Holy Hieromartyr Basil of Ancyra (+362)

The holy Hieromartyr Basil of Ancyra was a presbyter and laboured in the Galatian city of Ancyra. When the heresy of Arius was spreading, a local Arian council stripped Saint Basil of his rank for firmly defending Orthodoxy, but at a council in Palestine, attended by 230 bishops, his priestly rank was restored to him.

When the Emperor Julian the Apostate (+361–363) came to the city of Ancyra, Saint Basil fearlessly confessed Christ before the tribunal and denounced the emperor for his apostasy. By Julian’s order the skin was flayed from Saint Basil’s back. The saint endured the terrible pain without complaint. Then they began to torture the holy father with red-hot irons; Saint Basil fell to the ground and cried aloud: “O Christ, my light! O Jesus, my hope! O quiet haven of the persecuted! Receive in peace the soul of Thy confessor, now led captive out of hell. Merciful and glorious is Thy will!” As soon as he had finished the prayer the saint, maimed by the red-hot irons, gave up his soul to the Lord. Saint Basil died on 29 June 362. Because of the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, his commemoration was set on 22 March.