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Basil of Caesarea

4th century · AD 379 · Eastern & Byzantine · 715 passages

Bishop, monastic founder, and preacher on creation; he built hospitals and taught that care for the poor is inseparable from faith.

Background on Basil of Caesarea

In his own words on Leviticus

  • Leviticus 25:10

    Seven weeks of years in ancient times produced the celebrated jubilee, in which the earth kept the sabbath, debts were canceled, slaves were set free and, as it were, a new life was established again, the old one in a certain way attaining its fulfillment in the number seven. These things are figures of this present age which revolves through the seven days and passes us by; an age in which the penalties for the lesser sins are paid according to the loving care of the good Lord, so that we may not be handed over for punishment in the age without end.

    LETTER 260

Quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations of the fathers — Aquinas's Catena Aurea, the Ante-Nicene and Nicene & Post-Nicene Fathers, and related editions. Each quotation links to its source.