Prayer to Basil the Great is one of the key prayers in Orthodoxy. Believers ask the saint to protect them from defilement, to give them strength. After such conversions in the church, many find a second wind in life.
Basil the Great
In prayer to Basil the Great, believers turn to the famous saint, who lived in the 4th century. He was Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, in present-day Turkey. Also a theologian and church writer.
Together with Gregory the Theologian and Gregory of Nyssa, he was one of the three Cappadocian Fathers of the Church. These are the saints who completed just at that time the dialectical processing of the church dogma of the Holy Trinity.
It is Basil the Great that researchers attribute the invention of the iconostasis, as well as the composition of the famous liturgy. He is the author of the prayers of the morning rule, which are obligatory for reading by all Orthodox Christians. This is the first part of the daily prayers that all Orthodox must say. They can be found in any prayer book. Many people know the prayers of Basil the Great from his letters and sermons.
Life of a Saint
It is known for certain that Basil the Great was born inCaesarea. Today it is the ancient Turkish city of Kayseri. At that time it was a major administrative center of Cappadocia. His parents came from a noble and very we althy family. Moreover, they were ardent adherents of the Christian faith.
The saint's grandfather and grandmother suffered at the beginning of the 4th century from the Great persecution against Christians, which were staged in the Roman Empire. Many of his relatives were bishops - an uncle and even two brothers - Peter of Sebaste and Gregory of Nyssa. His sister is the famous Reverend Macrina, who became a monk, and according to some sources, is endowed with the gift of miracles.
Vasily's father was an experienced lawyer and orator. He dreamed that his son would follow the same path. As a result, Basil received a quality education in Constantinople and Caesarea itself. For some time he studied at the Athens Academy. It was in this educational institution that he met and became friends with Gregory the Theologian. During this period, the future Roman emperor Julian the Apostate, who became a persecutor of Christians, was also close to them.
Return to Caesarea
When praying to Basil the Great, many people remember how difficult his life path to faith was. Returning from training, he devoted himself to secular pursuits. The Monk Macrina, who later became abbess, had a strong influence on him. It was she who made him lead a more ascetic and temperate life.
Finally with a few close associates renounced the hustle and bustle of the city to settle on family lands in Pontus. This is the area onnortheast of Asia Minor. Here they arranged some kind of monastic community.
The year 357 became a milestone in the life of the saint, when he set off on a journey through the surrounding Coptic monasteries. Three years later, together with the bishops, he participated in the synod held in Constantinople.
Support the teachings of Arya
A serious blow to the worldview of the hero of our article was the decision of the Council, adopted in Rimini. The Council, convened by Emperor Constantine I, decided to support the teachings of the Alexandrian priest Arius. The so-called Arianism was widespread among Christians in the 4th-6th centuries. The main difference was that it affirmed the originality of God the Son and his non-consubstantiality with God the Father.
Besides, Arianism was also supported by the Bishop of Caesarea named Dianius. Therefore, for some time, Vasily and his comrades were off the official agenda of the Christian church.
Only shortly before the death of Diania, Vasily reconciled with him. As a result, he became a presbyter and even an adviser to the new bishop Eusebius, who ascended the throne after the death of Dianius. But even here, not everything was smooth. Eusebius did not like strict asceticism. Therefore, Vasily retired from business, retiring to the desert. When praying to St. Basil the Great, many recall this episode of his biography, realizing how hard it was for him at that time.
In the desert, the hero of our article began to establish a monastic life, which he always secretly really wanted.
Persuasion of the Orthodox
The next test that Vasily had to endure was the increasing oppression of Orthodox Christians. They intensified after Emperor Valens came to power.
Because of this, Bishop Eusebius began to actively seek support from the hero of our article. Prayer of St. Basil the Great became especially relevant at that time.
In 365, the saint made a decision to return to Caesarea. He took the leadership of the diocese into his own hands. Over the next few years, Vasily wrote several program works directed against Arianism. The main thing for him is the thesis "three hypostases in a single essence." It was followed by both followers of the Nicene Creed and those who were disillusioned with Arianism.
The entry of Basil into the position of bishop was opposed by some leaders of neighboring dioceses, but after the death of Eusebius they actually had no alternative. Having become the head of the metropolis in Cappadocia, Basil the Great began to zealously eradicate Arianism from Asia Minor. In many ways, his merit lies in the fact that the century of this direction of Christianity turned out to be short-lived.
Anti-Arianism
Basily's anti-Arianism led to his clashes with Emperor Valens. For example, during his journey through Cappadocia, the bishop categorically refused him recognition of the correctness of the Arian doctrine.
Hearing this, Valens decided to divide Cappadocia into two provinces in order to significantly weaken local power. In the endIn the long run, this led to a decrease in the canonical territory that was under the jurisdiction of Basil, undermined his strong position in the leadership of the church.
But even having become weaker than he was a few years ago, the hero of our article managed to promote several of his bishops to key positions. Important positions were given to his close associates - Gregory the Theologian and Gregory of Nyssa. The fiercest struggle unfolded for the place of bishop in Antioch. Basil did not want to see Orthodox Pavlin as a bishop. The candidacy of the latter was supported by the head of the Alexandrian Metropolis and even by Pope Damasius. Basil's main fears were related to the fact that, carried away by the unity of God, one can quickly come to heresy.
Sickness and death
The balance of power in the state changed radically after the death of Valens. He was killed in the battle of Adrianople. This is a battle between the Goths and the Romans, led by Valens. It happened in 378. Basil's positions in the church leadership strengthened. But he failed to take advantage of this. By that time, his he alth had been severely damaged by his ascetic lifestyle.
He passed away on January 1, 379. Soon he was canonized as a saint.
Prayer from the desecration of Basil the Great
This prayer is considered one of the most important in Christianity. Orthodox all over the world often turn to the saint with it.
In prayer to St. Basil the Great, they ask him for mercy, they want to be cleansed from sins and from any filth. They pray to the Lord, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit that the soul be cleansed of darkness, ghosts and devilishplantations. Prayer from the defilement of St. Basil the Great helps to gain spiritual strength, overcome inner demons.
Believers promise that, having cleansed themselves, they will continue to live with a clear conscience, keeping all the commandments, constantly attending the temple.
