St. Basil the Great
2 هزار بار بازدید -
3 سال پیش
-
St. Basil the Great,Archbishop of
St. Basil the Great,
Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia
(Commemorated January 1)
(Early life and his family)
Basil was born about 330 A.D. at Caesarea in Cappadocia, Asia Minor. He came from a wealthy and pious family and raised by parents of unusual devotion.
Basil was one of the six children who all became Saints in our Church. His brothers and sister became priests, bishops, and nuns. His parents were very devoted to the faith and gave their children a great spiritual heritage which they cultivated in their lifetime. The family of St. Basil was the greatest Christian family of the 4th century.
Basil’s father was also named Basil (St. Basil the Elder + 349) he was a lawyer and renowned rhetorician, and lived at Caesarea. His mother St. Emilia (or Emmelia) (Feast Day, May 30) was the daughter of a martyr. His parents were were well-known for their virtues, their care for the poor, and for having guided their ten children on the path of holiness. His paternal grandparents had confessed Christ during the persecution of Maximinus.
His grandmother was St. Macrina the Elder (May 30), his sister St. Macrina the Younger (July 19) and his brothers St. Gregory of Nyssa (January 10), St. Naukratios of Mount Nitria (June 8), and St. Peter of Sebaste (January 9). It is also a widely held tradition that St. Theosevia (January 10) was his youngest sister.
Basil was encouraged by his sister Macrina, who was the real spiritual leader of the family.
(His education)
Basil received his initial education under the supervision of his father, and then he studied under the finest teachers in Caesarea of Cappadocia, and it was here that he made the acquaintance with his best friend, St. Gregory the Theologian (January 25).
Later, Basil transferred to a school at Constantinople, where he listened to eminent orators and philosophers. To complete his education Basil went to Athens, the centre of classical enlightenment.
After a 4 or 5 year stay at Athens, Basil had mastered all the available disciplines. “He studied everything thoroughly, more than others are wont to study a single subject. He studied each science in its very totality, as though he would study nothing else.” Philosopher, philologist, orator, jurist, naturalist, possessing profound knowledge in astronomy, mathematics and medicine, “he was a ship fully laden with learning, to the extent permitted by human nature.”
(His Baptism)
Basil was baptized by Dianios, the Bishop of Caesarea, and was tonsured a Reader. He would first read the Holy Scriptures to the people, then explained them.
Later on, “wishing to acquire a guide to the knowledge of truth,” the Saint undertook a journey into Egypt, Syria and Palestine, to meet the great Christian ascetics dwelling there.
On returning to Cappadocia, he decided to do as they did. He distributed his wealth to the needy, then settled on the opposite side of the river not far from his mother Emilia and sister Macrina, gathering around him monks living a cenobitic life.
In their solitude, Basil and Gregory occupied themselves in an intense study of Holy Scripture. They were guided by the writings of the Fathers and commentators of the past. From all these works they compiled an anthology called Philokalia.
Also at this time, at the request of the monks, Basil wrote down a collection of rules for a virtuous life. By his preaching and by his example, Basil assisted in the spiritual perfection of Christians in Cappadocia and Pontus; and many indeed turned to him. Monasteries were organized for men and for women, in which places Basil sought to combine the cenobitic (common) lifestyle with that of the solitary hermit.
Educated in Athens and Constantinople, Basil distinguished himself as both a writer and speaker for Christianity.
In about the year 360, he was ordained a deacon. In 363, he was ordained to the holy priesthood by Bishop Eusebius of Caesarea.
Upon the death of Eusebius, the Bishop of Caesarea, Basil was chosen to succeed him and was ordained Bishop of Caesarea in the year 370.
(Falling asleep)
Shortly before his death, the Saint blessed St. Gregory the Theologian to accept the See of Constantinople and became Bishop.
Sickly since his youth, the toil of teaching, his life of abstinence, his body became worn out by disease and from austere ascesis, and also from the concerns and sorrows of pastoral service, took their toll on him.
St. Basil died in the Lord on January 1, 379 at age 49.
