Saint Basil the Great
A great theologian and defender of the faith against the heresy of Arius, but also founder of the first great institution for the poor and the sick. His faith was visible in his deeds.
- Commemoration
- January 1
- Repose
- † 379
Life
He was born around the year 330, in Cappadocia, into a completely unusual family: a family of saints. His grandmother, parents, older sister, and two of his brothers were also numbered among the saints. He studied at the highest schools of the time, all the way to Athens, where he bonded in lifelong friendship with Saint Gregory the Theologian. He could have become whoever he wanted in this world. He chose to become a monk.
He traveled to see with his own eyes how the hermits of Egypt and Syria lived, and then he brought order to the monastic life — his rules are kept to this day. Made bishop of Caesarea, he was the pillar of the true faith in a time when many, even the emperor, had fallen into the heresy of Arius, who denied the divinity of Christ. He stood unshaken, without fear, before power.
But Basil was not only a great theologian. He was also a man of active mercy. On the outskirts of the city he built an entire complex for the poor and sick — hospital, asylum, shelter for the homeless —, something the world had never seen before. His faith was visible in his deeds.
He died young, not even fifty years old, exhausted by his labors, on the first day of the year 379. From him remains the Holy Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great. This we do not serve every Sunday, but only about ten times a year — on the Sundays of Great Lent, on Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday, on the eves of Christmas and Epiphany, and on his commemoration, January 1. Otherwise, the usual Liturgy is that of Saint John Chrysostom.
Holy Hierarch Basil the Great, you who united right theology with active mercy, pray for me, that I may prove my faith through deeds, not words alone. Amen.
Prayer (in simple words)
Holy Hierarch Basil, you who stood unshaken before worldly power for the sake of the true faith, give me too the courage not to be shaken by those who mock the truth. You who built for the poor and the sick an entire complex, instead of settling for fine words, teach me to do something concrete too for those around me in need. And you, who died young, worn out by labors for the Church, help me not to spare my time and strength when it comes to love for God and for others. Amen.
Akathist
Prayers which are read before any Akathist
Kontakion 1
You, the trumpet with divine sounding and the heavenly bee, who from the flowers of teachings gathered the life-creating honey of the dogmas of the Trinity and left it to the Church of Christ as an unimpoverished wealth, from which we all taste, with sweet hymn we praise you, singing to you: Rejoice, great hierarch Basil!
Oikos 1
You who through the purity of your mind, which is like the angels, were raised to the divine heights and, passing through the ranks of the cherubim, revealed the dogmas of the Trinity, which you left to the Church as an unplundered treasure, O holy Basil, receive from us the unworthy these praises:
- Rejoice, the radiant glory of hierarchs;
- Rejoice, divine teacher of dogmas;
- Rejoice, faithful follower of the apostles;
- Rejoice, most luminous pillar of the Church;
- Rejoice, defender of the Trinity;
- Rejoice, revealer of heavenly things;
- Rejoice, helmsman of the spiritual ship;
- Rejoice, corrector of the hierarchical dignity;
- Rejoice, heavenly enlightener of the priesthood;
- Rejoice, most wise guide of monasticism;
- Rejoice, awakener of sinners to repentance;
- Rejoice, comforter of those who fall asleep in the right faith;
- Rejoice, great hierarch Basil!
Kontakion 2
Having become a close servant of the Shepherd of shepherds, O holy Basil, you enriched the Church with your wise teachings; for which we sing to God: Alleluia!
Oikos 2
You were, O most holy father, always at the heights of hierarchical dignity and in the depth of humility; for which we, marvelling, sing to you:
- Rejoice, you who rejoice in the triumphant Church;
- Rejoice, you who receive blessing from the King Christ;
- Rejoice, most high tower of heavenly visions;
- Rejoice, wise interpreter of theological things;
- Rejoice, master of the beautiful sciences;
- Rejoice, for you chose the unfailing ones;
- Rejoice, you who serve the liturgy with the seraphim;
- Rejoice, you who see God with the cherubim;
- Rejoice, friend of the apostles;
- Rejoice, foremost among the hierarchs;
- Rejoice, co-seated with the martyrs;
- Rejoice, speaking well with the prophets;
- Rejoice, great hierarch Basil!
