Bishop
Saint Basil I, the Wonderworker of Ryazan, was the bishop of Murom-Ryazan. From a young age, he aspired to spiritual perfection, taking monastic vows in Murom. By the blessing of Prince George Yaroslavich, he was appointed as bishop. The saint worked tirelessly to strengthen his flock, gathering the scattered and comforting the afflicted.
Enemies of the saint, the devil, stirred up suspicions about his purity, and the people, upon seeing a wayward maiden, cried out against him. The saint, praying, asked for time, and having performed a miracle on the Oka River, he was joyfully received in Ryazan. However, soon Ryazan fell victim to the Tatar invasion, and the saint established a new episcopate in present-day Ryazan.
Saint Basil reposed on July 3, 1295, and was buried in the Boris and Gleb Cathedral. His relics were uncovered in 1609, and since then he has been venerated as an intercessor and helper in sorrows. The memory of the saint is celebrated on June 10 and July 3. In the Ryazan diocese, his icons and images are found in every church, and every Wednesday an Akathist is sung in his honor.
