SAINT BASIL’S WISDOM AND WONDERS

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

SAINT BASIL’S WISDOM AND WONDERS

A Righteous Couple

The Saint wished at one time to go to a certain city of his Diocese which was ministered by the Priest Anastasios, a righteous and virtuous man. The Priest was conspicuous for his self-control and fasting, which he kept exactly. He also had a wife whose name was Theognosia. In the eyes of the people she was his wife, but in reality he in no wise knew her carnally, living with her as a sister. The people of that city erroneously believed the couple’s childlessness was due to her barrenness. Apart from this, the Priest possessed another virtue: he kept a man who has a form of leprosy. No one was privy to the fact that the Priest and his wife cared for the infirm man on their own property. Now when Saint Basil was moved to take this journey by road, Father Anastasios, filled with the Holy Spirit, remarked to his wife, ‘My sister, I intend to go to our field, since there is need. But today our master is coming. Now at that hour that I tell thee, thou shalt go forth and meet him with incense and lights." Hence, at the appointed time revealed by Father Anastasios, Theognosia made ready and went forth from the house. Indeed, as foreseen, the Saint arrived. The Archbishop exclaimed, "How is it with thee, Lady Theognosia?" Composing herself after being amazed that the hierarch knew to call her by name, she answered, "I am well, holy master." The Saint took up the conversation, and inquired, "Lord Anastasios, the Priest and thy brother, where is he?" She replied, "He is my husband, Despota; and he has gone to the field to labor." The Saint responded, "He has come. He is inside the house. Therefore, do not send men to fetch him."

Taking note of the hierarch’s prophetic gifts, Theognosia fell at his feet and with tears petitioned, "Pray on behalf of me, the sinner, holy master, because I see in thee great and marvellous things!" And the hierarch then blessed her. As Saint Basil and Theognosia proceeded toward the house, the Priest Anastasios had anticipated their arrival, and went out of the door, so ast to meet them. Saint Basil entered the Priest’s home and sat down. Not much time had passed when the hierarch asked, "Lord Anastasios, speak to us of thy virtue, to the benefit of the Christians who stand here." But Father Anastasios declared, "I am a sinful man, holy master. What kind of virtue dost thou seek from me?" The Saint kept his eyes upon him, and the Priest continued, "But this I say to thy prelacy. I have two plows. I, indeed, work with one, and the other my bondman Now from the yield, we retain however much is sufficient for us to manage for the year; and the rest we give to the poor. I also have my house, and thy handmaid, who serves with me." The Saint said at this point, "Say not thy wife, but call her thy sister, just as she actually is." He then resumed, saying, "Now disclose to me thine other virtues also." The Priest Anastasios then returned to his first position. "I do not even have one virtue, my master, and am desolate of every good work," he said. The Saint then bade him, "Rise and come with me."

Thereupon the Priest listened and followed, while the Saint let him to a cell–the very chamber where Anastasios had cloistered the diseased man! Saint Basil then directed, "Open this door." The Priest pleaded, "Do not enter, O Saint of God, for the place is polluted." The Saint assured him, "I also need this place." Since it was evident that the Priest did not wish to open the door, lest his virtue should be made manifest, Saint Basil opened the door by his prayer alone. The Saint entered therein; and turning to Anastasios, questioned him, "Why has thou hidden this treasure from me?" The Presbyter answered, "My master, I feared that if I had presented thee to him, perhaps the leper might hae uttered an evil word against thee." The Saint commented, "Well, father, thou didst struggle on account of his ill-temper for so many years, thus leave me also to serve him thus during this night." Therefore, the hierarch remained inside the sick room for that entire night, all the while offering fervent prayer to God. And–O the Wonder!–in the morning, that man came forth from the chamber completely cured, without having even the slightest sign of the dreaded leprosy. [Resources: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church]

(To be continued)

MAY YOU ALL HAVE A BLESSED, PEACEFUL SPIRITUALLY EDIFYING, AND PROFITABLE, AND A HEALTHY NEW YEAR!
________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George