St Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia
Forms of name: Basil
St. Basil was born in the year 330 AD to St. Basil the Elder and St. Emilia. He studied in Caesarea in Cappadocia, Constantinople, and Athens, mastering all subjects. Soon after, with the guidance of his older sister St. Macrina the Younger, he abandoned the world to enter into ascetical life.
St. Basil labored in asceticism for many years with his close friend St. Gregory the Theologian. Recalled to Caesarea, he was ordained a presbyter in 364 and succeeded Eusebius as Bishop of Caesarea in 370.
Of St. Basil's nine siblings, four were canonized: St. Macrina the Younger, St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. Peter of Sebaste, and St. Theosebia the Deaconess.
Commemorated:
- January 1
- January 30 (Synaxis of the Three Holy Hierarchs)
Online Resources:
- Short bio at OCA's Lives of the Saints
- Troparion and kontakion at OCA's Lives of the Saints
- Letters and selected works at CCEL
Available at ArchangelsBooks.com:
- Lives of the Three Holy Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom
- On the Holy Spirit by St. Basil the Great; translated by David Anderson
- On the Human Condition by St. Basil the Great; translated by Nonna Verna Harrison
- Icon of St. Basil the Great
- Icon of the Three Holy Hierarchs
- Russian Silk Orthodox Icon of the Three Holy Hierarchs