This great saint was born in Caesarea, Cappadocia, around the year 330, during the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great. His parents, Basil and Emmelia, were noble and devout Christians. Like their daughter, Macrina, they were later also numbered among the saints. Basil’s grandmother had been a student of Saint Gregory Thaumaturgus, the compiler of the Creed. Thus, the seeds of piety were sown in Basil’s heart from his earliest days.
The future saint received an outstanding education under the tutelage of his father, a lawyer and teacher of rhetoric. He began his studies with the finest instructors in Caesarea. He then continued his education in Constantinople and Athens, mastering philosophy, philology, rhetoric, the natural sciences, and medicine. By the age of 25, Basil had earned widespread respect and admiration for both his knowledge and his virtuous life. In Athens, Basil formed a close friendship with Gregory the Theologian and encountered the future Emperor Julian, who would later become a persecutor of the Church.
Around 358, Basil returned to his hometown. He was baptised and ordained as a reader. Soon after, drawn to the ascetic life, he journeyed through Syria, Palestine, and Egypt, immersing himself in the practices of the desert fathers. Upon his return, Basil distributed all his possessions to the poor, keeping only the clothes he wore. He then retreated to Pontus to live as a hermit. His friend Gregory, along with other monks, joined him in his ascetic endeavours. The saints spent their days and nights in fasting, manual labour, and the study of the Church Fathers.
The rigorous asceticism and virtuous lives of these Christian hermits attracted numerous followers and admirers, who settled nearby. Basil compiled a set of moral guidelines for them. He advocated for cenobitic monasticism, believing that this form of monastic life fostered Christian love and brotherhood.
In 363, the Bishop of Caesarea ordained Basil as a priest and appointed him as his assistant, both in administrative matters and in the struggle to uphold the purity of faith and morals among Christians, including the clergy.
During a severe famine caused by drought in 368, Basil, through his fiery sermons, personal example, and moral authority, persuaded wealthy citizens to open their storehouses and share their abundance with the needy. He also used the inheritance he received from his mother, who had recently reposed, to provide relief to the hungry.
In 370, Basil became Archbishop of Caesarea. He fought tirelessly to defend the purity of the faith throughout Cappadocia. He appointed worthy bishops and protected Orthodox Christians from oppression and persecution by the Arians.
Saint Basil devoted considerable attention to the sacraments of the Church — Baptism and the Eucharist — and to the matter of priestly ministry. Among his numerous theological works, his Homilies on the Hexaemeron, Homilies on the Psalms, and Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah stand out. One of his most significant achievements was the composition of the Divine Liturgy that bears his name.
Though Saint Basil voluntarily embraced a life of poverty, he dedicated himself to organising aid for the poor. He established almshouses, hospitals, and hostels for travellers.
Archbishop Basil reposed on 1 January 379, at the age of 49. His passing was mourned by nearly the entire population of Caesarea. In recognition of his extraordinary virtue and holy life, the Church proclaimed him a saint, bestowing upon him the title “the Great”.
