St. Basil the Great was born in Caesarea in Cappadocia into a noble Christian family. He received a solid Christian education studying at home, Constantinople, and Athens. In Athens he became friends with St. Gregory of Nazianzus, with whom he later settled as a hermit in Palestine. In 370 Basil became Bishop of Caesarea. Basil was the author of the Rule of Eastern Monasteries, he left important doctrinal and theological writings; his treatise on the Holy Spirit is among his most famous. A stubborn proponent of orthodoxy, Basil was never afraid of entering into conflict with political power, and even with papal authority whenever it was at odds with his own theological position.
Information
provided by: http://www.abcgallery.com