Saint Basil the Great was born in 330, and he died on 1 or 2 January 379. Saint Basil the Great was a fourth-century Catholic priest and bishop. He was Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia (in Turkey) from 370 until he died in 379. He was an influential figure who supported the development of the Nicene Creed, which Catholics still say more than 1600 years later.
Saint Basil the Great also opposed the heresies of the early Christian church, such as Arianism and Apollinarianism. Heresies like these were rampant in the early Catholic church. In addition to this work, Saint Basil the Great was known for his care of the poor and underprivileged. He also established guidelines for monastic life, which are still used today. Can you imagine somebody who lived so long ago could have such a long-lasting effect?
Saint Basil the Great Biography
Saint Basil the Great was born into a wealthy family in Cappadocia around 330. He was one of ten children, and his parents were known for their piety. His maternal grandfather was a Christian martyr, executed in the years before Roman Emperor Constantine‘s conversion. After his baptism, Saint Basil the Great travelled in 357 to Palestine, Egypt, Syria, and Mesopotamia to study ascetics and monasticism. Eustathius of Sebaste, a prominent anchorite near Pontus, mentored Basil.
Saint Basil the Great was drawn toward communal religious life, and by 358 he was gathering around him a group of disciples with views like his. Here, Basil wrote about monastic communal life. His writings became pivotal in developing monastic traditions. In 362, Bishop Meletius of Antioch ordained Basil as a deacon. Eusebius then summoned Basil to Caesarea and ordained him as presbyter of the Church there in 365.
Saint Basil the Great was chosen as Bishop of Caesarea and was consecrated as a bishop on June 14, 370. His letters show that he worked to reform both 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 taking care in selecting worthy candidates for holy orders. He also dared to criticize public officials who failed to administer justice. At the same time, he preached every day, twice daily, to large congregations.
Basil then had to face the growing spread of Arianism. This belief system, which denied that Christ was consubstantial with the Father, was quickly gaining adherents and was seen by many as posing a threat to the unity of the church. Basil corresponded with Pope Damasus in the hope of having his aid and encouragement against triumphant Arianism; the pope, however, cherished some degree of suspicion against him.
Basil suffered from liver disease and died. Historians disagree about the exact date Basil died. Many of Saint Basil the Great’s writings and sermons, specifically on the topics of money and possessions, continue to influence modern Christianity. He was made a Doctor of the Church for his contributions to the debate initiated by the Arian controversy regarding the nature of the Trinity. He is venerated in both the Catholic church and the Eastern church.
Conclusion
There are numerous relics of Saint Basil the Great. 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 mythical sword Durandal is said to contain some of Basil’s blood. It is important to understand the contributions of the early church fathers. People like Basil shaped the modern church, so they are important. These folks laid the foundation of the Catholic church, which now has almost two billion members.
