The political and religious context during the episcopacy of Saint Basil the Great
The political and religious context during the episcopacy of Saint Basil the Great

Summary/Abstract: It is possible to distinguish two major achievements during the entire pastoral and diplomatic activity of Saint Basil the Great, as the Archbishop of Caesarea (370-379): (1) the restoration of unity, peace and order in the Church of Caesarea and (2) the initiative to restore unity, communion and close connections between all Christian communities. His first project regarded not only the calming and healing of the internal separation that occurred in his province after his election as bishop, but also the restoration of discipline within his clergy, promotion of asceticism in the provinces of Cappadocia and Pontus, and also the quality of Christian life among all the members of his Church. The transition from the first phase, in which he was concerned with the internal renewal, to the next phase in which St. Basil was about to enter, was presented by tradition in a way that emphasizes St. Basil’s qualities not only as a local hierarch, but also as an ecumenical visionary.

• Details
• Contents