Basil the Blessed (1469 - 1552), also known as Vasily Nagoy, was a legendary Moscow holy fool, canonized. He went down in history as a miracle worker who exposed lies and hypocrisy and had the gift of foresight.
Foolishness is a Christian feat consisting of a deliberate attempt to appear stupid and insane. The purpose of such behavior (foolishness for Christ's sake) is to expose external worldly values, hide one's own virtues and incur anger and insults, that is, conscious self-sacrifice. As a rule, holy fools renounced the blessings familiar to man, did not have a home and ate alms, many wore chains - iron chains, rings and stripes, sometimes hats and soles, worn on the naked body to humble the flesh.
Blessed Basil, Fool for Christ's sake, Moscow Wonderworker
Memory 2/15 August
Basil the Blessed, the most famous of the holy fools with whom Rus' abounded, was born in 1468 in the village of Elohovo, not far from Moscow, into the family of pious peasants Jacob and Anna.
From childhood he led an ascetic life, constantly prayed, and even then the first shoots of Divine grace became noticeable in him. As a boy he was apprenticed to a shoemaker. One day a merchant came into the shop and ordered a lot of new boots. Sixteen-year-old Vasily laughed at him. When the customer left, the owner began to ask the young man about the reasons for his behavior. Vasily replied that it was strange to order so many boots that would last for many years, because this person was supposed to die the next day. His prediction came true. After this, Vasily no longer wanted to stay with the owner or return to his parents and headed to Moscow.
Lost in the noisy city crowd, he chose the ascetic path of feigned madness in order to participate as fully as possible in the suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ, completely refusing respect from people. Having no permanent home or even a place to lay his head, he lived almost naked on the streets and in public places, spending his nights in prayer on the church porch. Among the crowd, he maintained silence as strictly as hermits in the desert; forced to speak, he pretended to be tongue-tied. Having no close people, having renounced the world and its attachments, he showed great sympathy for the unfortunate, sick and oppressed. He often visited prisoners in prison who were imprisoned for drunkenness in order to convert them to reform.
In an era when fear and oppression reigned in society, the life of Saint Basil served as a living reproach to the unrighteous boyars and consolation for the disadvantaged. Almost all of his actions had a prophetic meaning. For example, the blessed one many times threw stones at the corners of houses where pious people lived, and when he passed by houses whose owners were stuck in sins, he kissed the corners of the walls. When asked about the reasons for such strange behavior, Vasily replied that in houses where holiness reigns, there is no place for demons, and therefore, seeing them outside, he drove them away with stones. On the contrary, kissing the corners of the wicked houses, he greeted the angels who remained outside, unable to enter inside. At the market, he overturned the counters of dishonest traders. One day, having received money from the king, he, contrary to custom, did not distribute it to the poor, but gave it to a well-dressed merchant, who, having lost his fortune, did not dare to ask for alms and was dying of hunger.
In 1521, when the Tatar army of Mehmet Giray threatened Moscow, Saint Basil, shedding copious tears, prayed for his homeland in front of the gates of the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin. Suddenly, a terrible noise was heard in the church, a flame broke out, and a voice from the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God announced that She was leaving Moscow because of the sins of its inhabitants. The saint intensified his prayers - and the terrible phenomenon disappeared. Mehmet Giray, who had already set the city suburbs on fire, was driven away from the city by an army that arrived in time and fled beyond the borders of Rus'.
Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible loved Blessed Vasily and treated him with great respect, just like Saint Metropolitan Macarius. One day, a saint, invited to the palace for a royal feast, poured wine out the window three times. When the tsar asked him with irritation what he was doing, he replied that he was putting out a fire in Novgorod. A little later, messengers brought news of a big fire that actually happened in Novgorod. The fire, however, did not break out, because a certain strange-looking man walked naked through the streets and sprinkled the burning houses. Seeing Vasily, the messengers recognized him as the man of God who extinguished the flame.
Another time, in 1547, the saint began to cry bitterly in front of the church of the Exaltation Monastery, in the place where, some time later, a great fire began that devastated Moscow. Soon after this disaster, when the king was present at the Divine Liturgy, the blessed one, standing in the corner, looked attentively at him. After the liturgy, he said to the king: “You were not in the temple, but in another place.” The Tsar began to protest, but Vasily repeated: “You are telling a lie. I saw how in your thoughts you went to Vorobyovy Gory to build yourself a new palace there.” From that moment on, the king began to fear the saint and respect him even more. But this respect did not prevent him from showing cruelty, which became the talk of the town.
Saint Basil also appeared to people on a ship in distress and saved them from death. He performed many more miracles during the 62 years of his feat of foolishness.
At the age of 88, the saint fell ill. Having learned about this, the king and his family immediately hurried to him to ask for his prayers. On his deathbed, Basil uttered prophecies about the future of the kingdom, then his face lit up because he saw a host of angels who appeared to receive his soul. Having come to admiration, he rested in joy on August 2, 1557.
