Changes

[[Image:Stbasil.jpg|right]]

[[Image:Stbasil.jpg|right]]

'''Saint Basil the Great''' (b. 329, died 379) was a man of vast learning and constant activity, genuine eloquence and immense charity. St. Basil  became [[Bishop]] and Archbishop of Caesarea. He fought simony, aided the victims of drought and famine, strove for a better clergy, insisted on a rigid clerical discipline, fearlessly denounced evil wherever he detected it. The father of monasticism, he became a monk and he wrote a set of rules for the monastic life that are still used today. His contributions to the Church were many. An accomplished statesmanship, a man of great personal holiness, and one of the great orators of Christianity. He is called the [[Greek]] [[Doctor of the Church]].

'''Saint Basil the Great''' (b. 329, died 379) was a man of vast learning and constant activity, genuine eloquence and immense charity. St. Basil  became [[Bishop]] and Archbishop of Caesarea. He fought [[simony]], aided the victims of drought and famine, strove for a better clergy, insisted on a rigid clerical discipline, fearlessly denounced evil wherever he detected it. The father of [[monasticism]], he became a monk and he wrote a set of rules for the monastic life that are still used today. His contributions to the Church were many. An accomplished statesmanship, a man of great personal holiness, and one of the great orators of [[Christianity]]. He is called the [[Greek]] [[Doctor of the Church]].

==Early Life==

==Early Life==

St. Basil the Great was born one of nine children at Caesarea (now modern [[Turkey]]) to a strong Christian family, father Saint Basil the Elder and mother Saint Emmelia. He is the grandson of Saint Macrina the Elder and four of his brothers and sisters are also canonized saints. Basil studied in all the famous schools of the day; Caesarea, Constantinople and Athens. Saint Basil was distinguished for his brilliance of mind and seriousness of character. He was able, grave, industrious, and well advanced in rhetoric, grammar, [[philosophy]], astronomy, geometry, and [[medicine]]. After attending school and receiving an education, he opened a school of oratory and became a [[lawyer]]. He became well known for his teaching and speaking abilities. He was so successful, so sought after as a speaker, he was tempted by pride. Fearful that it would overtake his piety, he sold all that he had, gave away the money, and became a priest and monk. <ref>[http://saints.sqpn.com/saintb05.htm Saint Basil the Great] Star Quest Production Network</ref>

St. Basil the Great was born one of nine children at Caesarea (now modern [[Turkey]]) to a strong Christian family, father [[Saint Basil the Elder]] and mother [[Saint Emmelia]]. He is the grandson of [[Saint Macrina the Elder]] and four of his brothers and sisters are also [[canonized]] [[saints]]. Basil studied in all the famous schools of the day; Caesarea, Constantinople and Athens. Saint Basil was distinguished for his brilliance of mind and seriousness of character. He was able, grave, industrious, and well advanced in rhetoric, grammar, [[philosophy]], astronomy, geometry, and [[medicine]]. After attending school and receiving an education, he opened a school of oratory and became a [[lawyer]]. He became well known for his teaching and speaking abilities. He was so successful, so sought after as a speaker, he was tempted by pride. Fearful that it would overtake his piety, he sold all that he had, gave away the money, and became a [[priest]] and [[monk]]. <ref>[http://saints.sqpn.com/saintb05.htm Saint Basil the Great] Star Quest Production Network</ref>

==Teacher==

==Teacher==

==Heresy==

==Heresy==

After his death and in large measure due to his efforts, he was responsible for the victory of Nicene orthodoxy over Arianism in the Byzantine East, and the denunciation of Arianism at the Council of Constantinople in 381-82. Basil worked for the exclusion of unfit candidates from the sacred ministry and the deliverance of the bishops from the temptation of simony; ecclesiastical crime of paying for holy offices or positions in the hierarchy of a church.  Basil trained his [[clergy]] so strictly that they grew famous as the type of all that a priest should be. He was a cool, persistent, fearless fighter in defence both of doctrine and of principles. There was very little chance of opposing him successfully.

After his death and in large measure due to his efforts, he was responsible for the victory of Nicene orthodoxy over [[Arianism]] in the Byzantine East, and the denunciation of Arianism at the [[Council of Constantinople]] in 381-82. Basil worked for the exclusion of unfit candidates from the sacred ministry and the deliverance of the bishops from the temptation of [[simony]]; ecclesiastical crime of paying for holy offices or positions in the hierarchy of a church.  Basil trained his [[clergy]] so strictly that they grew famous as the type of all that a priest should be. He was a cool, persistent, fearless fighter in defence both of doctrine and of principles. There was very little chance of opposing him successfully.

==Interests of the poor==

==Interests of the poor==

==Death==

==Death==

Basil died 1 January, 379. His death was regarded as a public bereavement; [[Jews]], [[pagans]], and foreigners vied with his own flock in doing him honour. His leadership of Caesarea took shape as the sort of model of the Christian diocese. He lived up to his name, meaning kingly. St. Basil is the patron saint of [[Russia]] and the patron saint of [[hospital]] administrators. In 1568, Pope Pius V made Basil a Doctor of the Catholic Church.

Basil died 1 January, 379. His death was regarded as a public bereavement; [[Jews]], [[pagans]], and foreigners vied with his own flock in doing him honour. His leadership of Caesarea took shape as the sort of model of the Christian diocese. He lived up to his name, meaning kingly. St. Basil is the patron saint of [[Russia]] and the patron saint of [[hospital]] administrators. In 1568, [[Pope Pius V]] made Basil a [[Doctor of the Catholic Church]].

==Writings==

==Writings==

*Dogmatic; five books against Eunomius. (his work assails Arianism and defends the Divinity of the Three Persons of the Trinity). His treatise teaches the doctrine of the Divinity of the Holy Ghost (Basil had sanctioned the use of a doxology, "Glory be to the Father with the Son together with the Holy Ghost")

*Dogmatic; five books against Eunomius. (his work assails Arianism and defends the Divinity of the Three Persons of the [[Trinity]]). His treatise teaches the doctrine of the Divinity of the [[Holy Ghost]] (Basil had sanctioned the use of a doxology, "Glory be to the Father with the Son together with the Holy Ghost")

*Exegetical; these include nine homilies "On the Hexaemeron" and thirteen (Maran) genuine homilies on particular Psalms.

*Exegetical; these include nine homilies "On the Hexaemeron" and thirteen (Maran) genuine homilies on particular Psalms.

*Homiletical; Twenty-four sermons, doctrinal and moral.(preaching upon the responsibilities of wealth)

*Homiletical; Twenty-four sermons, doctrinal and moral.(preaching upon the responsibilities of wealth)

<references/>

<references/>

[[Category:Catholic Church]]

[[Category:Early Christians]]

[[Category:Saints]]

[[Category:Saints]]