Basil the Great

   Saint, and one of the three Cappadocian fathers (along with Gregory of Nazianzos and Gregory of Nyssa [qq.v.], Basil's brother), all great church fathers of the fourth century. They were opponents of Arianism (q.v.), including its chief proponent Eunomios (q.v.), at a time when the eastern emperor Valens (364-378) was promoting the heresy (q.v.). In 370 Basil became bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia (qq.v.), from where he worked to deal Arianism a final blow at the Council of Constantinople (q.v.) in 381. In the process he helped to develop the concept of the Trinity and created the Basilian rule, a balanced regimen of work and worship for monks that had a tremendous impact on the development of monasticism (q.v.). His writings on theological topics reflect the erudition of his education (he was a pupil of Libanios [q.v.]). His many letters are a rich source for the cultural history of the period.