The Commemoration of the Miracle made by St . Basilius (Basil), Bishop of Caesarea, of Cappadocia .

On this day also is the commemoration of the great miracle performed by St . Basilius, Bishopof Caesarea, Cappadocia .A young man, who loved his master's daughter, Satan, his enemy and the enemy of the humanrace, deceived him . Satan made him resort to a magician who made him write a covenant to denythe faith and to surrender completely to Satan, so that Satan might grant him his wish . Satankindled lust in the heart of the girl, and she loved the young man exceedingly . She asked herfather insistingly not to object to her marriage to that young man . Eager for his honor and fearingfor her life, he married her to him .When she had spent with him a long period of time, she noticed that he did not enter the churchor partake of the Holy Sacraments, or make the sign of the Holy Cross over himself . She revealedto him her doubt about his faith and his love of God . He told her what had happened to him, andhow he had written to Satan a covenant of obedience till death .She cried much and rebuked him for his deed . She took him to St . Basilius, Bishop of Caesarea .He listened to the confession of the young man and saw his grief and desire to go back to the lifeof worship, fellowship, and righteousness . St . Basilius comforted him and asked him to stay withhim for a while in seclusion, fasting and praying . He shut him up in a nearby room for three days .On The Third Day St . Basilius visited him and the young man told him that the evil spirits had notceased disturbing and fighting him in many ways . He strengthened him, calmed him down, gavehim food and prayed for him . St . Basilius asked him to remain in seclusion, praying and fasting .After a few days, he came back to visit him again . The young man told St . Basilius that he did notsee the devils any more, but he still heard their cries and threats . St . Basilius fed him again andprayed for him and left him to the life of seclusion to fight and pray, and the bishop went to prayon his behalf also . And this went on until 40 days were completed . When the Saint came to himand asked him about his state, he told the Saint that he saw him (the Saint) fighting against Satanon his behalf, and he vanquished him and finally was victorious .The Bishop gathered all the priests and the monks and prayed for the young man all that night . Onthe following morning he led him into the church while everyone was crying, "Lord have mercyon us," and they continued to cry out until that writing, which the young man had written as acovenant to deny the faith and to surrender to Satan, fell down in the midst of all the people .The Bishop, the young man and his wife, and all the people rejoiced exceedingly . The Bishopblessed that man and administered to him the Holy Sacraments . The man and his wife departed totheir house full of joy for the peace and repentance they received . They praised God and thankedSt . Basilius by whose prayers they were saved .The blessings of his prayers be with us all, and Glory be to our God forever . Amen .