Saint Basil, born into an exceptional family, became a learned and traveled man. He used his knowledge to defend the Church and fight heresy. The examples of austerity he observed while traveling led to compassion for the poor and time and money spent helping them. Basil's example and writings still have an effect on Christians today.
Birth and Family Circumstances of St. Basil
Basil was born into an extremely distinguished and religious family in approximately 329 a.d. His father was St. Basil the elder (canonized after his death) and his mother, Emmelia, was the daughter of a martyr. He was one of ten children. Three of his siblings became saints: his sister Macrina, his brother Gregory of Nyssa, and his brother Peter of Sebaste. As a child, after his father's death, the family moved to his grandmother's estate on the banks of the Iris, which was located in what is modern day Turkey.
Education of St. Basil
As was tradition at the time, St. Basil received his early education at home. He then went to Caesarea for his early education. Caesarea was known as a center of learning at the time and Basil was instructed by Bishop Dianius.
Saint Basil was then sent to both Constantinople and Athens to study, both also home to some of the great teachers of the day. Basil was already becoming known for his dedication and brilliance. It was during his education that he met St. Gregory of Nazianzus. St. Basil, his brother St. Gregory of Nyssa, and his friend St. Gregory of Nazianzus became known as the "Three Cappadocians." These three men played a vital role in fighting heresy in the fourth century and defining what became some of the most important beliefs of the church, among them the Trinity.
St. Basil's Call to Holiness and Service to the Church
After his education, Basil returned home, and was influenced by his sister Macrina, who had founded and led a religious order. Later in life, Basil indicated that it was during this time in his life that he read the Gospels and became fervent about his faith. He then chose to travel to monasteries in order to further his education and to "learn the ways of perfection" (McSorley).
Saint Basil went to monasteries in Egypt, Palestine, Coele-Syria, and Mesopotamia. So impressed was he by the austerity, faith, and dedication of the monks, he returned to his home and founded his own monastery. The structure of this monastery became the basic outline for almost all future monasteries in the Eastern Church.
St. Basil Fights Arianism and Becomes Bishop
When a young St. Basil was receiving his education in Caesarea, the Bishop Dianius was his main teacher. After Dianius' death, Eusebius was named the next Bishop of Caesarea. Eusebius ordained Basil as a priest and gave him administrative duties in the diocese. It was during this time in his life that Basil fought the Arian heresy. The Arian heresy denied the divinity of Christ and was later rejected by the Church. Basil wrote letters, made theological arguments, and traveled to Constantinople in attempts to wipe out the Arian heresy. After the death of Bishop Eusebius, Basil was named bishop.
While fulfilling his role as bishop, Basil also fought heresy. Another task, this one self-appointed, occupied him during this point in his life. It was the completion of one of the most well-known achievements of his life. He spent a great deal of time and money on building an all-purpose hospital and welfare center. According to McSorley, it was "a magnificent institution, the Ptochoptopheion, or Basileiad, a house for the care of friendless strangers, the medical treatment of the sick poor, and the industrial training of the unskilled. Built in the suburbs, it attained such importance as to become practically the centre of a new city with the name of he kaine polis or "Newtown." It was for this hospital/wellfare house that St. Basil would be defined by his designation as a patron saint. His primary theological contribution to the Church was his discourse on the Holy Spirit. He insisted that the Holy Spirit was also completely divine.
Death and Sainthood of St. Basil
Basil died on January 1, 379. He is considered instrumental in the victory over the Arian heresy, and left behind hundreds of letters, sermons, and treatises. The title "the Great" was added after his death.
St. Basil's feast day is January 2. Feast days are days dedicated to the commemoration of a certain person and celebrates their passing into Heaven. He is the "Patron Saint" of hospital administrators.
St. Basil's Lasting Influence on the Church
John Paul II summed up the feelings of the Church about Saint Basil: "Saint Basil is for you a model of perfect service of God and the Church. His whole life was comprised of harmonious exercises in the virtue of faith and in acts of practical love in the spirit of the evangelical counsels" (John Paul II). Known during his life for his brilliance, theological arguments, and hospital project, he left a lasting impression on the Church.
Sources:
- Guiley, Rosemary Ellen. (2001). The Encyclopedia of Saints. Visionary Living, Inc. Checkmark Books, New York, NY. ISBN 0816041342.
- John Paul II, Pope. (1999, February 11). Holy Father's Visit to the Church of the Basilian Fathers.
- McSorley, Joseph. (1914) Basil the Great, Saint. The Catholic Encyclopedia. San Diego, Catholic Answers, 2007.
- St. Basil. (1975). Liturgy of the Hours, The. Volume 1. Catholic Book Publishing Corp. New York, NY.
Join the Conversation