The sick of St Basil, c300, with his Jewish physician Ephraim, who wears a medieval Jewish hat. 1487. St. Basil the Great, Latin Basilius, (born AD 329, Caesarea Mazaca, Cappadocia--died January 1, 379, Caesarea; Western feast day January 2; Eastern feast day January 1), early Church Father who defended the orthodox faith against the Arian heresy. As bishop of Caesarea, he wrote several works on monasticism, theology, and canon law. He was declared a saint soon after his death