Prayer to Basil the Great is one of the key in Orthodoxy. Believers ask the saint to protect them from desecration, to give them strength. Many after such conversions in the church gain a second wind in life.
Basil the Great
In a prayer to Vasily the Great, believers turn to the famous saint, who lived in the 4th century. He was the archbishop of Caesarea of Cappadocia on the territory of modern Turkey. As well as a theologian and church writer.
Together with Gregory the Theologian and Gregory of Nyssa, he was one of the three Cappadocian Church Fathers. These are saints who completed just at that time the dialectical treatment of the church dogma of the Holy Trinity.
It is to Vasily the Great that the researchers attribute the inventions of the iconostasis, as well as the compilation of the famous liturgy. He is the author of the prayers of the morning rule, which must be read by all Orthodox Christians. This is the first part of the daily prayers that all Orthodox should say. They can be found in any prayer book. Many know the prayers of Basil the Great from his letters and sermons.
Life of the saint
It is known for certain that Basil the Great was born in Caesarea. 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 wealthy family. Moreover, they were ardent adherents of the Christian faith.
Grandfather and grandmother of the saint suffered at the beginning of the IV century from the Great persecutions against Christians, which were arranged in the Roman Empire. Bishops were many of his relatives - uncle and even two brothers - Peter of Sevastia and Gregory of Nyssa. His sister is the famous Rev. Makrina, who became a monk and, according to some, endowed with the gift of miracles.
Vasily's father was an experienced lawyer and speaker. He dreamed that his son would go along the same path. As a result, Vasily received a quality education in Constantinople and Caesarea itself. He studied at the Academy of Athens for some time. It was in this educational institution that he met and made friends with Gregory the Theologian. During this period, the future Roman emperor Julian the Apostate, who became the persecutor of Christians, was close to them.
Return to Caesarea
Turning a prayer to Basil the Great, many recall how uneasy his life path to faith was. Returning from training, he devoted himself to secular studies. Rev. Makrina, who later became abbess, had a strong influence on him. It was she who made him lead a more ascetic and restrained life.
In the end, with a few close comrades, he renounced the bustle of the city to settle on family lands in Pontus. This is an area in the northeast of Asia Minor. Here they arranged some kind of monastic community.
The year 357 became a landmark in the life of the saint, when he went on a trip to the Coptic monasteries surrounding him. Three years later, together with the bishops, he participated in a synod in Constantinople.
Support the teachings of Aria
A serious blow to the attitude of the hero of our article was the decision of the cathedral, 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 primacy of God the Son and his non-unity with God the Father.
In addition, Aesan bishop named Dianius supported Arianism. 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 made peace with him. As a result, he became a presbyter and even an adviser to the new bishop Eusebius, who came to the throne after the death of Dianius. But here, not everything was smooth. Strict asceticism did not please Eusebius. Therefore, Basil retired, retiring to the desert. Turning a prayer 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 really wanted in secret.
Harassment of the Orthodox
The next test that Basil had to endure was the increasing oppression of Orthodox Christians. They intensified after the advent of Emperor Valent.
Because of this, Bishop Eusebius began to actively seek support from the hero of our article. Prayer of St. Vasily the Great became especially relevant at that time.
In 365, the saint decided for himself to return to Caesarea. He took over the leadership of the diocese. Over the next few years, Vasily writes several pieces of software directed against Arianism. The main thesis for him is the "three hypostases in a single entity." It was followed by both the followers of the Nicene Creed and those who were disappointed in Arianism.
Some leaders of neighboring dioceses opposed the entry of Vasily into the bishop, but after the death of Eusebius they actually had no alternative. Having become the head of the metropolis in Cappadocia, Basil the Great began eagerly eradicating Arianism from Asia Minor. In many respects, his merit lies in the fact that the age of this direction of Christianity was short-lived.
Anti-arianism
Basil's anti-Arianism led to his clashes with the emperor Valens. For example, during his travels in Cappadocia, the bishop categorically refused him recognition of the correctness of the Arian teachings.
Hearing this, Valens decided to divide Cappadocia into two provinces in order to significantly weaken local power. Ultimately, this led to a decrease in the canonical territory, which was administered by Vasily, undermined his strong position in the leadership of the church.
But even becoming weaker than it was a few years ago, the hero of our article managed to promote several of his bishops to key posts. Important posts were received by his close associates - Gregory the Theologian and Gregory of Nyssa. The most fierce struggle unfolded for the place of the bishop in Antioch. Basil did not want to see the bishop of the orthodox Pavlin. The candidacy of the latter was supported by the head of the Alexandria Metropolis and even Pope Damasius. The main fears of Basil were related to the fact that, carried away by the unity of God, you can quickly come to heresy.
Illness and death
The balance of power in the state radically changed after the death of Valenta. He was killed in the battle of Adrianople. This is a battle between the Goths and the Romans, led by Valenta. It happened in the year 378. Vasily’s position in the church leadership strengthened. But he failed to take advantage of this. By that time, his health was severely undermined by an ascetic lifestyle.
He died on January 1, 379. Soon he was canonized.
Prayer for the desecration of Basil the Great
This prayer is considered one of the main in Christianity. Orthodox Christians around the world often address her to the saint.
In prayer to St. Basil the Great, they ask him for mercy, wish to be cleansed from sins and from any filth. They pray to the Lord, Jesus Christ and the Most Holy Spirit that the soul be cleansed of darkness, ghosts and devil plantings. Prayer from the desecration of St. Basil the Great helps to gain spiritual strength, to overcome internal demons.
Believers promise that, having cleansed themselves, with a clear conscience, they will continue to live, observing all the commandments, constantly visiting the temple.