Saint Basil The Great Silk Screen Icon – Engraved Silver & Wood

Description

Protector of the poor and weak, Saint Basil, a Father and Teacher of the Christian Church grew up in Caesarea of Cappadocia to noble and wealthy parents with Christian beliefs. He studied philosophy, rhetoric, grammar, astronomy and medicine and taught the art of rhetoric. He lived an ascetic life as a hermit in Egypt, Palestine, Syria and Mesopotamia. He retired at the Monastery of Pontos as a monk; he was ordained as a deacon and a presbyter and by succession he came to the throne of archpriesthood right after Eusebius, at the diocese of Caesarea. He fought against moral decay and reformed monasticism, he built the famous “Vasiliada”, a complex of charitable institutions, including an almshouse, orphanage, nursing home, providing food and care to thousands of patients of any age, gender and race. He passed away at the age of 50, on January 1, 378 AD, leaving behind the legacy of his spiritual work. Feast Day Jan 2nd Roman Catholic Church and Jan 1st Eastern Orthodox Church.