Feast: 02 January

Saint Basil and Saint Gregory were life-long friends.

Basil was born in Caesarea in Cappadocia about 330AD. His family was Christian. He was a brilliant student, but for some years followed a monastic way of life. He was a brilliant student, but for some years followed a monastic way of life. In 370, he was appointed Bishop of Caesarea. His monastic rules are still followed today by monks of the Eastern Church. He actively fought against the Arian heresy; he defended the poor, and did much to help them. He died 1 January 379.

Gregory was born near Nazianzus, also in Cappadocia, and also about 330AD. He, too, followed the monastic way of life for some years. He was ordained priest, and became bishop of Constantinople in 379, when the Arian controversy was at its height. He was forced to retire to Nazianzus, where he died on 25 January 389 or 390. His learning and his powers of oratory were remarkable, and he was called The Theologian.

St. Basil and St. Gregory explained that the Father and the Son are indeed equal. Jesus is truly God. In fact, the two saints helped to write the Nicene Creed that we pray at Mass today.

St Basil also had a great love for the poor and gave away many of his belongings to people in need. St. Gregory was a talented speaker and expressed his theology in poetry. These saints were not only great theologians, they acted with great love.

Basil was one of the giants of the early Church. He was responsible for the victory of Nicene orthodoxy over Arianism in the Byzantine East, and the denunciation of Arianism at the Council of Constantinople in 381-82 was in large measure due to his efforts.

Resources from:

1. "The Weekday Missal - A New Edition - Weekday Masses For the Proper of Seasons * Ordinary Time * The Proper of Saints * Occasional Masses * Masses for the Dead", Collins, 1982, This edition 2005.
2. Shalom Jan 2017 Edition