Kontakion 3
God the Word placed you, O holy Basil, as a good strength for His Church, you who with the thunder of your words silence the mouths of heretics; while we, the faithful, rejoicing, sing to God: Alleluia!
Oikos 3
Opposing, O father, the most pagan emperor Julian and confessing the divinity of Christ, you put his paganism to shame, becoming a willing martyr; for which hear from us:
- Rejoice, sword sharpened with the fire of the Spirit;
- Rejoice, fearless confessor of the truth;
- Rejoice, powerful proclamation of the Trinity;
- Rejoice, strong fighter against godlessness;
- Rejoice, great preacher of divinity;
- Rejoice, deep-speaking mouth of the Trinity;
- Rejoice, mediator of the faithful to the Holy Trinity;
- Rejoice, enlightener of the Church of the whole world;
- Rejoice, for you bent the stingy towards mercy;
- Rejoice, you who saved the people from famine;
- Rejoice, archer against the love of money;
- Rejoice, encourager to almsgiving;
- Rejoice, great hierarch Basil!
Kontakion 4
You saw, O great hierarch Basil, the Mother of God surrounded by the angelic ranks and commanding the martyr Mercurius to destroy the pagan Julian, the enemy of her Son; and after being assured that you were heard, you immediately sang to God: Alleluia!
Oikos 4
You admonished with great courage Valens, blinded with the heresy of Arius, who troubled the Church of Christ, O most wise father; for which we praise you, saying:
- Rejoice, penetrating eye of the Church;
- Rejoice, winnower of the chaff of slanders;
- Rejoice, wise worker of the vineyard of Christ;
- Rejoice, great teacher of the mysteries;
- Rejoice, harsh mountain of repentance;
- Rejoice, unplundered city of faith;
- Rejoice, nightingale of the Church of sweet voice;
- Rejoice, eagle of theology with high soaring;
- Rejoice, guide of the priesthood;
- Rejoice, teacher of teachers;
- Rejoice, great teacher of virginity;
- Rejoice, adorned garden of purity;
- Rejoice, great hierarch Basil!
Kontakion 5
A woman who had been wronged by the eparch of the city came to you, O holy Hierarch Basil, asking you to intercede for her; and you, frightening him with the judgment of God, bent him to do her justice; for which she, rejoicing, gave you thanks, singing to God: Alleluia!
Oikos 5
Becoming a follower of the Saviour, O most wise father, you showed yourself a great defender of the wronged; for which we say:
- Rejoice, defender of widows;
- Rejoice, father of the poor;
- Rejoice, supporter of the wronged;
- Rejoice, wealth of the destitute;
- Rejoice, you who rebuked lawless emperors;
- Rejoice, for you bent the eparch towards mercy;
- Rejoice, you who desired the martyr's crown;
- Rejoice, for you were deemed worthy to be a confessor;
- Rejoice, you who did not gather perishable wealth;
- Rejoice, for you followed Christ in poverty;
- Rejoice, zealot like Elijah;
- Rejoice, great proclaimer like Isaiah;
- Rejoice, great hierarch Basil!
Kontakion 6
You received, O great chief shepherd Basil, power from God over the devil, so that you forced him to send through the air the document of the young man by which he had sold himself; at which miracle being amazed, we sing to God, who glorified you, the hymn: Alleluia!
Oikos 6
The multitudes of demons are terrified only hearing your name, O father of fathers Basil; while we, the faithful singing, bring you these praises:
- Rejoice, lightning that burns the spirits of the foul Satan;
- Rejoice, thunder that scatters unclean counsels;
- Rejoice, you who were clothed with the weapons of the Spirit;
- Rejoice, for through them you shattered the hostile powers;
- Rejoice, you who healed the son of the emperor;
- Rejoice, for you raised many from the depth of sin;
- Rejoice, for you healed the leper;
- Rejoice, for you knew those with good works through the Spirit;
- Rejoice, earthly angel;
- Rejoice, heavenly man;
- Rejoice, mystical salt of teaching;
- Rejoice, enlightened guide of salvation;
- Rejoice, great hierarch Basil!
Kontakion 7
God revealing your life full of holiness, O father Basil, the Venerable Ephrem in the desert saw a pillar of fire rising to heaven and heard a voice saying: Such is Basil. At which marvelling, he sang to God: Alleluia!
