My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!

ON JANUARY 1st OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE FEAST OF OUR HOLY FATHER AMONG THE SAINTS BASIL THE GREAT, ARCHBISHOP OF CAESAREA IN CAPPADOCIA

Saint Basil preeminent among the hierarchs (bishops), wisest of saintly teachers, and wondrous favorite of God was born in Cappadocia toward the end of the Great Constantine's reign. His father was also named Basil, and his mother, Emmelia. He learned to read at the age of seven, and progressed so rapidly in his studies that five years later he was already engaged in philosophical inquiry. Eventually, he forsook his homeland and moved to Athens, Greece, the fount of Hellenic wisdom, where he took lessons with the renowned teacher Evvoulus, at the same time visiting the schools of Hemerius and Proeresius. Basil soon equaled, then surpassed his teachers, who were amazed at his diligence and intelligence, and still more at his modesty and purity.

The wondrous Basil devoted much effort to attaining an understanding of Divine mysteries, to the point of neglecting to eat while he resolved whatever question was troubling him. Having dedicated himself for fifteen years to mastering Greek learning, the Saint concluded his studies with investigations into astronomy, but no secular knowledge sufficed to quench his thirst for the waters of true wisdom. One night, while he was meditating on the only wise Creator and True God, a divine ray penetrated his heart, kindling in him a fiery longing to comprehend the Scripture on the most profound level. Leaving Athens and his friend Gregory Basil went to Egypt. During this time he significantly deepened his understanding of the True faith.

In Caesarea Basil became a monk and imitated the manner of life he had observed while visiting the ascetics of Egypt, Palestine, Syria, and Mesopotamia. He was also ordained presbyter (priest) by Hermogenes, who became archbishop after Leontius died, and he was appointed instructor of all the monks living in the diocese. When Hermogenes departed this world, the people wished to have the holy Basil as their prelate (bishop), remembering how he had been forechosen and considering him worthy of the episcopacy, but the Saint, who disliked being held in high esteem, hid from them. The venerable Basil retired into the wilderness of Pontus. He was eventually joined by his friend Saint Gregory the Theologian. They lived an angelic life together, and soon numerous monks had assembled at their retreat. Guided by the Holy Spirit, the Saints compiled a rule for coenobites. The blessed Emmelia, St. Basil's mother, who resided in a village across the river Iris, provided their food. She was already a widow and was devoting her remaining years to pleasing God.

The time came when both Saint Basil and Saint Gregory had to leave the wilderness and serve the Church, which was then troubled by heretics. Saint Gregory's father, who was Bishop of Nazianzus (bishops married then) (and also named Gregory), was elderly and unable to fend off the wolves (heretics) vigorously, so he called his son home to assist him. Meanwhile, Efsevius (Eusebius), Archbishop of Caesarea, sent a letter to St. Basil, asking the Saint's help in protecting the Church from the Arians (heretics) and expressing hope for a reconciliation. Seeing the Holy Church in such straits and regarding her well-being as more important than the benefits of living in the wilderness, Saint Basil abandoned his seclusion and returned to Caesarea. He labored greatly there, defending Orthodoxy by his preaching and writings. Before long, Archbishop Eusebius surrendered his spirit into God's hands while resting in Basil's arms. The Great Basil was elevated to the archiepiscopal throne and consecrated by numerous bishops, (bishops are consecrated) among whom was Gregory of Nazianzus, father of Saint Gregory the Theologian. Saint Basil governed the Church of Christ well and ordained his brother Peter to the priesthood. Peter assisted the Saint considerably, and eventually, Basil appointed him Bishop of Sevastea. At that time their mother, the blessed Emmelia, departed to the Lord. She was more than ninety years old. Her children were known for their outstanding virtue, especially Basil and Peter, another son, Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, and her eldest daughter Macrina.

Several years passed, and the blessed Basil asked God to send down the grace of the Holy Spirit to enlighten his understanding and give him wisdom so that he might offer the unbloody sacrifice using his own words. Until that time the Greek-speaking Christians had celebrate the Divine Liturgy only in Hebrew. Saint Basil prayed for seven days; then the Holy Spirit descended and he went into ecstasy. Coming to himself, he celebrated the liturgy daily for some time and prepared for the awesome task of writing the new version of the sacred service. Finally, with prayer on his lips and his heart full of faith, the great hierarch began work. That night he returned to church, and while he was setting out bread and wine on the Table of Preparation (Prothesis), the Lord appeared to him with the holy Apostles. Basil fell prostrate, but Christ raised him up and said, "In accordance with our supplication, your mouth shall be filled with praise, and you will perform the service using your own words." The Lord shone with glory so bright that Basil, who was shaking with fear, could not endure to look upon Him. When the vision ended, the Saint took a scroll and wrote in Greek the following words: "Let my mouth be filled with praise, that I may hymn Thy glory." Then he began the service, the Liturgy that came to be known by his name, with such prayers as, "O Lord our God, Who has fashioned us and brought us into this life," and the prayer at the elevation: "Attend, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, from Thy holy habitation and from the throne of the glory of Thy Kingdom, and come Thou to sanctify us, Thou Who art seated on high with the Father, yet invisibly remainest with us here. By Thy mighty hand vouchsafe to bestow the Holy Things which are for the holy upon us, and through us upon the people." Afterward, Saint Basil recorded these prayers and the others on the scroll. Evvulos and the clergy of higher rank saw a heavenly Light illuminating the Sanctuary and the Bishop as he offered the Eucharist, and radiant men clothed in white garments surrounded the great hierarch. Awestruck, they fell to the floor, weeping and glorifying God.

About that time Saint Basil summoned a smith and had him fashion a golden dove to represent the one that appeared when Christ was baptized in the Jordan. The Saint hung it over the holy table as a receptacle for reserving the Divine Mysteries.

Such was the gift of grace possessed by Saint Basil, that when he elevated the Holy Gifts during the Liturgy, the dove holding the reserved Mysteries shook three times, indicating that the Spirit of God was descending.

It was on the 1st of January, during the fifteenth and last year of emperor Valen's reign, and during Gratian's fourth year as ruler, that the Great Archbishop and eloquent proclaimer of the Gospel joined the holy hierarchs and eminent preachers of truth dwelling in heaven. The holy Basil was 45 years old when he departed this life. He shepherded the Church of God for eight years, six months, and sixteen days in all.

Saint Gregory of Nazianzus received word of his friend's death and hastened to Caesarea to take part in the funeral, at which he shed copious tears. Other bishops assembled, joining the Theologian in chanting the funeral service in the Church of the Holy Martyr Efpsychius (Eupshychius). At its conclusion, they buried the precious and holy remains of Heaven's great favorite Basil, praising God, Who is One in Trinity. To Him be glory unto the ages. Amen. (Source: The Great Collection of the Lives of the Saints)

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DIVINE SERVICES ON JANUARY 1st:

Orthros (Matins) at 9:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great at 10:00 a.m.

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" -- Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George