St. Basil the Great Archbishop of Caesarea and Cappadocoa

The Icon

St. Basil the Great

St. Basil is always shown in icons in his bishop’s vestments with the Gospel and giving a blessing. He was elected a bishop in 370 after having received a secular education and having traveled around the monasteries of Egypt, Palestine and Syria where he learned the asceticism of the Desert Fathers. He extended his ecclesiastical duties to establishing hospitals, caring for the poor and providing dogmatic, liturgical and ascetic works and writings. He wrote two Rules which form the foundation for Christian monastic life. He is the author of many prayers and of the Anaphora, the portion of the Divine Liturgy which lifts the gifts to heaven for the Eucharist. The Liturgy of St. Basil is celebrated during Great Lent and on several holy days throughout the liturgical year.

Feast Day - January 1st.

Troparion in tone 1

Your proclamation has gone out into all the earth
Which was divinely taught by hearing your voice
Expounding the nature of creatures,
Ennobling the manners of men.
O holy father of a royal priesthood,
Entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion in tone 4

You were revealed as the sure foundation of the Church,
Granting all men a lordship which cannot be taken away,
Sealing it with your precepts,
O Venerable and Heavenly Father Basil.

For information concerning the life of St. Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea and Cappadocia please click here