Oikos 7
You had, O most holy father, your heart from childhood a pure dwelling of the Holy Spirit, through which you became great among the chosen of God; for which we sing to you:
- Rejoice, candlestick of the unwaning light;
- Rejoice, fountain of the God-inspired scriptures;
- Rejoice, dove of the Lord with gilded wings;
- Rejoice, beloved friend of Gregory the Theologian;
- Rejoice, with Chrysostom union in God;
- Rejoice, their sealing together;
- Rejoice, muse teaching faith;
- Rejoice, wisdom needful for the Church;
- Rejoice, for emperors marvelled at your wisdom;
- Rejoice, for heretics were silenced by your beautiful speech;
- Rejoice, river pouring forth the waters of life;
- Rejoice, lily adorning with fragrance;
- Rejoice, great hierarch Basil!
Kontakion 8
Just as when you were in this life you offered the bloodless sacrifice for the sins of the people, so now, O all-praised hierarch, standing near the throne of divinity, raise up as a sacrifice your well-accepted prayers for us, who praise you, singing to God: Alleluia!
Oikos 8
You were a luminous pillar on earth for the Church of Christ, O Basil, and you proved your boldness towards Christ even after death; for which hear us who say to you:
- Rejoice, named with the name of the kingdom;
- Rejoice, great father of the Church;
- Rejoice, unbreakable diamond of faith;
- Rejoice, unconquerable defender of dogmas;
- Rejoice, mirror of divine revelations;
- Rejoice, chalice of heavenly mysteries;
- Rejoice, deer hastening to the fountain of immortality;
- Rejoice, guide of the faithful towards it;
- Rejoice, lily of hierarchs with divine fragrance;
- Rejoice, torch of God-speakers with heavenly brightness;
- Rejoice, apostolic sickle, cutting down the tares of heresies;
- Rejoice, heavenly dew cooling the heat of sins;
- Rejoice, great hierarch Basil!
Kontakion 9
You said, O most wise father, that true philosophy is the thought of death. Grant us therefore through your well-accepted prayers to God to pass without harm through the gates of death and, reaching the blessed life, to sing together with you to God the hymn: Alleluia!
Oikos 9
You adorned, O most wonderful one, the throne of the hierarchy with your most high wisdom and with divine holiness; for which we bring you these praises:
- Rejoice, keen soldier of spiritual arms;
- Rejoice, fellow servant with the heavenly powers;
- Rejoice, you who surpassed many in adorning the Church;
- Rejoice, for your proclamation penetrated to the ends;
- Rejoice, you who entered the cloud of visions;
- Rejoice, for you followed John the Theologian;
- Rejoice, precious stone of the hierarchy;
- Rejoice, luminous adornment of the priesthood;
- Rejoice, new David called from the flocks of hermits;
- Rejoice, for through the door of the sheep you entered the fold;
- Rejoice, you who pastured the flock in the green pastures of the Scriptures;
- Rejoice, for you were seen as a living icon of shepherding;
- Rejoice, great hierarch Basil!
Kontakion 10
A sinful woman came to you, O father, and giving you a sealed paper on which her sins were written, which she was ashamed to confess, you quickly, hastening to prayer to God, miraculously caused her sins to be blotted out. Therefore we, marvelling at your great boldness towards God, sing: Alleluia!
Oikos 10
You showed yourself to Christ, O all-luminous father, an unconquerable wall raised to a height by His wisdom; for which with praises as with flowers they crown you, saying:
- Rejoice, sweet-sounding violin of the Spirit;
- Rejoice, bee of paradise gathering life;
- Rejoice, muse singing of heavenly things;
- Rejoice, joyful garden of the Scriptures;
- Rejoice, second Moses who divides the sea of heresies;
- Rejoice, for you guide the new Israel to pass through it;
- Rejoice, life-bearing pillar of faith;
- Rejoice, honeycomb from the primordial source;
- Rejoice, nourisher of those poor in knowledge;
- Rejoice, speedy helper of those who call on you with faith;
- Rejoice, first of the three hierarchs;
- Rejoice, for you adorn the choir of shepherds;
- Rejoice, great hierarch Basil!
