Saint Basil, one of the most eminent Doctors of the Church and the Bishop of Caesarea, was born around the year 329 and died on January 1, 379.
He stands next only to Saint Athanasius as a great defender of the Eastern Church against the major heresies of the fourth century, especially Arianism, which rejected the divine nature of Jesus Christ. Saint Basil firmly upheld and defended the Nicene Creed. Along with his close friend Saint Gregory of Nazianzus and his brother Saint Gregory of Nyssa, he belonged to the renowned group known as the Three Cappadocians. Among them, Saint Basil was especially noted for his practical wisdom and profound theological contributions.
Saint Basil courageously opposed pressure from Emperor Valens, who supported Arianism and sought to silence him and allow heretics to receive communion. After the death of Saint Athanasius, the responsibility of safeguarding the faith against Arianism naturally fell upon Saint Basil.
Seventy-two years after his death, the Council of Chalcedon honoured him with the title “the great Basil, minister of grace, who proclaimed the truth to the whole world.”