ON ST. BASIL OF ANCYRA, AT CAESAREA IN CAPPADOCIA.
Under Julian.
CommentaryBasilius, Martyr of Ancyra at Caesarea in Cappadocia (St.)
[1] Basilius, Presbyter of the Church of Ancyra, crowned with martyrdom under Julian the Apostate, Two Martyrs named Basilius from Ancyra. is celebrated on March 22. Another of the same name, sharing in the same glory but a layman, lived here under the same tyrant; his feast day is observed on January 2. Concerning him, Ferrarius writes in his general catalogue of Saints: "At Caesarea in Cappadocia, St. Basilius the Martyr, under Julian the Apostate." The Greek Menologion: One suffered at Caesarea. "The feast of the holy Martyr Basilius from the city of Ancyra, who suffered at Caesarea under the impious Emperor Julian, with Saturninus as Governor."
[2] The Gallo-Belgian Martyrology records Basilius the Presbyter on this day and omits March 22. The Menaea narrate more fully the contest of this one, who was not a Presbyter:
[3] While the impious Julian held power, this man, born at Ancyra, while worshipping and preaching Christ, was seized and brought before the Governor *Tarvilius. When he freely professed Christ before him, he was hung up and cruelly torn; then led from Ancyra to Constantinople, he was again racked with iron and stretched so far that the joints of his hands and feet were pulled apart and loosened. Cruelly tortured at Constantinople. Then he was beaten with thongs, burned and pierced with red-hot iron. Since he bore all things nobly, he received in return from God a recompense of graces. For when he was thrown into a burning furnace, through his prayers he remained miraculously unharmed. Finally, bound and taken to Caesarea, Cast to the beasts at Caesarea. and condemned to the wild beasts by the Praetor, he was thrown to a lioness and, falling in death, carried away the laurel of martyrdom. His sacred relics were carefully collected by certain kinsmen and close friends, anointed with perfumes, A temple built in his honor. wrapped in linen cloths, and deposited with due veneration in a distinguished place; and at length they built a temple (which they called a Martyrium) for the veneration of his relics. Galesinius says nearly the same.
Annotation* Rader: Tranquillus — rather Tranquillinus, or more likely Saturninus.