Full Capacity...
Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia
(Commemorated January 1)
(Early life and his family)
Basil was born about 330 A.D. at Caesarea in Cappadocia, Asia Minor. He came from a wealthy and pious family and raised by parents of unusual devotion.
Basil was one of the six children who all became Saints in our Church. His brothers and sister became priests, bishops, and nuns. His parents were very devoted to the faith and gave their children a great spiritual heritage which they cultivated in their lifetime. The family of St. Basil was the greatest Christian family of the 4th century.
Basil’s father was also named Basil (St. Basil the Elder + 349) he was a lawyer and renowned rhetorician, and lived at Caesarea. His mother St. Emilia (or Emmelia) (Feast Day, May 30) was the daughter of a martyr. His parents were were well-known for their virtues, their care for the poor, and for having guided their ten children on the path of holiness. His paternal grandparents had confessed Christ during the persecution of Maximinus.
His grandmother was St. Macrina the Elder (May 30), his sister St. Macrina the Younger (July 19) and his brothers St. Gregory of Nyssa (January 10), St. Naukratios of Mount Nitria (June 8), and St. Peter of Sebaste (January 9). It is also a widely held tradition that St. Theosevia (January 10) was his youngest sister.
Basil was encouraged by his sister Macrina, who was the real spiritual leader of the family.
(His education)
Basil received his initial education under the supervision of his father, and then he studied under the finest teachers in Caesarea of Cappadocia, and it was here that he made the acquaintance with his best friend, St. Gregory the Theologian (January 25).
Later, Basil transferred to a school at Constantinople, where he listened to eminent orators and philosophers. To complete his education Basil went to Athens, the centre of classical enlightenment.
After a 4 or 5 year stay at Athens, Basil had mastered all the available disciplines. “He studied everything thoroughly, more than others are wont to study a single subject. He studied each science in its very totality, as though he would study nothing else.” Philosopher, philologist, orator, jurist, naturalist, possessing profound knowledge in astronomy, mathematics and medicine, “he was a ship fully laden with learning, to the extent permitted by human nature.”
(His Baptism)
Basil was baptized by Dianios, the Bishop of Caesarea, and was tonsured a Reader. He would first read the Holy Scriptures to the people, then explained them.
Later on, “wishing to acquire a guide to the knowledge of truth,” the Saint undertook a journey into Egypt, Syria and Palestine, to meet the great Christian ascetics dwelling there.
On returning to Cappadocia, he decided to do as they did. He distributed his wealth to the needy, then settled on the opposite side of the river not far from his mother Emilia and sister Macrina, gathering around him monks living a cenobitic life.
In their solitude, Basil and Gregory occupied themselves in an intense study of Holy Scripture. They were guided by the writings of the Fathers and commentators of the past. From all these works they compiled an anthology called Philokalia.
Also at this time, at the request of the monks, Basil wrote down a collection of rules for a virtuous life. By his preaching and by his example, Basil assisted in the spiritual perfection of Christians in Cappadocia and Pontus; and many indeed turned to him. Monasteries were organized for men and for women, in which places Basil sought to combine the cenobitic (common) lifestyle with that of the solitary hermit.
Educated in Athens and Constantinople, Basil distinguished himself as both a writer and speaker for Christianity.
In about the year 360, he was ordained a deacon. In 363, he was ordained to the holy priesthood by Bishop Eusebius of Caesarea.
Upon the death of Eusebius, the Bishop of Caesarea, Basil was chosen to succeed him and was ordained Bishop of Caesarea in the year 370.
(Falling asleep)
Shortly before his death, the Saint blessed St. Gregory the Theologian to accept the See of Constantinople and became Bishop.
Sickly since his youth, the toil of teaching, his life of abstinence, his body became worn out by disease and from austere ascesis, and also from the concerns and sorrows of pastoral service, took their toll on him.
St. Basil died in the Lord on January 1, 379 at age 49.
Full Capacity...
3 سال پیش
در تاریخ 1400/10/18 منتشر شده
است.
2,010
بـار بازدید شده