Saint Basil of Ancyra
Saint Basil of Ancyra (died March 22, 362 AD in Ancyra, Galatia [present-day Ankara, Turkey]) was a priest of Ancyra and a martyr executed under the Emperor Julian the Apostate (reigned 361–363 AD)—the last pagan emperor of Rome, who attempted to reverse the Christianization of the Empire. Basil was a man of great ascetic discipline and deep faith who publicly professed Christianity and criticized pagan worship when Julian passed through Ancyra. He was arrested, tortured with burning iron hooks dragged across his flesh, and finally executed. His feast day is March 22.
Basil of Ancyra belongs to the small but significant group of martyrs who died under Julian the Apostate—a persecution less systematic than the great persecutions of Diocletian but deadly for those who openly confronted the emperor's program of pagan restoration.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Basil Of Ancyra
| Saint Basil of Ancyra | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | March 22 |
| Profession | Priest |
| Rel. Affiliation | Early Church of Ancyra (Galatia) |
| Attributes | Priest's vestments; palm branch (martyr); iron hooks (instrument of his torture) |
| Birthplace | Ancyra, Galatia (present-day Ankara, Turkey) |
| Death Place | Ancyra, Galatia (present-day Ankara, Turkey) |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; torture and execution under Julian the Apostate |
| Liturgical Class | Not included (universal calendar) |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Basil served as a priest in Ancyra—the capital of the Roman province of Galatia in Asia Minor. When the Emperor Julian passed through Ancyra in 362 AD on his way to the Persian campaign, he promoted pagan sacrifices and publicly favored the restoration of paganism throughout the Empire.
Basil of Ancyra publicly opposed the pagan restoration and confessed his Christian faith before the authorities. He was arrested, subjected to torture involving burning iron hooks drawn across his skin, and was ultimately executed on March 22, 362 AD.
He is distinct from Saint Basil the Great (Basil of Caesarea), who was also from the region of Cappadocia/Galatia and was alive at the same time.
Significant events
- Served as a priest in Ancyra, Galatia.
- Publicly opposed Julian the Apostate's pagan restoration when the emperor passed through Ancyra in 362 AD.
- Arrested; tortured with burning iron hooks.
- Martyred March 22, 362 AD in Ancyra.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Ancyra, Galatia (present-day Ankara, Turkey)
Death location: Ancyra, Galatia (present-day Ankara, Turkey)
Notable location: City of his priestly ministry and martyrdom (Ancyra (present-day Ankara), Turkey)
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Dynamic content
Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Saint Basil of Ancyra have been added to the database yet.
Media
No media found for this saint.
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
No results
No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Feast day
March 22
Veneration
Saint Basil of Ancyra is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church with a feast day on March 22. He is also honored in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.