Mystical Spring

Born into wealth, this great saint of the East was born into an area today known as Turkey. in 330 CE. This means he was born less than 20 years after the Council of Nicea where the Nicene Creed was broought into being. Just imagine what an exciting time that must have been! It was a time when people such as Basil were schooled in the art of rhetoric. What exactly is that and why would anyone be convinced that they should waste their lives going to school for such a thing?

In the ancient world it was considered highly desirable that a young man would enter the world understanding how to make himself clear in what he said, how he argued the positions he held, and that written communication was effective–at times, persuasive. It was important to have an educated person in a household who could go before judges and other authorities and be able to argue effectively on behalf of the family. Studying rhetorical skills could be an effective weapon in a family arsenal who may otherwise have lacked funds or public standing. For Basil, this skill would be used to advance a career among higher authorities as well as among the public.

After concluding his education, he eventually removed himself from public life by entering the monastic world. You can read more about why he gave it all up, if you google New Advent Catholic Encyclepedia online.