchoress (female (adj anchoritic from the Greek anachōreō signifying "to withdraw" "to depart into the rural countryside" Perhaps the most influential of Basil's siblings was his younger brother Gregory. Gregory of Nyssa ( Greek: Άγιος Γρηγόριος Νύσσης Latin: Gregorius Nyssenus; Arabic: غريغوريوس النيصي Gregory was appointed by Basil to be the bishop of Nyssa, and he produced a number of writings defending Nicene theology and describing the life of early Christian monastics.

Shortly after Basil's birth, the family moved to the estate of his grandmother Macrina, in the region of Pontus. Geography The Black Sea region loosely called Pontus by various scholars has a steep rocky coast with rivers that cascade through the gorges of the coastal ranges There, Basil was educated in the home by his father and grandmother. He was greatly influenced by the elder Macrina, who herself was a student of Gregory Thaumaturgus. Saint Gregory of Neocaesarea, also known as Gregory Thaumaturgus or Gregory the Wonderworker, (ca ^[8] Following the death of his father during his teenage years, Basil returned to Caesarea in Cappadocia around 350-51 to begin his formal education. ^[9] There he met Gregory of Nazianzus, who would become a lifetime friend. Gregory of Nazianzus (329 – January 25 389) (also known as Gregory the Theologian or Gregory Nazianzen) was a 4th-century Archbishop ^[10] Together, Basil and Gregory went on to study in Constantinople, where they would have listened to the lectures of Libanius. Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS Libanius ( Greek: Λιβάνιος, Libanios; ca 314-ca 394 was a Greek-speaking teacher of rhetoric of the later Roman Empire, an educated Finally, the two spent almost six years in Athens starting around 349, where they met a fellow student who would become the emperor Julian the Apostate. Athens (ˈæθənz Αθήνα Athina,) the Capital and largest city of Greece, dominates the Attica periphery as one of the world's Flavius Claudius Julianus, known also as Julian or Julian the Apostate (331 or 332 to 26 June 363) was Roman Emperor (Caesar ^[11][12] It was at Athens that he began to first think about living a life focused on Christian principles.

Returning from Athens around 355, Basil briefly practiced law and taught rhetoric in Ceasarea. ^[13][14] A year later, Basil's life would change radically after he encountered Eustathius of Sebaste, a charismatic bishop and ascetic. Eustathius, was bishop of Sebastia in Armenia. Toge­ther with Basil of Ancyra, he was the author of the sect of the Macedonians ^[15]

Basil soon abandoned his legal and teaching professions in order to devote his life to God. Describing his spiritual awakening in a letter, Basil said:

“

I had wasted much time on follies and spent nearly all of my youth in vain labors, and devotion to the teachings of a wisdom that God had made foolish. Suddenly, I awoke as out of a deep sleep. I beheld the wonderful light of the Gospel truth, and I recognized the nothingnes of the wisdom of the princes of this world. [16]

”

Arnesi

After receiving the sacrament of baptism, Basil traveled in 357 to Palestine, Egypt, Syria and Mesopotamia to study ascetics and monasticism. ^[17][18] While impressed by the piety of the ascetics, the ideal of solitary life held little appeal to him. ^[19] Rather, he turned his attention toward communal religious life. After dividing his fortunes among the poor he went briefly into solitude near Neocaesaria on the Iris. ^[20] Basil soon ventured out of this solitude, and by 358 he was gathering around him a group of like-mided disciples around him, including his brother Peter. DISCiPLE, Miles Gordon Technology 's first product was a Floppy disk interface for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum home computer Together they founded a monastic settlement on his family estate at Arnesi in Pontus. ^[21] Joining him there were his mother Emelia, then widowed, his sister Macrina and several other women, gave themselves to a pious life of prayer and charitable works. Eustathius of Sebaste had already labored in Pontus in behalf of the anchoretic life, and Basil revered him on that account, although they differed over dogmatic points, which gradually separated the two. Eustathius, was bishop of Sebastia in Armenia. Toge­ther with Basil of Ancyra, he was the author of the sect of the Macedonians A hermit (from the Greek ἔρημος erēmos, signifying " Desert " "uninhabited" hence "desert-dweller" adjective "eremitic" Dogma (the plural is either dogmata or dogmas, Greek, plural) is the established Belief or

It was here that Basil wrote his works regarding monastic communal life, which are accounted as being pivotal in the development of the monastic tradition of the Eastern Church and have led to his being called the "father of Eastern communal monasticism". Families of churches Eastern Christians have a shared tradition but they became divided ( Schism) during the early centuries of Christianity in disputes about ^[22][13] In 358 he wrote to his friend, Gregory of Nazianzus, asking Gregory to join him in Arnesi. ^[23] Gregory eventually agreed to come; together, they collaborated on the production of the production of the Philocalia, an anthology drawn from Origen. The Philokalia ( Gk φιλοκαλείν "Love of the Beautiful" is a collection of texts by masters of the Eastern Orthodox, hesychast Origen ( Greek: Ōrigénēs, or Origen Adamantius, ca 185–ca ^[13][24] Gregory then decided to return to his family in Nazianzus.

Basil attended the Council of Constantinople in 360. See also Council of Rimini, Council of Seleucia In 359, the Roman Emperor Constantius II requested a church council at Constantinople It was here that he first sided with the Homoiousians, a semi-Arian faction who taught that the Son was of like substance with the Father, neither the same (one substance) nor different from him. Homoiousianism (from the Greek όμοιος meaning similar and ουσία meaning essence or being was a 4th century CE movement which arose in the early ^[25] Its members included Eustathius, Basil's mentor in asceticism. The Homoiousians opposed the Arianism of Eunomius but refused to join with the supporters of the Nicene Creed, who professed that the members of the Trinity were of one substance ("homoousios"). The Nicene Creed (ˈnaɪsiːn is an ecumenical Christian statement of faith accepted in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Assyrian Church of Homoousian (from the Greek όμοιοs meaning same and ουσία meaning essence or being is a technical theological term used in discussion of the This stance put him at odds with his bishop, Dianius of Caesarea, who had subscribed only to the earlier Nicene form of agreement. The Nicene Creed (ˈnaɪsiːn is an ecumenical Christian statement of faith accepted in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Assyrian Church of Some years later Basil abandoned the Homoiousians, emerging instead as a supporter of the Nicene Creed. ^[26]

Caesarea

In 362 Basil was ordained a deacon by Bishop Meletius of Antioch. The laying on of hands is a religious practice found throughout the world in varying forms Deacon is a role in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind but which varies among theological and denominational traditions Saint Meletius of Antioch (Μελέτιος (died 381 was the Christian Bishop, or Patriarch of Antioch, from 360 until his death He was summoned by Eusebius to his city, and was ordained presbyter of the Church there in 365. Presbyter in the New Testament refers to a leader in local Christian congregations then a synonym of episkopos (which has now come to mean Bishop His ordination was probably the result of the entreaties of his ecclesiastical superiors,^[27] who wished to use his talents against the Arians, who were numerous in that part of the country and were favored by the Arian emperor, Valens, who then reigned in Constantinople. This article is about the Roman Emperor For other people called Valens see Valens Flavius Julius Valens ( Latin: DOMINVS Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS

Basil and Gregory Nazianzus spent the next few years combating the Arian heresy, which threatened to divide the region of Cappadocia. Arianism is the theological teaching of Arius (c AD 250-336 who was ruled a heretic by the Christian church at the Council of Nicea. The two friends then entered a period of close fraternal cooperation as they participated in a great rhetorical contest of the Caesarean church precipitated by the arrival of accomplished Arian theologians and rhetors. ^[28] In the subsequent public debates, presided over by agents of Valens, Gregory and Basil emerged triumphant. This article is about the Roman Emperor For other people called Valens see Valens Flavius Julius Valens ( Latin: DOMINVS This success confirmed for both Gregory and Basil that their futures lay in administration of the church. ^[29] Basil next took on functional administration of the Diocese of Caesarea. In many rites of the Roman Catholic Church and in Anglican churches, a diocese is an administrative territorial unit administered by a Bishop. ^[22]Eusebius is reported as becoming jealous of the reputation and influence which Basil quickly developed, and allowed Basil to return to his earlier solitude. Later, however, Gregory persuaded Basil to return. Basil did so, and became the effective manager of the diocese for several years, while giving all the credit to Eusebius. ^[13]