Kontakion 11
You had, O holy father Basil, a wonderful sign seen of the coming of the Holy Spirit, in the sanctification of the divine Mysteries. Therefore, rebuking the inattention of the deacon, you caused the altar to be separated by curtains from the assembly of the faithful; at which marvelling we sing to God, wonderful in His saints: Alleluia!
Oikos 11
A great miracle was seen at your passing from this life, O well-pleaser of God Basil, for rising from your deathbed, you baptised the Jew Ioasaph with all his house; for which we praise you, saying:
- Rejoice, for at your request, God agreed to prolong your life;
- Rejoice, for it was granted you that the Jew should obtain faith;
- Rejoice, you who found the treasure in the Gospel;
- Rejoice, for through Hierarchical labours you saved it;
- Rejoice, swift deer of the heavenly mountains;
- Rejoice, beloved angel of the angelic powers;
- Rejoice, you who adorned the wedding garment through self-control;
- Rejoice, for you see Him whom you desired;
- Rejoice, for now you hear hymns that cannot be spoken with human tongues;
- Rejoice, for now you delight in divine songs;
- Rejoice, heavenly ear of corn with hundredfold fruitfulness;
- Rejoice, you who thirst for our salvation;
- Rejoice, great hierarch Basil!
Kontakion 12
O all-luminous hierarch Basil, look with mercy from the height of the heavenly mountains upon us who struggle with many troubles on the sea of this life and, receiving our small praises, grant us help through your prayers, that, being saved, we may be deemed worthy to sing together with you to God: Alleluia!
Oikos 12
The Saviour Himself revealed Himself to you with the holy Apostles, O father worthy of praise, and taught you the work of the divine Liturgy, which you left to the Church as an adornment of great propriety; for which, humbly praising you, we say to you:
- Rejoice, priceless diamond of the altar;
- Rejoice, gilded shepherd's flute;
- Rejoice, knower of dogmas and canons;
- Rejoice, enlightener of shepherds and councils;
- Rejoice, myrrh of divine fragrance of the Liturgy;
- Rejoice, angelic dignity of the priesthood;
- Rejoice, illuminating lamp of the Church;
- Rejoice, awakening trumpet of the lazy;
- Rejoice, as Paul enlightener of the Church;
- Rejoice, as Peter opener of the heavenly kingdom;
- Rejoice, mouth of the Word thundering from heaven;
- Rejoice, flame of the Spirit consuming heretics;
- Rejoice, great hierarch Basil!
Kontakion 13
O most wonderful father of fathers, holy Hierarch Basil, receiving our small hymn, as the Saviour the widow's mites, intercede for us for a safe passage at the hour of death, that being deemed worthy to enter the bridal chamber of the divine kingdom, we may sing together with you the hymn to God: Alleluia! (this kontakion is said three times)
Oikos 1
You who through the purity of your mind, which is like the angels, were raised to the divine heights and, passing through the ranks of the cherubim, revealed the dogmas of the Trinity, which you left to the Church as an unplundered treasure, O holy Basil, receive from us the unworthy these praises:
- Rejoice, the radiant glory of hierarchs;
- Rejoice, divine teacher of dogmas;
- Rejoice, faithful follower of the apostles;
- Rejoice, most luminous pillar of the Church;
- Rejoice, defender of the Trinity;
- Rejoice, revealer of heavenly things;
- Rejoice, helmsman of the spiritual ship;
- Rejoice, corrector of the hierarchical dignity;
- Rejoice, heavenly enlightener of the priesthood;
- Rejoice, most wise guide of monasticism;
- Rejoice, awakener of sinners to repentance;
- Rejoice, comforter of those who fall asleep in the right faith;
- Rejoice, great hierarch Basil!
Kontakion 1
You, the trumpet with divine sounding and the heavenly bee, who from the flowers of teachings gathered the life-creating honey of the dogmas of the Trinity and left it to the Church of Christ as an unimpoverished wealth, from which we all taste, with sweet hymn we praise you, singing to you: Rejoice, great hierarch Basil!
Source: Doxologia.ro. Prayer text taken from public Orthodox sources; rights remain with their authors and translators. Devotional, non-commercial use. May be removed on request.