Saint Basil the Great, Celebrated on the First Day of the Year
Saint Basil the Great is celebrated on the first day of the year, when the Liturgy of Saint Basil is celebrated.
One of his sayings: “Life is one unceasing prayer.”
Saint Basil is one of the most brilliant figures in Christian history. He was born in Caesarea in Cappadocia around 329 and studied in Caesarea, then in Constantinople, then in Athens. There he met Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, his fellow student, and the two were joined in a deep friendship that fused their souls into one for the rest of their lives. He returned to Caesarea around 356 and then withdrew into solitude near Neocaesarea, where his mother Emmelia and his sister Macrina had gone before him to live the monastic life. In this solitude Basil wrote his works on the spiritual life. Eusebius, Archbishop of Caesarea, ordained him a priest, and Basil succeeded him as bishop after his death in 370. He fell asleep in the Lord on January 1, 379.
He left us works rich in learning and wisdom, among them the Philokalia (an anthology of the writings of Origen), his treatise On the Holy Spirit, his book Against Eunomius refuting the Arian error, his writings on the spiritual life, his monastic rules, his commentaries on Holy Scripture, and his homilies and letters. The charm of his eloquence, the fire of his preaching, his apostolic zeal, his courage in defending the true faith before the Arian Emperor Valens, and the charitable works with which he surrounded his see to serve his people: all this led Christian generations to call him “revealer of the divine mysteries” and “the Great”.
Prayer of Saint Basil the Great
(This prayer is said during Great Compline.)
O Lord, O Lord, who have delivered us from every arrow that flies by day, deliver us also from everything that stalks in darkness. Accept the lifting up of our hands as an evening sacrifice. Make us worthy to pass through the course of the night blamelessly, untempted by evil, and deliver us from every disturbance and fear that comes to us from the devil. Grant our souls compunction, and our thoughts concern for the examination of your just and fearful judgment. Nail down our flesh with the fear of you, and put to death our earthly members, so that even in the stillness of sleep we may be enlightened by the contemplation of your judgments. Remove from us every unseemly imagining and harmful desire. Raise us up at the time of prayer, established in faith and advancing in your commandments, through the good pleasure of your only-begotten Son, with whom you are blessed, together with your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prepared by Rita, of the Sawt el Rab team
