Święty Bazyli ewangeliczny rewolucjonista

Abstract

In St Basil’s life as an organizer of ascetical life, three stages can be differentiated: Moral Rules, Little Asketikon, Great Asketikon. His point of departure was constituted by the forms of life created by Eustathius. The Council of Gangra makes it possible to learn about Eustathius’s ascetism, but it presents it subjectively in the aspect of ’’Reichskirche”. The Council’s resolutions constitute a clear manifestation of considerable tentions between the pre-Basilian movement and a group of ’’progovernment” bishops. After Basil’s death a new crisis breaks out, which is caused by the ’’Messalians”. The young Basil saw the only remedy against breaking Christians into groups and lowering the moral level in a radical reform based on Gospel. In Moral Rules he collected the testimonies from Gospel, arranging them according to the problems of spiritual life. He consciously took a position against the deviations of the contemporary ascetical movements. The evolution between Little Asketikon and Great Asketikon is first of all concerned with the prqblem of the conception of obedience. As the yars go, a distinct strengthening of institution takes place with diminishing the role of charismatic factors. As a priest and bishop, Basil, himself belonging to the ruling class, turns his back on the interests of the rich and becomes a spokesman for the masses, preaching the evangelical communism and boldly defending the interests of the oppressed against the state administration.