Saint Basil the Great was born around 330 in the city of Caesarea in Cappadocia (Asia Minor) into the pious Christian family of Basil and Emilia. The saint's father was a lawyer and a teacher of rhetoric.
Vasily received his initial education under the guidance of his parents and grandmother Makrina, a highly educated Christian woman. After the death of his father and grandmother, Vasily went for further education to Constantinople, and then to Athens, where he perfectly studied the various sciences — rhetoric and philosophy, astronomy and mathematics, physics and medicine.
In about 357 Basil returned to Caesarea, where he taught rhetoric for some time. In Antioch, in 362 he was ordained deacon by Bishop Meletius, and in 364 he was ordained presbyter by Bishop Eusebius of Caesarea.
While performing his ministry, Saint Basil zealously preached and tirelessly cared for the needs of his flock, thanks to which he gained high respect and great love.
Soon (370) St. Basil was elected by the Council of Bishops to the See of Caesarea. In difficult times for the Church, he proved himself to be an ardent defender of the Orthodox faith, protecting it from heresies with his words and messages. Of particular note are three of his books against the Arian false teacher Eunomius, in which Saint Basil the Great taught about the Deity of the Holy Spirit and the unity of His nature with the Father and the Son.
During his short life, St. Basil left many theological works to his descendants: nine conversations on the Six Days, 16 conversations on various psalms, five books in defense of the Orthodox teaching about the Holy Trinity; 24 conversations on various theological topics; seven ascetic treatises; monastic rules; ascetic statutes; two books about Baptism; a book about the Holy Spirit; several sermons and 366 letters to different persons.
St. Basil the Great, along with St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, has enjoyed special veneration among the Russian believing people since ancient times. A particle of the relics of St. Basil still remains in the Pochaev Lavra. The honest head of St. Basil is reverently kept in the Lavra of St. Athanasius on Mount Athos, and his right hand is — in the altar of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Jerusalem.