Saint’s Corner
St. Basil the Great
On June 14th we celebrate the memorial of St. Basil the Great who comes from a family of Saints. His mother, father, grandmother, two brothers, and a sister are all recognized Saints in the Church.
Saint Basil was born in 329. He studied rhetoric and began teaching when his eldest sister convinced him to serve God. He was baptized shortly thereafter and traveled to many monasteries to learn the religious life. When he returned, he founded the first
monastery in Asia Minor. Later, he was ordained a deacon, priest, and bishop.
Saint Basil was instrumental in defending the faith against the Arian heresy (which denied the divinity of Christ). He stood up to the emperor by upholding the true faith even under threat of banishment and violence. Saint Basil died on January 1st, 379.