Presbyter
Hieromartyr Basil, presbyter of the church in Ancyra, strove to teach people the truth of Christianity and to turn them away from the path of evil. He preached that the devil has servants who enter the human souls. He pointed to salvation through the grace of Jesus Christ. He also reproved those who lived in irreverence, warning people of the dangers of idolatry.
During the Arian council in Constantinople, he was forbidden to participate in the holy services as a priest. However, he was later reinstated to his duties. Saint Basil suffered persecutions for his faith and was slandered before the Emperor Constantius. When Julian the Apostate came to the throne, he issued laws requiring sacrifices to idols. Saint Basil, seeing the impiety and the sins of people, prayed to God for salvation.
The idol-worshippers became enraged with him and brought him to the governor Saturninus, accusing him of disturbing the people in their religious duties. Saint Basil confessed his faith with courage, declaring that he was a Christian and a servant only to the face of the Lord. The governor ordered him to be tortured. The saint endured all torments, with patience and prayer to God.
When the Emperor Julian heard about him, he called the saint to be brough before him. Standing before the emperor, Saint Basil fearlessly denounced his errors and warned him of his tragic downfall. Julian, got enraged and ordered that the saint would be tortured even more. However, the latter continued to endure all sufferings, trusting his whole existence to Christ.
After many tortures, Saint Basil, surrendered his soul to God’s hands on January 28. His martyrdom strengthened all Christians who knew him to stand unwavering in their faith. Soon after his death, on March 22, the faithful decided to establish his commemoration.
