Our Patron
This icon (Greek for “image”) was hand-painted for our community. St Basil is wearing episcopal vestments, holding the Gospel Book, and blessing with the Christogram.
What is a Saint?
Saints are holy men and women who have become like Christ. And united with him in death, they remain alive in Him:
“The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God...
In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died...
but they are at peace... Their hope is full of immortality.”
Why a Patron Saint?
The saints, worshiping God at the altar above the heavens, are also the “great cloud of witnesses” surrounding us (Heb. 12.1) and praying for us. While this is true of the saints generally, we ask particular saints to pray for us specifically — individuals, families, and parish churches. If we ask each other to pray for us, how much more powerful to ask the saints: “The prayer of a righteous man has great power” (Jas. 5.16)
Who is St Basil?
Basil was born in the year 330 to pious Christian parents, Basil and Emilia, in the city of Caesarea in Cappadocia. Of their ten children, five (including Basil) are glorified Saints. A brilliant student, Basil was described as “a ship fully laden with learning, to the extent permitted by human nature.” In addition to his intellect (which he used to preach and defend the faith against heretics), Basil had great love for the poor and great piety. He arranged the prayers for the Divine Liturgy which we still use in the Church.
Threatened with exile, Basil said: “In all else we [bishops] are meek, the most humble of all. But when it concerns God, and people rise up against Him, then we, counting everything else as naught, look to Him alone. Then fire, sword, wild beasts and iron rods that rend the body, serve to fill us with joy, rather than fear.” On January 1, 379, St Basil reposed in the Lord and was immediately celebrated in the Church. He is also commemorated together with his good friend St Gregory the Theologian and St John Chrysostom (the Three Holy Hierarchs) on January 30, which we celebrate as our Parish Feast Day.
“Your proclamation has gone out into all the earth, which was divinely taught by hearing your voice. You expounded the nature of creatures and ennobled the manners of men. Venerable father of royal priesthood, entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.”