The whole city was then filled with fragrance, and many people gathered for his funeral. The Tsar and his sons carried him on their shoulders to the church, where the Metropolitan and the bishops were waiting for them. On the grave of the blessed one, which became a source of healing for the faithful not only from Moscow, but also from other regions, a temple was built in honor of the Intercession of the Mother of God, in memory of the capture of Kazan. Later, the temple was popularly called St. Basil's Cathedral.
Miracles associated with the saint did not stop. And in 1588, under Metropolitan Saint Job, Basil the Blessed was canonized. On this day, 120 sick people received healing at the relics of the saint.
St. Basil the Blessed is revered as the patron saint of Moscow.
From the book “Synaxarion: Lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church,” published by the Sretensky Monastery Publishing House.
Compiled by Hieromonk Macarius of Simonopetra, adapted Russian translation by Sretensky Monastery Publishing House
How do prayers to a saint help?
People ask for the gift of humility and patience in the face of unfair accusations in the prayers of St. Basil, the Moscow Wonderworker. Patients pray to him for health, for the granting of patience in illness. It is this saint, who during his lifetime pacified Ivan the Terrible himself, who pray for the gift of good character and understanding to rulers and authorities.
Since Vasily, with his prayers, prevented terrible disasters - fires, then you can ask him for protection from fires.
Texts of prayers to Saint Basil
Troparion, tone 8
Your life, Vasily, is not false, and your purity is undefiled, / for Christ’s sake you exhausted your body with fasting and vigil, / and frost and the warmth of the sun, / and sloth, and rain clouds, / and your face was illuminated like the sun, / and now they come to you the Russian people and all people, / glorifying your holy dormition. / Thus pray to Christ God, / that he may deliver us from barbarian captivity and internecine warfare, / / and the peace of the world will come st, and great mercy to our souls.
Translation: Your life, Vasily, is true, and undefiled, for Christ’s sake you exhausted your body with fasting and vigil, and frost, and solar heat, and bad weather, and rain, and your face was illuminated like the sun, and now Russians are coming to you nations and all people, glorifying your holy Dormition. Therefore, pray to Christ God that he will deliver us from pagan captivity and internecine war, and that peace will give great mercy to the world and to our souls.
Troparion, tone 8
Just as the sun and the moon are not put to shame by their nakedness, / so you, the saint of Christ Vasily, naked, without being put to shame, / will accept the robe of the pristine Adam, / which he wore before in the age and/ you have reproached this on earth;/ and you were a good merchant: / as much as you had, you left everything / and bought the village with the bribe of your patience, / on it the priceless Beads, Christ, were hidden. / For this reason, the image of repentance appeared to all sinners / and settled in the expanse of paradise, / and, standing before Christ, / do not forget the city where you live, and the people, most blessed, // and pray to save our souls.
Translation: Just as the sun and the moon are not ashamed of their nakedness, so you, the saint of Christ Basil, were not ashamed when you were naked, for you received the clothes of the primordial Adam, which he wore before in paradise, but you wore them on earth, and you were good a merchant who left everything he had (Matthew 13:45-46), and at the cost of his patience bought the place where the priceless Pearl, Christ, was hidden. Therefore, you became an example of repentance for all sinners and settled in the expanse of heaven, where, standing before Christ, do not forget the city in which you lived and the people, blessed one, and pray to save our souls.
Troparion, tone 1
Having oppressed your flesh with suffering,/ having enlightened your soul with purity of heart,/ you have been enriched by the grace of the Most Holy Spirit, Vasily,/ to grant useful things to those who need them./ For this reason, for the sake of illness, flowing to health to your beneficiary grave, wise fool,/ they unenviably accept the deposition of illnesses/ and sing with gratitude the glorified you ,// One Lover of Mankind.
Translation: Having exhausted your flesh with the patience of adversity, but having enlightened your soul with purity of heart, you have been enriched by the grace of the Most Holy Spirit, Basil, to grant useful things to those who ask. Therefore, the sick who come to your tomb, the one who gives healing, the wise fool, abundantly receive relief from their illnesses and sing with gratitude the one who glorified you, the Only Lover of Mankind.
Kontakion, tone 4
We are led by the Spirit of God, most blessed Basil, / you shook off worldly rebellion, / and you abhorred the troubles of life, / and you took off your perishable garments, and put on the robe of dispassion, / refuge You were a stranger to the deception of the flattering ruler of the world,/ and you were strange in your language,/ and , having chosen heavenly riches over earthly wealth,/ thou hast clung to the crown of patience./ And now, most blessed Basil, pray to Christ God/ for those who keep thy holy memory, and call m ti // Rejoice, blessed Vasily.
Translation: We are guided by the Spirit of God, blessed Basil, you rejected the vanity of the world and neglected the storms of life, and took off your perishable clothes and put on the clothes of dispassion, you escaped the snares of the flattering ruler of the world (the devil) and were a stranger to your people (Ps. 68:9 ), and instead of earthly wealth, choosing heavenly wealth, you were crowned with the crown of patience. And now, blessed Basil, pray to Christ God for those who celebrate your holy memory, and let us cry to you: “Rejoice, blessed Vasily.”
Kontakion, tone 4
The Lord has shown you to the present generation/ a healer of illness and a banisher of illness/ love, Basil, flowing to you // and calling your prayers by faith.
