Category Archives: Basil of Caesarea

St Basil the Great: Homily on the Beginning of the Gospel of John

Posted on 6 January 2023 by Fr Aidan Kimel

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. This one was in the beginning with God. (Jn 1:1-2) John 1:1-2 was a favorite text of St Basil the Great. He addresses … Continue reading →

Posted in Basil of Caesarea | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

“What words can adequately describe God’s gifts?”

Posted on 24 November 2022 by Fr Aidan Kimel

What words can adequately describe God’s gifts? They are so numerous that they defy enumeration. They are so great that any one of them demands our total gratitude in response. Yet even though we cannot speak of it worthily, there … Continue reading →

Posted in Basil of Caesarea | 6 Comments

“When the sun goes down and when it rises, when you are asleep or awake, give thanks to God”

Posted on 24 November 2021 by Fr Aidan Kimel
Posted in Basil of Caesarea | 1 Comment

“Stars cross the sky, wise men journey from pagan lands, earth receives its savior in a cave”

Posted on 4 January 2020 by Fr Aidan Kimel

“The star came to rest above the place where the child was. At the sight of it the wise men were filled with great joy” and that great joy should fill our hearts as well. It is the same as … Continue reading →

Posted in Basil of Caesarea | Comments Off on “Stars cross the sky, wise men journey from pagan lands, earth receives its savior in a cave”

St Basil the Great and the Divinity of the Holy Spirit

Posted on 17 July 2018 by Fr Aidan Kimel

“I neither chose to name the Holy Spirit God nor dare to call him a creature,” declared Eustathius of Sebaste in response to the Neo-Arian denial of the divinity of the Holy Spirit. At first glance, Eustathius’s ambivalence seems reasonable. … Continue reading →

Posted in Basil of Caesarea | 3 Comments

St Basil of Caesarea: A Short Course in the Trinity

Posted on 3 July 2018 by Fr Aidan Kimel

Scholars are unable to date St Basil of Caesarea’s homily On Faith (De fide) with much accuracy. It appears to have been composed sometime between 365 and 375, with 372-375 being the most likely years, given the attention given to … Continue reading →

Posted in Basil of Caesarea | Comments Off on St Basil of Caesarea: A Short Course in the Trinity

St Basil and the Stupid Arithmetic of the Trinity

Posted on 13 June 2018 by Fr Aidan Kimel

“When the Lord taught us the doctrine of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, he did not make arithmetic a part of this gift!” (On the Holy Spirit 18.44)—thus St Basil the Great introduces a lengthy discussion of the numbering of … Continue reading →

Posted in Basil of Caesarea | 4 Comments

St Basil of Caesarea, Pneumatomachoi, and the Divinity of the Holy Spirit

Posted on 6 June 2018 by Fr Aidan Kimel

“I neither chose to name the Holy Spirit God nor dare to call him a creature,” declared Eustathius of Sebaste in response to the Neo-Arian denial of the divinity of the Holy Spirit. At first glance, Eustathius’s ambivalence seems reasonable. … Continue reading →

Posted in Basil of Caesarea | Tagged , , | 1 Comment