In 370, Eusebius died, and Basil was chosen to succeed him, and was consecrated bishop on June 14, 370. ^[30] His new post as bishop of Caesarea also gave him the powers of exarch of Pontus and metropolitan of five suffragan bishops, many of whom had opposed him in the election for Eusebius's successor. This article is about Byzantine governors and ecclesiastical ranks In Hierarchical Christian churches the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the Diocesan bishop or A suffragan bishop is a Bishop subordinate to a Metropolitan bishop or Diocesan bishop. It was then that his great powers were called into action. Hot-blooded and somewhat imperious, Basil was also generous and sympathetic. He personally organized a soup kitchen and distributed food to the poor during a famine following a drought. A soup kitchen or a bread line is a place where Food is offered to the Poor and Homeless for free or at a reasonably low Price He gave away his personal family inheritance to benefit the poor of his diocese. ^[13]

His letters show that he actively worked to reform thieves and prostitutes. They also show him encouraging his clergy not to be tempted by wealth or the comparatively easy life of a priest, and that he personally took care in selecting worthy candidates for holy orders. In a general sense the term Holy Orders refers to those in the Christian religion who have been ordained in Apostolic Succession. He also had the courage to criticize public officials who failed in their duty of administering justice. At the same time, he preached every morning and evening in his own church to large congregations. In addition to all the above, he built a large complex just outside Caesarea, called the Basiliad, which included a poorhouse, hospice, and hospital, and was regarded at the time as one of the wonders of the world. ^[13]

His zeal for orthodoxy did not blind him to what was good in an opponent; and for the sake of peace and charity he was content to waive the use of orthodox terminology when it could be surrendered without a sacrifice of truth. The word orthodox, from Greek orthodoxos "having the right opinion" from orthos ("right true straight" + doxa ("opinion The Emperor Valens, who was an adherent of the Arian philosophy, sent his prefect Modestus to at least agree to a compromise with the Arian faction. This article is about the Roman Emperor For other people called Valens see Valens Flavius Julius Valens ( Latin: DOMINVS Prefect (from the Latin praefectus, perfect participle of praeficere: "make in front" i Basil's adamant response in the negative prompted Modestus to say that no one had ever spoken to him in that way before. Basil replied, "Perhaps you have never yet had to deal with a bishop. " Modestus reported back to Valens that he believed nothing short of violence would avail against Basil. Valens was apparently unwilling to engage in violence. He did however issue orders banishing Basil repeatedly, none of which succeeded. Valens came himself to attend when Basil celebrated the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of the Theophany (Epiphany), and at that time was so impressed by Basil that he donated to him some land for the building of the Basiliad. The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. Epiphany ( Greek for "to manifest" or "to show" is a Christian Feast day which celebrates the "shining forth" or revelation of This interaction helped to define the limits of governmental power over the church. ^[13]

Basil then had to face the growing spread of Arianism. Arianism is the theological teaching of Arius (c AD 250-336 who was ruled a heretic by the Christian church at the Council of Nicea. This belief system, which denied that Christ was consubstantial with the Father, was quickly gaining adherents and was seen by many, particularly those in Alexandria most familiar with it, as posing a threat to the unity of the church. Consubstantiality is a term used in Latin Christian Christology, coined by Tertullian in Against Hermogenes 44 used to translate ^[31] Basil entered into connections with the West, and with the help of Athanasius, he tried to overcome its distrustful attitude toward the Homoiousians. The difficulties had been enhanced by bringing in the question as to the essence of the Holy Spirit. In mainstream Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is one of the three entities of the Holy Trinity which make up the single substance Although Basil advocated objectively the consubstantiality of the Holy Spirit with the Father and the Son, he belonged to those, who, faithful to Eastern tradition, would not allow the predicate homoousios to the former; for this he was reproached as early as 371 by the Orthodox zealots among the monks, and Athanasius defended him. Consubstantiality is a term used in Latin Christian Christology, coined by Tertullian in Against Hermogenes 44 used to translate In mainstream Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is one of the three entities of the Holy Trinity which make up the single substance In many religions the supreme Deity ( God) is given the title and attributions of Father. God the Son is the second person of the Trinity in Christian Theology. He maintained a relationship with Eustathius despite dogmatic differences. Eustathius or Eustathios may refer to Eustathius of Antioch, Patriarch of Antioch (c On the other hand, Basil was grievously offended by the extreme adherents of Homoousianism, who seemed to him to be reviving the Sabellian heresy. Homoousian (from the Greek όμοιοs meaning same and ουσία meaning essence or being is a technical theological term used in discussion of the In Christianity, Sabellianism (also known as modalism, modalistic monarchianism, or modal monarchism) is the Nontrinitarian belief

Basil corresponded with Pope Damasus in the hope of having the Roman bishop condemn heresy wherever found, both East and West. Heresy is an introduced change to some system of belief especially a religion that conflicts with the previously established canon of that belief The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST internal designation HT-7U is an experimental Superconducting Tokamak Magnetic fusion energy This article refers to the cardinal direction for other uses see West (disambiguation. The Pope's apparent indifference upset Basil's zeal and he turned around in distress and sadness. History See also History of the Papacy Catholics recognize the Pope as a successor to Saint Peter, who Jesus named as the "shepherd" and It is still a point of controversy over how much he believed the Roman See could do for the Churches in the East, as many Roman Catholic theologians^[32] claim the primacy of the Roman bishopric over the rest of the Churches, both in doctrine and in authoritative strength. The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome, commonly known as the Pope, and is the preeminent Episcopal see of the Roman Catholic A church building is a Building or Structure whose primary purpose is to facilitate the meeting of a church. Theology is the study of a god or the gods from a religious perspective

He did not live to see the end of the factional disturbances and the complete success of his continued exertions in behalf of the Church. He suffered from liver illness and his excessive asceticism seems to have hastened him to an early death. Ascetic redirects here You might also be looking for Acetic acid. A lasting monument of his episcopal care for the poor was the great institute before the gates of Caesarea, which was used as poorhouse, hospital, and hospice.

Writings

The principal theological writings of Basil are his On the Holy Spirit, a lucid and edifying appeal to Scripture and early Christian tradition (to prove the divinity of the Holy Spirit), and his Refutation of the Apology of the Impious Eunomius, written in 363 or 364, three books against Eunomius of Cyzicus, the chief exponent of Anomoian Arianism. Eunomius (Εὐνόμιος (died c393 one of the leaders of the extreme or anomoeans who are sometimes accordingly called Eunomians was born at Dacora in The first three books of the Refutation are his work; the fourth and fifth books that are usually included do not belong to Basil, or to Apollinaris of Laodicea, but probably to Didymus "the Blind" of Alexandria. Didymus the Blind (ca 313 – ca398 was an ecclesiastical writer of Alexandria whose famous catechetical school he led for about half a century

He was a famous preacher, and many of his homilies, including a series of Lenten lectures on the Hexaëmeron (the Six Days of Creation), and an exposition of the psalter, have been preserved. Great Lent, or the Great Fast, is the most important Fasting season in the Church year in Eastern Christianity, which prepares Christians Hexameron (Greek Η Εξαήμερος Δημιουργία is the theological belief that the Universe was created in six days A Psalter is a volume containing the Book of Psalms and which often contains other devotional material Some, like that against usury and that on the famine in 368, are valuable for the history of morals; others illustrate the honor paid to martyrs and relics; the address to young men on the study of classical literature shows that Basil was lastingly influenced by his own education, which taught him to appreciate the propaedeutic importance of the classics. A relic is an object or a personal item of religious significance carefully preserved with an air of Veneration as a tangible memorial "Classical literature" redirects here For literature in Classical languages outside the Graeco-Roman sphere see Ancient literature.

In his exegesis Basil tended to interpret Scripture literally—following more the Antiochian school—rather than allegorically as Origen and the Alexandrian school had done. Exegesis (from the Greek 'to lead out' involves an extensive and critical interpretation of an authoritative text, especially of a Holy The School of Antioch was one of the two major centers of the study of biblical Exegesis and Theology; the other was the Catechetical school of Alexandria Origen ( Greek: Ōrigénēs, or Origen Adamantius, ca 185–ca The Alexandrian school is a collective designation for certain tendencies in literature philosophy medicine and the sciences that developed in the Hellenistic cultural center Concerning this, he wrote:

"I know the laws of allegory, though less by myself than from the works of others. There are those, truly, who do not admit the common sense of the Scriptures, for whom water is not water, but some other nature, who see in a plant, in a fish, what their fancy wishes, who change the nature of reptiles and of wild beasts to suit their allegories, like the interpreters of dreams who explain visions in sleep to make them serve their own end. "^[33]

His ascetic tendencies are exhibited in the Moralia and Asketika (sometimes mistranslated as Rules of St. Ascetic redirects here You might also be looking for Acetic acid. Basil), ethical manuals for use in the world and the cloister, respectively. Of the two works known as the Greater Asketikon and the Lesser Asketikon, the shorter is the one most probably his work.

It is in the ethical manuals and moral sermons that the practical aspects of his theoretical theology are illustrated. So, for example, it is in his Sermon to the Lazicans that we find St. Basil explaining how it is our common nature that obliges us to treat our neighbor's natural needs (e. g. , hunger, thirst) as our own, even though he is a separate individual. Later theologians explicitly explain this as an example of how the saints become an image of the one common nature of the persons of the Trinity.

His three hundred letters reveal a rich and observant nature, which, despite the troubles of ill-health and ecclesiastical unrest, remained optimistic, tender and even playful. His principal efforts as a reformer were directed towards the improvement of the liturgy, and the reformation of the monastic institutions of the East.

Most of his extant works, and a few spuriously attributed to him, are available in the Patrologia Graecae, which includes Latin translations of varying quality. The Patrologia Graeca (or Patrologiae Cursus Completus Series Graeca is an edited collection of writings by the Christian Church Fathers and various secular Several of St. Basil's works have appeared in the late twentieth century in the Sources Chrétiennes collection. Sources Chrétiennes ( French "Christian sources" is a bilingual collection of patristic texts founded in Lyon in 1943 by the Jesuits No critical edition is yet available.

Legacy

Liturgical contributions

Basil of Caesarea holds a very important place in the history of Christian liturgy, coming as he did at the end of the age of persecution. A Liturgy is a set form of ceremony or pattern of worship Christian liturgy is a pattern for worship used (whether recommended or prescribed by a Christian congregation or Persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual/group by another group At this time, liturgical prayers were transitioning from being extemporaneous or memorized into written formulas, and liturgy began to be influenced by court ritual. Basil's liturgical influence is well attested in early sources. Though it is difficult at this time to know exactly which parts of the Divine Liturgies which bear his name are actually his work, a vast corpus of prayers attributed to him has survived in the various Eastern Christian churches. Tradition also credits Basil with the elevation of the iconostasis to its present height. In Eastern Christianity an iconostasis (the plural is iconostases) also called the Templon, is a wall of Icons and religious paintings

Most of the liturgies bearing the name of Basil are not entirely his work in their present form, but they nevertheless preserve a recollection of Basil's activity in this field in formularizing liturgical prayers and promoting church-song. A liturgy is the customary public worship done by a specific religious group according to their particular traditions Patristocs scholars conclude that the Liturgy of Saint Basil "bears, unmistakably, the personal hand, pen, mind and heart of St. Bail the Great. "^[34]

One liturgy that can be attributed to him is The Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great, a liturgy that is somewhat longer than the more commonly used Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. The Liturgy of Saint Basil or more formally the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great, is a term for several Eastern Christian celebrations of the Divine The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. The difference between the two is primarily in the silent prayers said by the priest, and in the use of the hymn to the Theotokos, All of Creation, instead of the Axion Estin of Saint John Chrysostom's Liturgy. Theotokos (Θεοτόκος translit Theotókos) is a title of Mary the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox, Axion estin ( Greek: Άξιον εστίν, Slavonic: Достóйно éсть Dostóino yesť) or It is Truly Meet, Chrysostom's Liturgy has come to replace Saint Basil's on most days in the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic liturgical traditions. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world The Greek Byzantine Catholic Church is a Sui iuris Particular Church within the Catholic Church and uses the Byzantine liturgical rite However, they still use Saint Basil's Liturgy on certain feast days: the first five Sundays of Great Lent; the Eves of Nativity and Theophany; and on Maundy Thursday and Holy Saturday; and the Feast of Saint Basil, January 1 (for those churches which follow the Julian Calendar, their January 1 falls on January 14 of the Gregorian Calendar). The Calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a Liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with one or more Saints Great Lent, or the Great Fast, is the most important Fasting season in the Church year in Eastern Christianity, which prepares Christians Theophany, from the Greek, theophaneia (meaning "appearance/showing of God" refers to the appearance of a Deity to a human or to a divine disclosure In the Christian Liturgical calendar, Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday) is the feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter Holy Saturday ( Latin: Sabbatum Sanctum) is the day after Good Friday. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC The Julian calendar, a reform of the Roman calendar, was introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC and came into force in 45 BC (709 Ab urbe condita The Gregorian calendar is the most widely used Calendar in the world today

