Память святого мученика Василия Анкирского

The holy martyr Basil belonged to the noble citizens of Ankyra 78. During the reign of Emperor Julian the Apostate 79 for professing and preaching the Christian faith, he was captured and brought to hegemon Saturninus. When asked by the hegemon whether he believed in Christ, Vasily exclaimed in a loud voice: - There is no other God but Him. So the saint, without the slightest fear, testified to his faith in Christ, for which he was subjected to cruel torture: he was hanged on a tree, and his body was mercilessly planed with iron tools. Then the bold confessor of Christ was sent to Constantinople and there again he was subjected to the same ordeal. After that, the tormentors began to pull out the body of the passion-bearer with such force that his bones came out of their joints; at the same time, the skin of the warrior of Christ was cut off in the form of belts and his body was pricked with red-hot iron knitting needles. Saint Basil courageously endured all this torment, being strengthened by Divine power. Finally, the tormentors threw him into a red-hot furnace. Preserved by the power of God unharmed from the fire, Basil in chains was taken from Constantinople to Caesarea 80 and here condemned to be torn to pieces by wild beasts. With fervent prayer Saint Basil awaited the crown of martyrdom and acquired it after he was torn to pieces by a lioness 81 . Some of the relatives and friends of the holy passion-bearer carefully collected his sacred remains, anointed them with incense and, wrapping them in shrouds, gave them an honest burial. Subsequently, a church was built at the tomb of the holy martyr Basil. Ankyra, the main city of the Asia Minor province - Galatia (now Angora). Julian reigned from 361 to 363. Here, of course, is Caesarea Cappadocia. The Holy Martyr Basil died around the year 362. You might be interested in: