01/01/2025
St. Basil is the patron saint of hospital administrators. He exhibited a serious and studious character, possessing a brilliant mind. He traveled through Syria, Palestine, Mesopotamia, and Egypt to visit the flourishing colonies of monks and hermits there, and on his return, he led the hermitical life for five years. But numerous followers kept attaching themselves to him so that he finally founded a monastic colony on his family property in Pontus and composed for them the famous Rule of St. Basil (manual labor, study, and prayer), which gained rapid acceptance everywhere and made him the "Father of Eastern Monasticism."
He was ordained priest in 364 AD by Archbishop Eusebius of Caesarea. Six years later, he was elected to succeed Eusebius. St. Basil's concern for the destitute led him to establish poor houses in various districts of the diocese. He erected the famous "Basilios", a magnificent and extensive complex of buildings in which the sick, poor, aged, lepers, and homeless were cared for and given medical attention by resident physicians. There were also shops where unskilled workers could receive technical training. Basil himself practiced the Christian precept of poverty and continued to live in ascetic austerity. His entire material inheritance was spent to support the starving population during a famine.
The Greeks venerate him as one of the three great ecumenical doctors. Outstanding among his doctrinal writings is his famous work on the Holy Spirit, which still remains unsurpassed. Christians, pagans, and Jews alike esteemed him and mourned his death at the age of 50, on January 1st, 379 AD.
After his baptism at 30, Gregory joined his friend Basil in a monastery. His solitude ended when his father, a bishop, needed help in his diocese. Gregory was reluctantly ordained a priest and resolved a schism caused by his father's compromises with A***nism. At 41, he became suffragan bishop of Caesarea, clashing with Emperor Valens, an A***n supporter.
This strained Gregory’s friendship with Basil, who sent him to a poor, unhealthy town. Later, after Valens’ death ended A***n dominance, Gregory was called to restore the faith in Constantinople. Amid corruption and violence, he preached renowned sermons on the Trinity and endured suffering, slander, and even personal attacks. Despite challenges, he revived the city's faith.
In his final years, Gregory lived in solitude, writing profound religious poetry. Known as “the Theologian,” he shares his feast day with St. Basil the Great on January 2.
Sts Basil & Gregory, pray that we receive the gift of piety to serve our Lord with increased fervor and observe His divine precepts with greater fidelity.
