BASIL, SAINT, surnamed the Great, was born is Caesarea, in the year 326, and became bishop of that city. Having studied at Constantinople, he went to Athens to perfect•himself in that school of science ; and his studies being completed, he returned to his na tive country in 355, and taught rhetoric. While he resided at Athens, he became acquainted with Julian, afterwards surnamed the Apostate, who was also en gaged in the study of eloquence in that celebrated city. With him Basil read not only the prophane authors, but also the books of the Holy Scriptures : Julian carefully concealed froin him his real senti ments of the sacred writings. But when raised to the imperial throne, he threw off the mask, and filled his court with heathen philosophers and magicians from all parts of the world, Basil manfully rejected his repeated solicitations to reside at his court, though accompanied with the warmest professions of friend ship. He afterwards retired to the monasteries in Syria, Egypt, and Libya, where he became so fond of the monastic life, that he embraced it on his re turn to Pontus and Cappadocia. Having received the order of priesthood from Eusebius bishop of Cm sare, lie retired into religious solitude ; but, in that state, he continued only about three years ; for upon the death of that bishop in 370, he reluctantly al lowed himself to be appointed his successor. No sooner was he seated in the episcopal chair, than the emperor Valens began to persecute him, and even threatened to banish him from Casarea, because he refused to embrace the tenets of the Arians. The emperor sent to him a prefect, who was commanded, either by entreaty or menace, to ol3tain his come pliance.. The pious Basil peremptorily refused. The
prefect having reminded him of the danger to which he was exposed, of having his land, his liberty, and even his life sacrificed by the disappointed emperor, he made the following noble reply : " He who has nothing, dreads not confiscation. Every place being alike indifferent to me, how can any exile• be a pu nishment ? If you imprison me, I shall more pleasure than at the court of Valens. And with re. spect to death, it will be to me a blessing, because it will unite me to the Almighty." The prefect was astonished, and remarked that none had ever pre sumed to speak to him in that manner. " Probably," replied Basil, " you never before saw a bishop !" Finding it impossible to bend him from his resolu tion, the emperor ceased to molest him ; and Basil then began to use all that influence, which his high character and office had so justly acquired, in endea vouring to compose the differences which at that time subsisted betwixt the eastern and western churches : but unhappily his well meant efforts pro ved ineffectual, and that contest was not terminated till after his death. He also took a share in the va rious controversies, which arose in that period of the church, and died in the year 379. " In point of genius, controversial skill, and a rich and flowing eloquence," says Mosheim, " he was surpassed by very few in that century." There have been several editions of his works in Greek and Latin. The last and best is that published at Paris in 3 vols. folio, in 1721, by Julien Gamier, a learned bcncdictine. See Mosheim, vol. i. p. '358. Ant. Univ. Hist. vol. xvi. Dim Diet. vol. ii. p. 75. (A. F.)