Basil in the later 4th century, was a leader not only in his native Cappadocia, but in the eastern church. His provisions for the monastic movement had a permanent effect on the church.

Educated in the best pagan and Christian centres of the day, Basil contemplated an academic career, but was attracted to the idea that only a life lived in the power of the Spirit and subject to God was truly worth living. He felt called to a life of intense self-discipline that set one free to be at one with God, not as an end in itself, but recognising the key to the monastic life was love, and therefore it was to be lived in community.

For a time Basil set this up on his family estates. His brother Gregory of Nyssa and his sister Macrina were also significant figures in the church. Basil laid the foundation for 2 sets of monastic rules, which in the west were only superseded by the Rule of St Benedict. Basil provided for spiritual discipline in a round of prayer and worship, along with manual and charitable work, he discouraged the austerities practised by some of the hermits.

In 364, Basil was ordained, a convinced Trinitarian he was a warm supporter of the Nicene Creed and the engagement of theology with the best intellectual tradition of the day. Together with his brother Gregory of Nyssa and his close friend Gregory of Nazianzus, he did much to persuade those who were hesitant. He was a moderating influence in the promotion of the Nicene theology that was finally ratified at Constantinople in 381, and is still recited today. But this was not appreciated by everyone, at the time. Eastern Roman emperor Valens was an Arian Christian and sought therefore to undermine Basil’s position by dividing his parish of Cappadocia. Basil responded by making his friend Gregory bishop of the new diocese despite Gregory’s great reluctance. Basil also wrote a treatise, ‘On the Holy Spirit’, since the debates on the Son’s relation to the Father in the Trinity had implications for the theology of the Holy Spirit too.

From 370 onwards, Basil was Bishop of Caesarea, and in that position had responsibility for the churches in Pontus. He did much to organise the monastic life of the city into a significant social force as an example of community love in action. On his death, Basil left to the city a complete new town on his own estates, with hospital, hospice and church, to be used as an outreach to the poor.

BORN: 330 AD, Caesarea (Kayseri), Cappadocia, Turkey

DIED: 1 January 379 AD, Caesarea (Kayseri), Cappadocia, Turkey