Happy St. Basil's Day

[fajrdrako]

One thousand six hundred and thirty-four years ago, Basil of Caesarea died in Cappadocia. He was one of the men who shaped Christianity the way it is today; establishing the Trinity and the Nicene Creed; being an example of a strong bishop, theologically and politically; setting up the monastic tradition; being an example of charity and kindness

Comments

[duncanmac]

Interesting.

We often forget the historical perspective and the light it sheds. In a thousand years or two, what will North America look like politically? It's a safe bet that the current nations will be long gone, but will its social division into Nine Nations count for anything by then? Turkey is, IMNSHO, a clear case of how important the historical perspective is, as the nationalist Turks do their ridiculous best to deny that the East Roman and Byzantine Empires ever existed.

Plus ça change ...

[fajrdrako]

Why do you think the Turks deny the East Roman and Byzantine Empires existed? They're full of pride in them - Roman artifacts and references all over the place. They make a lot of it. They see it as part of their history, too. They ignore the ethnocultural gap.

I hadn't come across the "nine nations" idea before. Looks like geographical determinism... I'm not sure if that ever works for human culture. Does it exclude Mexico? It seems to me that North America is either a lot more than nine nations, or a lot less.

[silverwhistle]

they are the giants on whose shoulders we build. They are our past.

They are an appalling aberration. If only, if only Basil's former classmate had worn his breastplate...

Something precious in the world was broken on 26 June 1650 years ago. We still live in the shadow of that day, in the shadow of the 'charnel houses'.

To quote Swinburne:
O lips that the live blood faints in, the leavings of racks and rods!
O ghastly glories of saints, dead limbs of gibbeted Gods!
Though all men abase them before you in spirit, and all knees bend,
I kneel not neither adore you, but standing, look to the end...

[fajrdrako]

They are an appalling aberration

Well, yes. Giants can be both good and bad. Monsters, minions, heroes, villains, madmen, fools... and so on.

26 June

Do you mean the death of Julian?

[silverwhistle]

Well, yes. Giants can be both good and bad. Monsters, minions, heroes, villains, madmen, fools... and so on.

They were not giants of any kind.I cannot understand how you can be so positive about them.

Do you mean the death of Julian?

Yes. He might have saved us from them, put them and all their poison back in the box.

[fajrdrako]

I cannot understand how you can be so positive about them.

I'm quoting with intent: half satirical, half serious. Evil or good, this is all part of our history.

I agree with you absolutely about Julian.