Basil of Caesarea

Who they were

Basil was born at Caesarea in Cappadocia in 329 into a family of saints: his sister Macrina and his brothers Peter of Sebaste and Gregory of Nyssa are all venerated. He studied at Constantinople and Athens and began a brilliant career as a rhetorician, then gave it up for a life of prayer, travelling among the monks of Egypt, Palestine and Syria. With Gregory of Nazianzus, his friend from Athens, he founded a small monastic community at Annesi in Pontus under rules he wrote.

When Arianism spread in Cappadocia with the emperor Valens' support, he left his solitude, was ordained priest and then bishop of Caesarea, and fought the heresy so strongly that he was called 'the Great' in his own lifetime. He also built, at the city gates, a whole 'city of charity' of orphanages, hospitals and shelters. He died in 379, aged 50, a year before the emperor Theodosius outlawed Arianism.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: Basil has been honoured as a saint since his death. He is a Doctor of the Church; he shares his feast with St Gregory of Nazianzus on 2 January.

Why that counted as sanctity

Basil defended the divinity of Christ when the empire itself favoured heresy, and he joined sound doctrine to charity: 'If everyone kept only what they needed and gave the rest to their neighbour, there would be no poor.'

Connected on this site

• Basil the Elder Saint Parent, Father
• Emmelia of Caesarea Saint Parent, Mother
  “She was the wife of Basil the Elder and bore nine or ten children, including Basil of Caesarea (born circa 330), Macrina the Younger, Peter of Sebaste, Gregory of Nyssa, and Naucratius.” — Wikipedia
• Gregory of Nazianzus Saint Pupil, Teacher
  “Along with the brothers Basil of Caesarea and Gregory of Nyssa, he is known as one of the Cappadocian Fathers.” — Wikipedia
• Gregory of Nyssa Saint Brother or sister
  “Basil, together with his brother Gregory of Nyssa and his friend Gregory of Nazianzus, are collectively referred to as the Cappadocian Fathers.” — Wikipedia
• Macrina the Elder Saint Teacher
• Macrina the Younger Saint Brother or sister
• Naucratius Saint Brother or sister
• Peter of Sebaste Saint Brother or sister
  “He was the younger brother of Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa, the famous Christian jurist Naucratius, and Macrina the Younger.” — Wikipedia
• Athanasius of Alexandria Saint
  “Athanasius is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Churches, Church of the East, the Anglican Communion, and Lutheranism and is traditionally honored as one of the four Great Greek Church Fathers along with Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus, and John Chrysostom.” — Wikipedia
• Forty Martyrs of Sebaste Saint
  “The earliest account of their existence and martyrdom is given by Bishop Basil of Caesarea (370–379) in a homily he delivered on their feast day.” — Wikipedia
• John Chrysostom Saint
  “The Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches have given him, together with Gregory of Nazianzus and John Chrysostom, the title of Great Hierarch.” — Wikipedia
• Pope Dionysius of Alexandria Saint
  “Called "the Great" by Eusebius, Basil of Caesarea and others, he was characterized by the Catholic Encyclopedia as "undoubtedly, after St.” — Wikipedia