ST. BASIL THE GREAT (JAN. 1ST)

An Ancient Icon of St. Basil the Great

By Bp. Joseph (Ancient Church of the West) 

St. Basil the Great, born in AD 329 in Caesarea of Cappadocia, was a towering figure of the early Church, whose life and works continue to inspire Christians across the world. Born into a devout Christian family, Basil was the son of St. Basil the Elder and St. Emmelia and the brother of St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. Peter of Sebaste, and St. Macrina the Younger. Raised in an environment of piety and learning, Basil received an excellent education in Constantinople and Athens, where he formed a lifelong friendship with St. Gregory the Theologian. 

After a period of teaching rhetoric, Basil underwent a profound spiritual awakening, renounced his secular ambitions, and embraced the ascetic life. Traveling through Egypt, Syria, and Palestine, he studied monastic practices, which later shaped his vision of Christian communal life. Returning to Cappadocia, he established a monastic community that combined prayer, work, and service to the poor - a model still influential in Orthodox monasticism. 

Basil’s ascetic zeal did not confine him to the wilderness. Ordained a presbyter and later elected Archbishop of Caesarea in AD 370, he became a tireless defender of the Nicene faith against the Arian heresy. With clarity and courage, he upheld the full divinity of the Son and the Holy Spirit, contributing significantly to the theological framework of the Nicene Creed. His doctrinal treatises, including “On the Holy Spirit”, remain classics of Christian theology. 

St. Basil and the Circumcision of Christ, Two Feasts for January First in the Ancient Christian Tradition 

Beyond his theological work, St. Basil exemplified pastoral care and social justice. During a devastating famine, he organized relief efforts, establishing a complex known as the "Basiliad," which included a hospital, hospice, and shelter for the poor. This ministry earned him the title "Father of the Poor." His sermons and letters reveal a deep concern for the spiritual and physical welfare of his flock, addressing issues ranging from the Trinity to practical Christian ethics. 

St. Basil reposed in the Lord on January 1, AD 379, at the age of 49, worn out by his labors and asceticism. The Church has since honored him as one of the Three Hierarchs, along with St. Gregory the Theologian and St. John Chrysostom, and his contributions to theology, liturgy, and monasticism have earned him the title "Great." 

HYMN FOR ST. BASIL THE GREAT (Troparion, Tone 1)

Thy proclamation hath gone out into all the earth, 

which was divinely taught by hearing thy voice. 

Thou didst expound the nature of creatures 

and didst ennoble the manners of men. 

O venerable Father Basil, 

entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved!

COLLECT 

O GOD, who didst raise up Thy servant St. Basil to be a defender of the faith and a shepherd of souls: Grant, we beseech Thee, that following his example of godly zeal, we may both steadfastly confess Thy holy Name and lovingly serve Thy people in truth and charity; through Jesus Christ Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

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