St. Basil the Great: Bishop of Caesarea, and one of the most distinguished Doctors of the Church. Born probably 329; died 1 January, 379. He ranks after Athanasius as a defender of the Oriental Church against the heresies of the fourth century. With his friend Gregory of Nazianzus and his brother Gregory of Nyssa, he makes up the trio known as "The Three Cappadocians".
"BASIL convinces us that since we are human beings, we must neither despise men nor offend Christ, the common Head of all, with our inhuman behaviour towards people; rather, we ourselves must benefit by learning from the misfortunes of others and must lend God our compassion, for we are in need of mercy"
~Gregory Nazianzus, Orationes 43, 63.
Resources:
• St. Basil the Great, Catholic Ency. article
• St. Basil by Rev. Alban Butler
• Saint Basil (1) by Benedict XVI
• Saint Basil (2) by Benedict XVI
St. Gregory of Nazianzus: Born into a noble family in about 330 A.D. and his mother consecrated him to God at birth. After his education at home, he attended the most famous schools of his time: he first went to Caesarea in Cappadocia, where he made friends with Basil, the future Bishop of that city, and went on to stay in other capitals of the ancient world, such as Alexandria, Egypt and in particular Athens, where once again he met Basil (cf. Orationes 43: 14-24).
"LET us seek to be like Christ, because Christ also became like us: to become gods through him since he himself, through us, became a man. He took the worst upon himself to make us a gift of the best." ~Gregory Nazianzus, Orationes 1, 5.
Resources:
• St. Gregory of Nazianzus, Catholic Ency. article
• St. Gregory Nazianzen by Alban Butler
• Saint Gregory Nazianzus (1) by Benedict XVI
• Saint Gregory Nazianzus (2) by Benedict XVI
Icon of St. Basil the Great
from the St. Sophia Cathedral of Kiev
from the St. Sophia Cathedral of Kiev
Icon of St. Gregory "the Theologian"
Fresco from Kariye Camii, Istanbul, Turkey
Fresco from Kariye Camii, Istanbul, Turkey