Basil Fool for Christ


Basil the Blessed is a Russian Orthodox saint of the type known as yurodivy or "holy fool for Christ".

Life

He was born to serfs in December 1468 at the portico of the Epiphany Cathedral at Yelokhovo near Moscow. His father was named Jacob and his mother Anna. According to tradition, he was born on the portico of the local church. He is thought to have died in 1552.
Originally an apprentice shoemaker, he went to Moscow when he was sixteen. There he helped those who were ashamed to ask for alms, but were in need of help. He adopted an eccentric lifestyle of shoplifting and giving to the poor to shame the miserly and help those in need. He went naked and weighed himself down with chains. He rebuked Ivan the Terrible for not paying attention in church. Basil was said to have the gift of prophesy.
When he died on August 2, 1552 or 1557, St. Macarius, Metropolitan of Moscow, served his funeral with many clergy. He is buried in St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, which was commissioned by Ivan for commemoration of his conquest of Kazan' and was dubbed after the saint later. Basil was formally canonised in 1588. His feast day is celebrated on August 2.