Saint Basil the Great
Stored in Cargo: Saint Basil the Great
| Saint Basil the Great | |
| Feast Day | January 02 |
|---|---|
| Liturgical Class | |
| Patronage | Hospital administrators, reformers, monks, education, exorcists, Cappadocia |
| Birthplace | Caesarea Mazaca, Cappadocia, Roman Empire |
| Death Place | Caesarea Mazaca, Cappadocia, Roman Empire |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes, likely illness |
| Primary Shrine | Church of Saint Basil, Moscow, Russia |
Saint Basil the Great (c. 329–330 – January 1 or 2, 379), also known as Basil of Caesarea, was a saint, bishop, monk, theologian, and Doctor of the Church, revered as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs alongside Saint Gregory of Nazianzus and Saint John Chrysostom. Born in Caesarea Mazaca, Cappadocia, to a wealthy Christian family, including his parents Saint Basil the Elder and Saint Emmelia, and siblings Saint Gregory of Nyssa and Saint Macrina, he studied in Constantinople and Athens, mastering rhetoric and philosophy. After embracing asceticism around 356, he founded a monastic community in Annesi, Pontus, authoring the *Basilian Rule*, which shaped Eastern monasticism. Ordained bishop of Caesarea in 370, he combated Arianism, defended Nicene orthodoxy, and organized charity, establishing the *Basiliad*, a hospital and poorhouse. His writings, including *On the Holy Spirit*, *Hexaemeron*, and numerous letters, clarified Trinitarian theology. He died of natural causes in Caesarea in 379. Canonized pre-Congregation, he was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1568 by Pope Pius V. His feast day is January 2 in the Roman Catholic Church, January 1 in the Eastern Orthodox Church. He is patron of hospital administrators, reformers, monks, education, exorcists, and Cappadocia.[1][2]
His relics are venerated in the Church of Saint Basil, Moscow, and other sites like Mount Athos. Basil’s *Liturgy of Saint Basil*, used in Eastern Orthodox worship, and his theological defense of the Holy Spirit’s divinity, notably against Eunomius, remain influential. His charitable works, including feeding the poor during a 368 famine, and his mentorship of figures like Saint Ephrem the Syrian underscore his legacy as a model of Christian leadership.[3][4]
Biography
Birth
Saint Basil was born around 329–330 in Caesarea Mazaca, Cappadocia (modern Kayseri, Turkey), to Saint Basil the Elder, a rhetorician, and Saint Emmelia. His family, including siblings Saint Gregory of Nyssa, Saint Macrina, and Peter of Sebaste, was devout and wealthy.[1][5]
Early Life
Educated by his father, Basil studied in Constantinople under Libanius and in Athens (c. 349–355), befriending Gregory of Nazianzus. After teaching rhetoric in Caesarea, he visited ascetics in Egypt, Syria, and Palestine in 356, embracing monastic life. He settled in Annesi, Pontus, with his sister Macrina, establishing a monastery.[2][6]
Occupation
Basil was a monk, priest, and bishop. Ordained priest around 362, he became bishop of Caesarea in 370, succeeding Eusebius. He governed the Cappadocian Church, preached against Arianism, and corresponded with emperors like Valens to defend Nicene faith. His *Basiliad* provided healthcare and food, while his monastic rule influenced Eastern Orthodox monasteries. He wrote extensively, including 300 letters and theological treatises.[1][3]
Vocation
Basil’s vocation was theological defense, charity, and monastic reform. His *On the Holy Spirit* (375) affirmed the Trinity, countering Arian and Pneumatomachian heresies. The *Hexaemeron*, nine homilies on Genesis, explored creation’s theology. His *Basilian Rule* emphasized communal asceticism, balancing prayer and work. During the 368 famine, he sold family lands to feed the poor. He mediated disputes, mentored Ephrem the Syrian, and performed exorcisms, earning patronage over exorcists.[4][7]
Death
Basil died on January 1 or 2, 379, in Caesarea Mazaca, likely from illness exacerbated by ascetic rigors, aged around 49–50. Buried in Caesarea, his relics were later dispersed, with major shrines in the Church of Saint Basil, Moscow, and Mount Athos monasteries.[1][5]
Significant events
Significant locations
Legend
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Death location: None
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Canonization
Servant of God
Basil’s recognition as a Servant of God began post-mortem, with his writings, charity, and miracles fostering veneration in Cappadocia and Constantinople by the 4th century.[2]
Venerable
No formal Venerable declaration was recorded, as his sainthood predates modern processes. His cult grew through the *Liturgy of Saint Basil*.[1]
Beatification
No distinct beatification occurred, as his theological and charitable works ensured early veneration.[4]
Canonization
Basil was canonized pre-Congregation, with no recorded date or canonizer. Declared a Doctor of the Church in 1568 by Pope Pius V, his feast is January 2 in the Roman Catholic Church, January 1 in the Eastern Orthodox Church, often with Gregory of Nazianzus.[1][3]
Miracles
No specific miracles were required for canonization, as his theological contributions and charity sufficed. Reports of exorcisms and healings during his lifetime are noted but not formally verified.[6]
Miracle for beatification
No miracle was formally documented, as his veneration predates modern processes.[2]
Miracle for canonization
No miracle was required, per early Church norms for theologians.[4]
Other notable miracles
- Alleged exorcisms in Caesarea, c. 370s.
- Reported divine inspiration for *On the Holy Spirit*, c. 375.[7]
Patronage
Saint Basil is patron of hospital administrators (for the *Basiliad*), reformers, monks (for his rule), education, exorcists, and Cappadocia, reflecting his multifaceted legacy.[8]
Feast day
His feast day is January 2 in the Roman Catholic Church, January 1 in the Eastern Orthodox Church, often celebrated with Gregory of Nazianzus, commemorating his death.[1][7]
Veneration
Basil is venerated across Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran traditions. Pilgrimages to the Church of Saint Basil, Moscow, and Mount Athos honor his relics. His image, often with a book or dove, adorns churches like Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow, and Saint Basil’s in Toronto. Feast day liturgies, especially the *Liturgy of Saint Basil*, celebrate his Trinitarian theology and charity. His influence persists in monasticism, theology, and social welfare, notably through his mentorship of Ephrem the Syrian.[4][9]
Books
Written about the saint
- Lives of the Saints, Vol. VI by Alban Butler[2]
- Basil of Caesarea: Christian, Humanist, Ascetic by Philip Rousseau[1]
- The Cappadocian Fathers: Lessons in Christian Leadership by Anthony Meredith[1]
Written by the saint
External links
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 "Basil of Caesarea". Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil_of_Caesarea.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "St. Basil the Great". New Advent. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02330b.htm.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Saint Basil the Great". Franciscan Media. 2025-01-02. https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-basil-the-great.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Saint Basil the Great". CatholicSaints.Info. https://catholicsaints.info/saint-basil-the-great/.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "St. Basil the Great". Catholic News Agency. 2025-01-02. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-basil-the-great-95.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "St. Basil the Great". Eternal Word Television Network. https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/saints/basil-the-great-1214.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "St. Basil the Great". Vatican News. 2025-01-02. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/01/02/st--basil-the-great.html.
- ↑ "Saint Basil the Great". Saint of the Day. 2022-11-30. https://saintoftheday.com/st-basil-the-great.
- ↑ "St. Basil’s Cathedral". Moscow Info. https://www.moscow.info/sights/st-basils-cathedral/.