Basil the Great
c. 330 – 379 · Caesarea in Cappadocia (Turkey)
Bishop, Father and Doctor of the Church
Awaiting theological review
In one sentence
Bishop of Caesarea, theologian of the Holy Spirit and father of Eastern monasticism.
Why this person matters
He helped the Church find words for the Trinity — one God in three Persons — and joined theology to care for the poor.
With his friend Gregory of Nazianzus and his brother Gregory of Nyssa he is one of the three Cappadocian Fathers.
As bishop he built a complex of hospital, hostel and poorhouse outside Caesarea.
His monastic rules still shape Eastern monasticism.
Key ideas
- The Holy Spirit is worshipped and glorified with the Father and the Son
- Wealth is held in trust for the poor
Why they still matter
His thought prepared the Council of Constantinople (381).
Before
- Athanasius of Alexandriac. 296 – 373
Contemporary
- Ambrose of Milanc. 339 – 397
- Gregory of Nazianzusc. 329 – 390
- Jeromec. 347 – 420
After
- John Chrysostomc. 347 – 407
- On the Holy Spirit
- Longer and Shorter Rules
- Homilies on the Hexaemeron
- Historical context
Statements are labelled by source. Early Christian sources are named where known; dates before the 4th century are often approximate.