The Eastern Churches preserve numerous other prayers attributed to Saint Basil, including three Prayers of Exorcism, several Morning and Evening Prayers, the "Prayer of the Hours" which is read at each service of the Daily Office, and the long and moving "Kneeling Prayers" which are recited by the priest at Vespers on Pentecost in the Byzantine Rite. Exorcism (from Late Latin exorcismus, from Greek exorkizein - to adjure is the practice of evicting Demons or other evil Canonical hours are divisions of time developed by the Christian Church, serving as increments between the prescribed Prayers of the daily round Vespers is the evening Prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Eastern (Byzantine Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, liturgies of the Pentecost (πεντηκοστή, pentekostē, "the fiftieth day" is one of the prominent feasts in the Christian Liturgical year, celebrated the The Byzantine Rite, sometimes called the Rite of Constantinople or Constantinopolitan Rite, is the liturgical rite used currently (in various languages

Influence on monasticism

Through his examples and teachings Basil effected a noteworthy moderation in the austere practices which were previously characteristic of monastic life. ^[35] He is also credited with coordinating the duties of work and prayer to ensure a proper balance between the two. ^[36]

Basil is remembered as one of the most influential figures in the development of Christian monasticism. Not only is Basil recognised as the father of Eastern monasticism; historians recognize that his legacy extends also to the Western church, largely due to his influence on Saint Benedict. ^[37] Patristic scholars such as Meredith assert that Benedict himself recognized this when he wrote in the epilogue to his Rule that his monks, in addition to the Bible, should read "the confessions of the Fathers and their instistutes and their lives and the Rule of our Holy Father, Basil. ^[38] Basil's teachings on monasticism, as encoded in works such as his Small Asketikon, was transmitted to the west via Rufinus during the last 4th century. Tyrannius Rufinus or Rufinus of Aquileia ( Rufinus Aquileiensis) (between 340 and 345 &ndash 410 was a Monk, historian, and theologian ^[39]

As a result of his influence, numerous reglious orders in Eastern Christianity bear his name. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Basilian Fathers, also known as The Congregation of St. Basil, an international order of priests and students studying for the priesthood, is named after him. The Basilian Fathers, also known as The Congregation of Saint Basil, is an international order of Catholic Priests and students

Commemorations of Basil

Basil was given the title Doctor of the Church for his contributions to the debate initiated by the Arian controversy regarding the nature of the Trinity, and especially the question of the divinity of the Holy Spirit. Doctor of the Church ( Latin doctor, teacher from Latin docere, to teach is a title given by a variety of Christian Churches to individuals In mainstream Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is one of the three entities of the Holy Trinity which make up the single substance Basil was responsible for defining the terms ousia (essence/substance) and hypostasis (person/reality), and for defining the classic formulation of three Persons in one Nature. Ousia () is the Ancient Greek noun formed on the feminine present participle of ( to be) it is analogous to the English participle His single greatest contribution was his insistence on the divinity and consubstantiality of the Holy Spirit with the Father and the Son. ^[13]

In Greek tradition, his name was given to Father Christmas and is supposed to visit children and give presents every January 1 (when Basil's memory is celebrated)—unlike other traditions where this person is Saint Nicholas and comes either on December 6 (St. The Greeks ( Greek: Έλληνες) are a Nation and Ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighbouring regions Father Christmas is a name used in many English speaking countries for the gift-bringing figure of Christmas. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Saint Nicholas (Άγιος Νικόλαος, Agios Nikolaos, "victory of the people" is the common name for Nicholas of Myra, a Christian Saint Nicholas' Day) or on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve, December 24, is the day before Christmas Day, the celebrated birthday of Jesus. It is traditional on St. Basil's Day to serve Vasilopita, a rich bread baked with a coin inside, in commemoration of St. Vasilopita (Βασιλόπιτα is a traditional New Year's Day bread or cake in Greece and many other areas in eastern Europe and the Balkans which contains a hidden Basil's charity. It is customary on his feast day to visit the homes of friends and relatives, to sing carols, and to set an extra place at the table for Saint Basil. In Greek tradition and according to historical records, St. Basil, of Greek heritage, is the original "Santa Claus" who being born into a wealthy family, gave away all his possessions to the poor and those in need, the underprivileged and children. ^[40] A similar story exists for another Greek bishop, St. Nicholas of Myra. Over the centuries the two have been merged but the Western "Santa Claus" is St. Nicholas and the Eastern "Santa Claus" is St. Basil.

