Basil of Chersonesus

Saint Basil, hieromartyr, was bishop of Chersonesus, one of the seven hieromartyrs of Chersonesus, dead in 309. He is commemorated on 7 March.

At the beginning of the fourth century an episcopal see was established at Chersonesus. In the time of the emperor Diocletian (284 to 305), in the year 300, Patriarch Hermon of Jerusalem sent many bishops to various lands to preach the Gospel. Two of them, Ephraim and Basil, came to Chersonesus and planted the word of God there. Then Saint Ephraim went to the peoples living on the Danube, where in proclaiming Christ he endured many hardships and, at the start of the persecution, was beheaded. The preaching at Chersonesus was continued by his companion Basil.

Basil was seized by the townspeople, beaten and driven out of the city. Withdrawn into the mountains, living in a cave, he prayed for those who had driven him out. Then he returned to the city and raised the only son of one of the princes of Chersonesus. After that he was brought back into the city with honor.

On 7 March 309, by order of the emperor Maximian Galerius, the persecutors of Christians burst into Basil's house at night, bound him, dragged him through the streets and beat him to death with stones and sticks. The body of the holy hierarch was thrown outside the city to be eaten by dogs and birds, and lay many days unburied, but remained untouched. Then the Christians buried him secretly in a cave.