Saint Basil the Great (329-379) Image Courtesy: Pinterest
(CNA) Saint Basil, one of the most distinguished Doctors of the Church and Bishop of Ceasarea was one of ten children of St. Basil the Elder and St. Emmelia according to Independent Catholic News, several of his brothers and sisters are also honored among the Saints.
Saint Basil ranks afters Althanasius as a defender of the Asian Church against the heresies of the 4th century, especially Aryanism which denied the divine nature of Jesus Christ.
With his friend ‘Gregory of Nazianzus’ and his brother Gregory of Nyssa, he is part of the trio known as ‘The Three Cappadocians’ of which he was the most important in practical genius and theological writings, rightly placing him as one of the greatest teachers of the Church.
Basil resisted pressure from the Emperor Valens, who wanted to keep him in silence and admit the heretics to communion. No wonder when the Great St. Althanasius died, the responsibility of being the defender of the faith against Aryanism fell upon Basil.
Seventy two years after Basil’s death the Council of Chalcedon described him as ‘the great Basil, minister of grace who has expounded the truth to the whole earth.”
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