Basil the Great
Fool-for-Christ
Commemorated January 1 · January 30
Basil's memory is celebrated on January 1 ; he is also remembered on January 30 with the Three Holy Hierarchs . In Greek tradition, he is supposed to visit children and give presents every January 1 . This festival is also marked by the baking of Saint Basil's bread (Gr. Vasilópita ), a sweet bread with a coin hidden inside.
He should not be confused with Saint Basil the Blessed , Fool-for-Christ , a Russian saint , after whom St. Basil's Cathedral , on Red Square in Moscow, is named.
He also should not be confused with Saint Basil of Ostrog , a Serbian saint , who built the Ostrog Monastery which is caved in and stands on a very high hill between Danilovgrad and Niksic.
Troparion
Your proclamation has gone out into all the earth
Which was divinely taught by hearing your voice
Expounding the nature of creatures,
Ennobling the manners of men.
O holy father of a royal priesthood,
Entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Kontakion
You were revealed as the sure foundation of the Church,
granting all mankind a lordship which cannot be taken away,
sealing it with your precepts,
venerable Basil, revealer of heaven.
Kontakion - Tone 4
You were revealed as the sure foundation of the Church,
Granting all men a lordship which cannot be taken away,
Sealing it with your precepts,
O Venerable and Heavenly Father Basil.
Source: OrthodoxWiki