Basil died on 1 January, the day on which the Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates his feast day together with the Feast of the Circumcision. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world The Calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a Liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with one or more Saints The Feast of the Circumcision of Our Lord is a Christian celebration of the Circumcision of Jesus, eight days (according to the Semitic and southern European In the Roman Catholic calendar of saints, in which 1 January is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, he is celebrated on the following day, 2 January, together with Saint Gregory Nazianzen. For earlier forms of the General Roman Calendar see the Tridentine Calendar, the General Roman Calendar as in 1954, General Roman Calendar of Pope Pius New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God is a feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church on January 1, Events 366 - The Alamanni cross the frozen Rhine River in large numbers invading the Roman Empire. Gregory of Nazianzus (329 – January 25 389) (also known as Gregory the Theologian or Gregory Nazianzen) was a 4th-century Archbishop (Before 1969, the Roman Rite celebrated him on 14 June, the traditional date of his ordination as bishop. Events 1276 - While taking exile in Fuzhou in southern China, away from the advancing Mongol invaders, the remnants of the In general religious use ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is set apart as Clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight ) The Church of England celebrates him on 2 January, the Episcopal Church on 14 June. The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Events 366 - The Alamanni cross the frozen Rhine River in large numbers invading the Roman Empire. Events 1276 - While taking exile in Fuzhou in southern China, away from the advancing Mongol invaders, the remnants of the The Lutheran calendar commemorates him on both dates, each time together with Gregory Nazianzen and Gregory of Nyssa. The Lutheran Calendar of Saints is a listing which details the primary annual festivals and events that are celebrated liturgically by the Lutheran Church Gregory of Nazianzus (329 – January 25 389) (also known as Gregory the Theologian or Gregory Nazianzen) was a 4th-century Archbishop Gregory of Nyssa ( Greek: Άγιος Γρηγόριος Νύσσης Latin: Gregorius Nyssenus; Arabic: غريغوريوس النيصي

In the Byzantine Rite, 30 January is the Synaxis of the Three Holy Hierarchs, in honour of Saint Basil, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom. The Byzantine Rite, sometimes called the Rite of Constantinople or Constantinopolitan Rite, is the liturgical rite used currently (in various languages Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain For the Moth Genus, see Synaxis (moth. (at this point April 2008 this redirects to a nonexistant article The Three Holy Hierarchs ( Greek: Οι Τρείς Ιεράρχες of Eastern Christianity refers to Basil the Great (known as Basil of Caesarea Gregory of Nazianzus (329 – January 25 389) (also known as Gregory the Theologian or Gregory Nazianzen) was a 4th-century Archbishop This article refers to the Christian saint For other uses of the name see Chrysostomos. The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria celebrates the feast day of Saint Basil on the 6th of Tobi (6th of Terr on the Ethiopian calendar of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church). History of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria Apostolic foundation Egypt is identified in the Bible as the place of refuge that the Alexandria ( Egyptian Arabic: اسكندريه Eskendereyya; Standard Arabic: ar الإسكندرية Al-Iskandariyya; Ἀλεξάνδρεια Tobi also known as Touba is the fifth month of the Coptic calendar. The Ethiopian calendar ( Amharic: የኢትዮጵያ ዘመን አቆጣጠር ye'Ītyōṗṗyā zemen āḳoṭaṭer) also called the Ge'ez calendar, The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (in transliterated Amharic: Yäityop'ya ortodoks täwahedo bétäkrestyan) is an Oriental At present, this corresponds normally to 15 January, but to 16 January after the insertion of a leap-year extra day. Events 588 BC - Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem under Zedekiah 's reign Events 27 BC - The title Augustus is bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman Senate.

There are numerous relics of Saint Basil throughout the world. A relic is an object or a personal item of religious significance carefully preserved with an air of Veneration as a tangible memorial One of the most important is his head, which is preserved to this day at the monastery of the Great Lavra on Mount Athos in Greece. The Monastery of Great Lavra (Μονή Μεγίστης Λαύρας is the first monastery built on Mount Athos. Mount Athos (Όρος Άθως is a mountain on the Peninsula of the same name in Macedonia, of northern Greece, called in Greek Άγιον Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία The mythical sword Durandal is said to contain some of Basil's blood. As told in the Matter of France, Durendal or Durandal ( Italian: Durlindana Spanish: Durandal or Durandarte ^[41]

See also

• Cappadocian Fathers
• Gregory of Nyssa
• Gregory Nazianzus
• John Chrysostom
• Basilian monk
• Basilopita
• Christian mystics

References

Bibliography

• Bebis, George (Fall-Winter 1997). "Introduction to the Liturgical Theology of St Basil the Great". Greek Orthodox Theological Review 42 (3-4): p 273-285. ISSN 0017-3894.  

