Basil the Blessed

Our father among the saints Basil the Blessed (1468 – August 2, 1557) was a Fool-for-Christ and Wonder-worker living in Moscow at the time of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. His feast day is celebrated on the date of his repose (August 2). He is also known as Vasily, Vasily Blazhenny, Basil Fool-for-Christ, or Basil of Moscow.
==Life==
There are many stories concerning St. Basil, but a prominent one concerns his rebuke of Ivan the Terrible. St. Basil gave the Tsar some meat during Great Lent, telling him it did not matter whether or not he refrained from eating meat (fasted), because of the murders he had committed.
The St. Basil's Cathedral (Moscow) was named for him, although it was originally dedicated to the Protection of the Theotokos.
==External links==
*Blessed Basil of Moscow the Fool-For-Christ (OCA)
*Troparion for Blessed Basil of Moscow the Fool-For-Christ (OCA)
*Icon of St. Basil the Blessed
*Basil Fool for Christ at Wikipedia
*Akathist Prayer to St. Basil the Blessed (small excerpt)
*Holy Fools by Jim Forest
Category:Fools-for-Christ
Category:Russian Saints
Category:Saints