Basil the Great

Born in Caesarea into a prominent Christian family, renowned not only for its earthly prosperity but also for its spiritual gifts: the family included confessors and martyrs for the faith in Christ. He peacefully passed away at the age of 49, having served as a presbyter for about seven years and as an archbishop for about nine years (379).

The family had ten children. He received his initial education at home under the guidance of his educated parents, then studied in the schools of Caesarea and Constantinople. He completed his education in Athens. St. Gregory the Theologian spoke enthusiastically about their shared years of study: “We knew two paths: one—the first and most excellent—led to our sacred churches and their teachers; the other—the second, of equal dignity to the first—led to instructors of secular sciences. Other paths—to festivals, spectacles, public gatherings, or feasts—we left to those who desired them. For we deemed unworthy of attention anything that does not lead to virtue…” Upon completing his education, Basil possessed all available knowledge: “He studied everything so thoroughly, as another would not study a single subject… He was a ship so laden with learning as is possible for human nature.” Soon, St. Basil embarked on the path of ascetic life. He visited Egypt, Syria, and Palestine to learn “the knowledge of truth” from great desert-dwellers. Having given away all his possessions, he settled in the desert, where a monastery was soon established. There, he wrote commentaries on Holy Scripture, engaged in strenuous labors, fasting, and prayer.

At that time, the Church was troubled by the Arian heresy, and this great luminary of Orthodoxy was called to high service. The time came for the most active work of this renowned teacher and pastor of Christ’s Church. Fighting against heretics, who were supported by imperial authority, preaching, caring for the poor and orphans, organizing monasteries, strengthening Church unity, and comforting and supporting the orthodox persecuted by heretics—St. Basil labored tirelessly in every endeavor. Refuting heretics with “the weapon of his lips and the arrows of his writings,” this tireless defender of Orthodoxy, St. Basil, provoked the hostility of the Arians throughout his life, enduring many sorrows and hardships from them. He wrote numerous works explaining Holy Scripture and the order of the liturgy handed down by the apostles; he composed many prayers, canonical and moral rules, and regulations for monastics. The strict ascetic practices and the cares and sorrows of pastoral service prematurely exhausted the saint’s strength.

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