• The New Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15th edition, v. 1. London: Encyclopaedia Britannica.  

• Hildebrand, Stephen M. (2007). The Trinitarian Theology of Basil of Caesarea. Washington, D. C. : Catholic University of America Press. ISBN 978-0-8132-1473-3.  

• Keary, Charles Francis (1882). Outline of Primative Belief Among the Indo-European Races. New York: C. Scribner's Sons.  

• Meredith, Anthony (1995). The Cappadocians. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminar Press. ISBN 0-8818141-112-4.  

• Migne, Jacques Paul (ed.) (1857–1866). Jacques Paul Migne (25 October 1800 - 24 October 1875 was a French Priest who published inexpensive and widely-distributed editions of theological works encyclopedias Cursus Completus Patrologiae Graecae. The Patrologia Graeca (or Patrologiae Cursus Completus Series Graeca is an edited collection of writings by the Christian Church Fathers and various secular Paris: Imprimerie Catholique.  

• Murphy, Margaret Gertrude (1930). St. Basil and Monasticism: Catholic University of America Series on Patristic Studies, Vol. XXV. New York: AMS Press. ISBN 0-404-04543-x.  

• Rousseau, Phillip (1994). Basil of Caesarea. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-08238-9.  

• Quasten, Johannes (1986). Patrology, v. 3. Christian Classics. ISBN 0-87061-086-4.  

• Ruether, Rosemary Radford (1969). Gregory of Nazianzus. Oxford: Oxford University Press.  

• Silvas, Anna M. (September 2002). "Edessa to Cassino: The Passage of Basil's Asketikon to the West". Vigliae Christianae 56 (3): 247-259. Brill Academic. ISSN 042-6032.  

• This article includes content derived from the Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, 1914, which is in the public domain. The Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge is a religious Encyclopedia (1st edition 1882-84 3rd edition 1891 new edition published in thirteen volumes The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone

External links

• Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Early Church Fathers, Series II, Vol. VIII contains the treatise On the Holy Spirit, the Hexaemeron, some of the homilies and the letters
• St. Basil the Great in English and Greek, Select Resources
• Basil the Great article from Orthodox Wikipedia has a slightly longer article on St. Basil
• The Heritage of the Holy Fathers has a more complete collection of his homilies (and some other works, but only a few of his letters)—in Russian
• Excerpts from Basil the Great
• St. Basil the Great at Catholic Online
• St. Basil the Great article from The Catholic Encyclopedia at New Advent
• St. Basil the Great at American Catholic
• Basil of Caesarea and His Influence on Monastic Mission benedictines. The Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to today as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language Encyclopedia published by The Encyclopedia org. uk
• Preface to the Asketikon English translation by Oxford University Press
• St. Basil the Great the Archbishop of Caesarea, in Cappadocia Orthodox icon and synaxarion

Persondata
NAME	Basil of Caesarea
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Basil the Great (honorific); Basilius (Latin); Μέγας Βασίλειος (Greek)
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Christian Saint
DATE OF BIRTH	ca. An icon (from Greek εἰκών eikōn, "image" is a religious work of art most commonly a painting from Eastern Christianity. Synaxarium, Synaxarion, Synexarium, Synexarion, pl Synaxaria ( Greek: Συναξάριον, from συναγειν 330
PLACE OF BIRTH	Caesarea Mazaca, Cappadocia (now Kayseri, Turkey)
DATE OF DEATH	January 1, 379
PLACE OF DEATH	Caesarea Mazaca, Cappadocia

Kayseri ( Ottoman Turkish:قیصریه Greek: Καισάρεια / Kaisareia: Latin: Caesarea Mazaca Zazaish Cappadocia (or Capadocia, Turkish Kapadokya, from Greek: Καππαδοκία / Kappadokía which in turn is from the Persian: Kayseri ( Ottoman Turkish:قیصریه Greek: Καισάρεια / Kaisareia: Latin: Caesarea Mazaca Zazaish Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Events By Place Roman Empire January 19 — Theodosius I is elevated as Roman Emperor at Sirmium.

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