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- Hieromartyr Basil of Ancyra (362)
- St Basil labored for the Church during the reign of Julian the
Apostate, who briefly attempted to return the Roman empire to paganism
after the reign of St Constantine. The Saint had already suffered for
the Faith as bishop of Anycra (now Ankara,the capital of Turkey), and
when Julian came to power, fresh persecutions began. Basil openly
denounced the Emperor's anti-Christian policies, for which he was
tortured and thrown in prison.
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When the Emperor came to Ancyra, Basil was brought before him, and
Julian urged the bishop to renounce the Faith, promising him wealth and
position if he would do so. Basil replied, 'I believe in my Christ,
whom you have denied and who gave you this earthly kingdom, by He will
shortly take this from you. How can you have no shame before the altar
under which you were saved from death as an eight-year-old child when
they sought to kill you? Therefore He will soon ake this earthly
kingdom from you, and your body shall not be buried when you have spewed
forth your soul in bitter torments.' The enraged Emperor ordered that
seven strips be torn rom Basil's body every day, a torture which was
carried out for seven days. When the Saint was once again brought
before the Emperor, he tore off a strip of his own flesh and threw it to
Julian, saying 'Take this and eat it, Julian, if such food is sweet to
you, but Christ is life for me.' At this the Emperor ordered that
red-hot iron spits be driven through Basil; and thus the holy bishop at
last received the crown of martyrdom.
source: http://www.abbamoses.com
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