The Martyrdom of St. Basil (Basilaos) the Bishop

On this day St. Basil (Basilaos) the bishop was martyred. In the year 298 A .D ., Abba Armon,Patriarch of Jerusalem, ordained this holy man among others to be bishops without stated Sees .He sent them to preach the Kingdom of Heaven in pagan cities . This Saint preached in many citieswhere they beat him and drove him out .When he entered the city of Sharsunah, in Syria, he preached the Gospel, some of its peoplebelieved but the others became angry and drove him out. He went outside the city and dwelt in acave where he gave himself to perpetual prayers and supplications to God that the people of thecity might believe in Christ .The son of the Governor of that city died, he was his only child, and he grieved on himexceedingly. On the day that the Governor buried his son, he saw him in a vision at night, standingbefore him saying: "Call St. Basilaos and ask him to pray to the Lord Christ on my behalf becauseI am in great darkness." The Governor woke up from his dream and took the nobles of the city,went to the cave of St. Basilaos and asked him to enter the city to pray for his son. The Saint254agreed to their request and went with them to where the Governor's son was buried. He prayed toGod with fervent supplication and the son rose up alive with the power of God .The Governor, his household, and many of the people of the city believed, and were baptized hands of this Saint. There was in the city a congregation of Jews who were envious of theSaint. They joined with the men of the city who did not believe, and rose up against the Saint andbeat him and dragged him until he yielded up his soul in peace .May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.