ON THE HOLY MONKS BASILIUS AND PROCOPIUS DECAPOLITA, CONFESSORS, AT CONSTANTINOPLE,
AROUND THE YEAR 750.
HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.
Basilius, Confessor at Constantinople (St.) Procopius Decapolita, Confessor at Constantinople (St.)
Author G. H.
[1] Leo the Isaurian, the irreligious Emperor, in the ninth year of his reign, the year of Christ 725, first began to hold deliberation on proscribing and deposing the holy and venerable images, as Theophanes writes, who continues the following to the next year: From that time, he says, he imprudently undertook hostilities with the blessed Patriarch of Constantinople, Germanus, condemning all his predecessor Emperors, Bishops, and Christian peoples as idolaters on account of the adoration of holy and venerable images; when he, out of excessive unbelief and boorishness, was wholly unable to grasp the reasoning and discourse concerning their relative worship. Persisting, however, in his obstinate mind, in the 13th year of his reign, the year of Christ 730, Indiction 13, on the 7th of January, he held a council of silence against the holy and venerable images in the tribunal of the 19 Accubitores; and in place of St. Germanus the Patriarch, who in no way yielded to the abominable counsel of Leo, Anastasius was substituted. The Roman Pontiff Gregory rejected him, reproved Leo as irreligious through letters, and incited Rome together with all Italy to defection from his Empire. So far that passage. This is St. Gregory II, in whose Life on the 13th of February these things were said at greater length in section 7, page 699 and following. St. Germanus is venerated on the 12th of March.
[2] But the tyrant, stirred to greater fury day by day on account of that action of St. Gregory, launched a persecution against the holy images: to such a degree that many clerics, monks, and devout laypeople, imperiled for the right decrees of the faith, were crowned with the crown of martyrdom -- as Theophanes asserts in the same place. Among these monks, the holy Confessors Basilius and Procopius were preeminent, whose sacred memory is celebrated on the 27th of February, either of both Martyrs together, or of St. Procopius only, with the solemnity of St. Basilius being transferred to the following day. And first, both are commemorated on the 27th of February in the Menologium of the Greeks published by Canisius in these words: Of our Holy Father and Confessor Basilius, and of Procopius Decapolita: who, in the time of Leo surnamed the Iconoclast, having suffered various tortures for the veneration of the holy images, were rescued from prison upon the death of the tyrant and fell asleep in peace. Likewise in the Menologium of the Emperor Basil as cited by Baronius at the year 735, number 2, the following is found: These lived under the Empire of Leo the Isaurian Iconoclast; leaving the world and the things that are in the world, they became monks, and having first been well trained, when the heresy against the holy images was afterward stirred up, they zealously resisted the iconoclasts. Whence, having been seized and having suffered many torments, they did not yield, but preached the truth even unto death: for which reason they were savagely lacerated and thrust into prison, where they remained until the Emperor's death, and being freed, rested in a holy end. They are inscribed on the same day in the Roman Martyrology in these words: At Constantinople, of the holy Confessors Basilius and Procopius, who in the time of the Emperor Leo strenuously fought for the veneration of the holy images. Leo died in the year 741.
[3] The solemn veneration of Procopius alone on the 27th of February is indicated in the Horologium of the Greeks, in the Menologia of Maximus Cytheraeus and of Christopher of Mitylene, and in the Calendar published in Latin by Genebrardus, in which by the carelessness of the printer was printed "Urgeopius, Confessor, Decapolita" -- who, however, in the same Calendar on the following day is called Procopius, which must also be restored here. But the great Greek Menaea, and the New Anthologium published by the authority of Clement VIII, and Maximus Cytheraeus in his Lives of Saints, celebrate him with this encomium: In this same month of February, on the 27th day, the memory of our Holy Father and Confessor Procopius Decapolita. He, having first taken up the monastic life, exercised himself in every kind of religious virtue, and adorned his soul with the utmost purity. Those who impiously denied the Incarnation of the Word he refuted and hissed down with manly constancy. Finally, the last contest having been accomplished through scourging, he showed himself a great Confessor, and, illustrious in the power of miracles, he departed to Christ. That these last words are to be understood of the persecution launched by Leo the Isaurian on account of the veneration of images will be established below. In the Menaea various odes, hymns, and verses are added. Decapolis is a region of ten cities, as the Greek word indicates, situated beside the Sea of Galilee and on both banks of the lesser Jordan, of which mention is made in the Gospel: Matthew 4, Mark 5 and 7. Consult the Onomasticon of Bonfrerius on the cities and places of Sacred Scripture.
[4] The solemnity of Basilius alone, transferred to the 28th of February, is found in the same Menologia of Cytheraeus and Mitylene, the Greek Horologium, and the Calendar published by Genebrardus, in which the following is read: Basilius, Confessor, companion of St. Procopius the monk. He is celebrated with an even fuller encomium in the Menaea, the Anthologium, and in Cytheraeus's Lives of Saints in this manner: In the same month of February, on the 28th day, the memory of our Holy Father and Confessor Basilius, who was a companion of St. Procopius in his contest. He lived under the Empire of Leo the Iconoclast, and leaving the world and all things that are in the world, he became a monk and cultivated religious discipline as was fitting. Then, when the veneration of the holy images was being rejected, he resisted the iconoclasts with great zeal. Whence, being seized and having suffered many torments, he did not surrender, but preached the truth even unto death, having obtained St. Procopius as his companion in the contest. Wherefore his entire body was lacerated down to the neck, and he was consigned to prison. But when the tyrant was extinguished, he was released from his bonds, left prison, and resumed his former manner of life, and instructed many on various occasions in virtue and the orthodox faith. At last, amid prayers and thanksgivings, he joyfully departed to God, whom he had desired from his infancy. So far that passage.
In the Menaea, among other odes and hymns, the following verses are added:
"Let Basilius be celebrated in hymns together with Procopius, As being Confessors of the truth."
Molanus, following the Greeks, says: On the twenty-seventh day, of our Holy Father Procopius Decapolita, Confessor. And: On the twenty-eighth day, of our Holy Father and Confessor Basilius, fellow-ascetic of St. Procopius.