Basilians
Cesares, which was used a8 poorhouse, hospital, and hospice.
Of Basil’s writings, mention may be made (1) of the dogmatic-polemical, including the books against Eunomius of Cyzicus (q.v.) entitled “ Refutation of the Apology of the Impious Eunomius,” written in 363 or 364; book j controverts Arianiem, books ii and ifi defend the Homoousianism of the Son and the Spirit. The fourth and fifth books do not belong to Basil, or to Apollinaris of Writings. Laodicea (q.v.), but probably to Didymus of Alexandria (q.v.). The work “ On the Holy Spirit” (ed. C. F. H. Johnston, Oxford, 1892; tranal. by G. Lewis, Christian Classica Series, iv, London, 1888) also treats the questions of Homoousianism, Basil influenced the fixing of the terminology of the church-doctrine of the Trinity, though as concerns dogmatic acuteness and speculative power he is far behind Athanasius and his brother Gregory (of Nyssa). (2) The ascetic works (ascetica) are religio-ethical writings which acquaint us with the man who in a high degree labored for the naturalization of monasticism in the Church, and who at the same time exerted him- self to regulate it in the cenobitic form and to make it fruitful also for the religious life of the cities (cf. A. Kranich, Die Ascetik in threr dogmatischen Grundlage bei Bastituse dem Grossen, Paderborn, 1896). Of the monastic rules traced to Basil, the shorter is the one most probably his work (see Basiz1ans). (3) Among the numerous homilies and orationa, highly appreciated by the early Church, some like that against usury and that on the famine in 368, are valuable for the history of morala; othera illustrate the worship of martyrs and relics; the address to young men on the study of classical literature shows that Basil was lastingly influenced by his own education, which taught him to appreciate the propedeutic importance of the classics. His homilies on the Hexaemeron were especially valued. (4) The very numerous epistles are an important source of contemporaneous church history. His three “ Canonical Epistles ” give a clear idea of bis efforts in behalf of church- discipline. (5) The liturgies bearing the name of Basil (ed. with transl. by J. N. W. B. Robertson, London, 1894), in their present form, are not hia work, but they nevertheless -preserve the true recollection of Basil’s activity in this field in for- mularizing liturgical prayers and promoting church- song. (6) A fruit of Basil’s studies with his friend Gregory in their monkish loneliness is, finally, the Phuokalia, an anthology (flortlegium)} from the works of Origen (ed. J. A. Robinson, Cambridge, 1893). The best edition of Basil’s works is that of J. Garnier and Prudence Maran (3 vols., Paris, 1721-30), reprinted in MPG, xxix-xxxii. The
- Holy Spirit,” homilies of the Hexaemeron, and
letters are translated in NPNF, viii. G. Krtcer.
Brevioomarar: The souross, besidea Basil's own works, an the eulogies of Gregory Nasiansen, Gregory of Nyws, and Ephraem Syrus, also notices in Socrates, Soarmen, Theo- doret, Philostorgius, and Rufinus, and in Jerome, De wir, i, and Photius, Bibisotiea, Of ithe volumi- Hous literature mention may be made of E. Fiala, Btude historique et iittéraire sur St Basile, Paria, 18%. F. Bébringer, Die Kirche Christi wad thre Zeugen, vol. vii, Stuttgart, 1875; F. Loofa, Eustathiue von Sebaste und die Chronalogie der bamitanischen Briefe, Halle, 187. Consult also the works on patrology and history of do trine. For the Hteratute sonsult &. F. W. Hoffmann, Bibliograpkisches Lezicon der gesammien Litterahe do Griechen, £ 407-421, Leipaic, 1838; U. Chevalier, Réper-
Cousult also P. Schaff, History of the Christion Church, ti, 893-903, New York, 1884; J. H. Newman's three exeys on the Trials of Basil, Labours of- Basil, and Basil end Gregory in vol. iii of his Historionl Shetchea, London, 1871: and the long article in DCB, i, 282-297,
BASIL OF SELEUCIA: Bishop of Seletcis in
Isauria. He was against Eutyches at the Synod of
Constantinople in 448, but for him at Ephesus in
449, and escaped deposition at Chaleedon in 451
only by again changing his vote. In 458, with the
other Teaurian bishops, he gave an answer to the
emperor Leo i favorable to Chalcedon and against
Timotheus Alurus (cf. the document in Mans,
vii, 659-563; eee Trxoraeve AELurvs}. His extant
works are forty-one sermons in pompous style and
dependent on Chrysostom (cf. Photius, cod. ebxviii)
and & writing on the life of St. Thecla (ef. R. A. Lip
sius, Die a Apostelgeschichien, ii, part. 1,
Brunswick, 1887, p. 426). They are in MP6, bx.
G. Katazr. Bistrockapay: Fubriciue-Harles, Bibliother: Greea, ix, $0- 97, Hamburg, 1804; Hefele, Concilicngeschichtc, ii, par tim, Eng. transl., vol. iii,
BASILIANS: Monks or nuns following the mile
of St. Basil, who introduced the cenobitic life into
Asis Minor, and is said to have founded the ft
monastery there. The rules which he gave this
community connected active industry and devo-
tional exercises in regular succession, day and night,
—tne meal 2 day, consisting of bread and water;
very little sleep during the hours before midnight;
prayers and singing, morning, noon, and: evening;
work in the fields during forenoon and afternoon:
etc. These rulea were further developed and com
pleted by Basil’s asoetic writings. After the sepam-
tion between the Eastern and Western churches, Ba-
sil’s rule became almost the exclusive regulation of
monastic life in the Eastern Church: so that s
- Basilian * simply means a monk of the Greek
Church. In the Western Church the rule of Basil was afterward completely superseded by that of Benedict of Nursia. Nevertheless, Basilian monas- teriea, acknowledging the supremacy of the Pope, are atill lingering in Sicily and in the Stavonian countries. Sea Basiz, SAINT, Tax Great; Sfonas- TICS.
{{c|END OF VOL. 1.
