Venerable (Monastic)8th century

Venerable Basil the Confessor

8th century – c. 750

Also known as Basil, companion of Procopius of Decapolis

A monk and companion of Saint Prokopios of Decapolis who suffered for the veneration of the holy icons under the iconoclast emperor Leo the Isaurian, enduring torment for the faith and reposing in peace about the year 750.

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Commemorated as

Our Venerable Father Basil the Confessor, Companion of Saint Prokopios of Decapolis

Life

Basil the Confessor was an eighth-century monk who suffered for the veneration of the holy icons during the first period of Byzantine iconoclasm. He is remembered chiefly as the companion and co-struggler of Saint Prokopios the Confessor of Decapolis, with whom he was imprisoned under the iconoclast emperor Leo the Isaurian.

Released after the emperor's death, Basil returned to the monastic life and spent his remaining years instructing others in the Orthodox faith. He reposed peacefully about the year 750 and is commemorated on February 28.

Kontakion & Troparion2 hymnsReadHide

KontakionTone 2

(Podoben: “Seeking the highest...”) You received a revelation of God from on high, O wise one,
and withdrew from the midst of the world’s tumult.
You lived the monastic life with honor,
receiving the power to work miracles and heal diseases by grace,
most blessed and holy Basil.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 1

Dweller of the desert and angel in the body,
you were shown to be a wonder-worker, our God-bearing Father Basil.
You received heavenly gifts through fasting, vigil, and prayer:
Healing the sick and the souls of those drawn to you by faith.
Glory to Him who gave you strength!
Glory to Him who granted you a crown!
Glory to Him who through you grants healing to all!

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline3 momentsReadHide

717–741Persecution under Leo the IsaurianDuring the reign of the iconoclast emperor Leo the Isaurian, a persecution arose against those who venerated the holy icons. Basil and his companion Prokopios of Decapolis were subjected to much torture and locked up in prison, where they languished for a long while.
c. 741Release after the emperor's deathUpon the death of the emperor, Basil and Prokopios were set free. They returned to their monastic struggles and instructed many in the Orthodox faith and the virtuous life.
c. 750ReposeSaint Basil died peacefully in about the year 750.

Contributions & Legacy

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Confession under Iconoclasm

Basil lived during the eighth century, when the emperor Leo the Isaurian (reigned 717–741) condemned the veneration of the holy icons, treating them as idols. Those who continued to honor the icons were persecuted.

Basil shared this confession with Saint Prokopios of Decapolis, a monk of the region east of the Sea of Galilee. According to his life, the two were subjected to much torture and imprisoned together, enduring confinement for a long time rather than abandoning the veneration of the icons. Because he suffered for the faith without dying a martyr's death, the Church remembers Basil as a confessor.

Later Life and Repose

After the death of the emperor, Basil and Prokopios were released from prison and returned to the monastic life. In his remaining years Basil instructed many in the Orthodox faith and in the virtuous life.

He reposed in peace about the year 750. His companion Prokopios, commemorated the previous day, likewise reposed at an advanced age around the same year.

Companions1 figureShowHide

Co-struggler in the monastic life and fellow confessor, imprisoned with Basil under Leo the Isaurian; commemorated February 27.

Venerable Prokopiosthe Confessor of Decapolis

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints