Anna Silvas - The Ascetic Works of Basil and Gregory

‘The Ascetic Works of Basil and Gregory’ initiates a discussion of the two brothers on the ascetic life, noting the range of common familial influences they both inherited, the early exposure to the native Anatolian ascetic movement, the differing political and religious contexts in which they worked, and the profound, indeed ‘mystical’ motivation that drove all Basil’s ascetic teaching and pastoral work. The sample text for Basil is his Homily on the Martyr Julitta. A short list of passages from varied works of Gregory for comparison is also supplied. Finally, the desirability of initiating a Basilii Caesariensis Opera is advocated.