The New Year’s festivities may have concluded, but the Twelve Days of Christmas are not over yet. January 2nd, the Ninth Day of Christmas, honors two profound figures of the early Church: Saint Basil the Great and Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, both from Cappadocia in what was then Greek Asia Minor.

They are venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church as two of the Three Holy Hierarchs, alongside St. John Chrysostom, though Orthodox do not celebrate them according to the Western calendar we have been using. However, the Roman Catholic Church also celebrates them for their contributions to Christian theology, which predate the schism between East and West.

DEFENDERS OF THE TRINITY.

St. Basil ordained St. Gregory and St. Gregory eulogized Basil at his funeral. Their theological works, though dense for the layperson, are essential for those delving into the depths of Christian theology. They were key defenders of the Nicene Creed against Arianism, which questioned the Trinity by suggesting that Jesus was created by God rather than being one with Him.

Beyond their theological contributions, St. Basil was renowned for his philanthropy. He established numerous charitable institutions, including what was known as the Basiliad, an enormous complex of almshouses, hospitals, hospices, orphanages, and soup kitchens for the poor and the sick. He is said to have given away all his wealth to support these causes.

On this Ninth Day of Christmas, while one would do well to dip into their theological writings, it is also a fitting time to reflect on the Christian call to serve others, as we first did on Boxing Day.