Translation: The Lord has revealed you to the present generation as one who heals wounds and cures the illnesses of all those who turn to you with love and call upon your prayers in faith.
First prayer
Oh, great servant of Christ, true friend and faithful servant of the All-Creator Lord God, blessed Vasily! Hear us, many sinners, now singing to you and calling on your holy name, have mercy on us, who fall today before your most pure image, accept our small and unworthy prayer, mercy Be proud of our misery, and with your prayers heal every ailment and disease of our soul and body sinner, and grant us the opportunity to pass through the course of our life unharmed from visible and invisible enemies, and the Christian death will be shameless, peaceful, serene, and the Heavenly King receive the inheritance with all the saints forever and ever. Amen.
Second prayer
Oh, great saint of Christ, blessed Vasily! Falling before the race of your relics, with love, with faith we kiss your honest image, hoping from it by the power of God to receive healing of our souls and bodies, we glorify the majesty of the Almighty God, His In this life you have glorified with your soul and body the firmness of your faith and love To the Lord of hosts, we preach the strength of your spirit and, remembering the great deeds of your virtue, we cry to you from the depths of our hearts: do not remain silent, cry out for us to the Lord God, for your body You are with us on earth, but you rest in spirit in Heaven in the arms of the Creator yours. By your representation at the Throne of unapproachable glory, ask that the Spirit of God may rest upon us, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of advice and strength, the spirit of knowledge and piety and the fear of God, and may you not despise many sins our dearest prayers. Behold, we, standing in the temple dedicated to your holy name, will write a praise to you: Rejoice, blessed Vasily, for you, having hated the temporary world, labored in a godly manner here and to the height of virtue you have risen. Rejoice, for you tried to overcome passion with all its vicious inclinations and you were granted the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Rejoice, for in patience and suffering you appeared bravely and you extinguished all the arrows of the evil one. Rejoice, for by always drawing from the fountain of Israel the grace of God, you were filled with desire. Rejoice, for with the yoke of the saving word of Christ our God, you have trampled all the pride of the world. Rejoice, for in the midst of rumors you have preserved silence, quickly directing your thoughts to the High Ones. Rejoice, for with the sword of the Spirit you cut off the will of your will and established the feet of your mind on the rock of the love of Christ. Rejoice, for you have put off your corruptible garments and put on the new man, renewed by the blood of Christ. Rejoice, for instead of perishable things you have gathered spiritual wealth and you have brought the firstfruits of labor to Christ our God. Rejoice, for even after death the Lord has shown us a source of healing. Rejoice, for having not desired fame and wealth, you counted everything as nothing, so that you acquired Christ, whom you acquired through much labor and patience. Rejoice, as now, uniting with God, enjoying His unceasing vision and dwelling in blissful eternity. Rejoice, for you are filled with good things, which no eye has seen, and no ear has heard, and the heart of man has not breathed into what God has prepared for him who loved Him, so make haste with your prayers , chosen one of God, and we too on earth, united in the strongest union of God’s love, Let us generously bear the goodness of the Gospel and the grace of the Holy Spirit, so that we may be worthy to taste and be satisfied with you eternally of Heavenly unshimmering blessings. Amen.
Prayer to the Lord
O Master Christ, Son of God, Source of life and enlightenment, Long-suffering and Much-Merciful, grant us to glorify Your most holy and glorious name cheerfully in the confession of our hearts all the days of our life, until the last hour. As much as you want, you can, great is the glory of your abundant mercy and incomprehensible to all born nature. How will our tongue endure, fill us with such joy and gladness, bodily and spiritual? Or how shall we sing of Your ineffable grace, with true desire we will zealously magnify and glorify Your mercy, as you have given us Your saint, Blessed Basil? Only in spirit we call to You: O Lord, Living, Unapproachable, Terrible, Merciful and Generous, Visible and Invisible, have mercy on us, always calling to You with tears, and enlighten us, Holy for his sake, blessed are the merciful miracles. Oh, good King of all creation! Have mercy on Your divine will with His most merciful will and accept the praise of the glory of Your grace according to Your great mercy, majesty for the sake of Your most praised name, and the Most Pure T Warring Mother, Most Glorious, Most Blessed and Most Immaculate Ever-Virgin Mary, and the glorious and all-praised apostle, and prophet, and martyr, for the sake of the saints and the righteous, and Your holy God-dear fool, the blessed Vasily, and all the saints for Your sake, the saint, exalt, O Lord, Orthodox Russia before the Latins and Basurma Subdue us and other languages, her enemies and adversaries, O Lord, create her bravery and protect her I deigned the angels to remain with my saints, and all Orthodox Christians in chastity, and in peace, and in prosperity, and with the heavenly cloud, I commanded rain in gratitude to the earth in its time of need, I For to feed Your people and grass for your cattle, I have filled all grace for generations and generation forever and ever, for Thou art the God of the world and the Savior of our souls, for Thine is to have mercy and to save, Holy art Thou, O Lord our God, and to Thee have I given glory We are with the Father and the Holy Spirit, always, now and ever and in eyelids of centuries. Amen.
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