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St. Basil's Day (Jan. 1) preached Jan. 14, 2007 Ocala "Through your instruction, having been spread in all the lands, the inhabitants received your word, by your preaching the Divine Truths. You made clear the nature of that, which exists, and set in order, a rule of life for mankind. Through your Royal Priesthood O Holy Father, intercede to Christ our God, that our souls may be saved." These phrases constitute the main Hymn of St. Basil's Day, which is celebrated every January 1St. Normally, I would have elaborated on his Nameday last Sunday, but I gave preference to the Holy Day of the Epiphany. Thus my theme today will center around the Luminary of the Christian Church, also celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church, who honored him with the title: "Great Doctor of the Church." But, it is also very coincidental, that we celebrate St. Basil through the Vasilopitta, which we blessed and distributed. This tradition again, we had postponed from last Sunday, because of the Epiphany Service. As you know, we have countless Saints, who constantly intercede for us. Most of the Saints martyred, especially in the first Centuries. But Saints like St. Basil dedicated their life in entirety, not only to spread the Gospel, but to lead exemplary sacrificial lives, we all should strive to imitate. St. Basil passed on to Eternal Life on January 1St, on which day we commemorate him. I also think, that it constitutes a special blessing, to commence the New Year with the blessing of St. Basil, because of his multi-faceted philanthropy, which should serve as an example to all Christians. Our life would truly be edified, if we took the time to get acquainted with the lives of the Saints, without whose sacrifices, especially during the first centuries of persecution, the Church could not have survived. St. Basil was born in the year 330 A.D., at Caesarea, the capital of Cappadocia, one of the great cities in the interior of Asia Minor, today's Turkey. His Father, was also named Basil and his Mother Emmelia. Both these parents are on the Saints' roster of our Holy Church. Later in life, St. Basil, having become Bishop of Caesarea, also had two brothers who became Bishops; Gregory of Nyssa, and Peter of Sebastia. His sister Macrina, also a Saint, devoted her life to the Lord in a Convent, from which Christian spirituality flowed. St. Basil lived in a very difficult period of the Christian Church, which in those days knew no division, because of Her adherence to the interpretations of the two Ecumenical Councils, the first of which was the one held in Nicaea near Constantinople, which gave us the first 5 Articles of the Creed, defining the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ. The 2nd Ecumenical Council, held in 381 in Constantinople gave us the dogma regarding the Holy Spirit, as one of the Holy Trinity. The Church held steadfast to these teachings, which kept Her as one, unified Christian Body. However, I mentioned that St. Basil lived and labored in a very difficult period of the Christian Church. This was mainly due to the fact, that even though Arius, the heretic popular priest was excommunicated, his influence survived , so as to cause serious problems all the way up to the throne of the Byzantine Emperors. All during his life, St. Basil, constantly tending to his diversified mission, which espoused the Faithful of all ages, found time to help quell the heresy of Arianism. Before he came to serve in Caesarea, he had studied in Constantinople, and subsequently journeyed to Athens, which was the great university of the Greek-speaking world. He was blessed to have met a fellow Cappadocian named Gregory, whose strong bond of friendship accompanied them to their grave. When St. Basil returned to his home City, Cappadocia, he taught rhetoric for some years. But, his heart was constantly yearning for greater spirituality. He undertook, as a personal mission, to travel extensively to visit the famous monastic centers of the East, in Egypt, Syria, Palestine and Mesopotamia, where monasticism was flourishing. Returning to his native Caesarea he founded a Monastery, not too far from that of his sister Macrina. Having established this spiritual Monastery it has to this day become a prototype and the program which is still followed by the Monasteries of Eastern Orthodoxy. There was more loving obedience, and spiritual discipline; a moderate communal asceticism, although extreme by modern standards; individual competition in austerities; and an emphasis on work, intellectual, by prayerful studying of the Holy Scriptures, and manual work for the subsistence and benefit of the Monastic community. St. Basil chose to stay in the Monastery for 5 years, which years produced eternal spiritual fruits, to nourish Christianity for all time. In 370, already 40 years old, he is consecrated the Bishop of Caesarea. His spiritual grandeur, despite his ascetic figure, was an immediate influence on everyone, who had the good fortune to meet with him. One by one, he set out to create havens for people of all crossroads. Youth camps, Hospitals, Old age Homes, Schools etc., soon formed a community Complex, which received its name from the people, as a result of its dynamic and spiritual founder. It was called Vasiliatha, the City of Basil. However, the heresy of Arianism was still rampant and unfortunately even the Emperor of the Byzantines Valens strongly influenced by this heresy made a move to curtail the Orthodox centers. Somehow, he had respect for St. Basil and didn't approach him. Modestos, the area Governor, took it upon himself to go to St. Basil and threaten him with confiscation, exile, torture and death. St. Gregory the Theologian, his life-long Friend recorded St. Basil's reply to the threats of Modestos, as follows: "Confiscation means nothing to a man, who has nothing, unless you covet these very worn garments and my books, which are my only possessions. Regarding exile, means absolutely nothing to me, for I am attached to no particular place. You see, the whole earth is the Lord's, and all that there is therein. " "As regards to torture, I don't think that my frail body can take very much, before my spirit is separated from it, and ascends to my Lord in Heaven. As for death, again I have no fear, because I will be with the Lord, whom I love deeply, that much sooner." The Governor Modestos said that nobody had ever spoken to him like that, to which St. Basil replied: "Perhaps that is, because you have never had to deal with a Bishop!" By his very existence and his exemplary life, St. Basil became untouchable. I once ready a few lines regarding his life, which is a true summary. "By common consent, Basil ranks among the greatest figures in Church history. Physically delicate and occupying his exalted position but a few years, (he passed on at 49 years of age). Basil did magnificent and enduring work, in an age of more violent world convulsions, than Christianity has since experienced. " "By personal virtue he attained distinction in an age of saints; and his purity, his monastic fervor his stern simplicity, his friendship for the poor became traditional in the history of Christian asceticism. In fact, the impress of his genius was stamped indelibly on the Eastern conception of religious life. In his hands the great metropolitan See of Caesarea took shape as the sort of model of the Christian Diocese. Summarizing, it could easily be stated that St. Basil was the embodiment of all the virtues, which completely fulfill any individual. He was a dynamic orator; he was fearless facing authorities, and situations; He taught by word, but always by example; He loved his fellow humans, and exerted every effort to see, that no one was left out; he was a true defender of the Faith, and also a prolific writer. When there was a contention that young people should not read the classic books of philology, St. Basil explained to the youth, that just as the bees select the nectar from the flowers to give forth honey, in a comparable way they should read the classics which will give them moral stamina. He is also memorialized for his scientific knowledge with his lectures collected in a book called "The Hexa-emeron, " based on the six days of Creation mentioned in the first chapter in Genesis. There is so much that could be said about this rather unique personality amongst the Holy Fathers of the Church. We have so much to gain by delving into the lives of the Saints. I do hope that interest in our unique Orthodox Christianity can be revived. Amen. S+ Fr. George Papadeas |
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