St. Vasileos Monastery

The Greek Orthodox Holy Monastery of Saint Basil is located just inside New Gate in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. The Monastery can be found down the narrow Saint Basil’s Alley that runs off of Casanova Street. The Monastery is dedicated to Saint Basil the Great and contains one of the Saint’s holy relics. Saint Basil the Great was born in 329CE in Caesarea, Cappadocia and is renowned for being one of the Three Holy Hierarchs in Eastern Christianity. Saint Basil came from a distinguished Christian family of the time, although he began his life in pursuit of a secular career, he was later persuaded by his sister to turn to an ascetic, religious life. After establishing a monastic settlement, he began his travels around the monasteries of Egypt, eventually returning to become the Bishop of Caesarea, with his own diocese covering eastern Cappadocia. During his life, he was known for his commitment to charitable institutions, using his own personal wealth and that of the Church to aid the poor and the ill. He is also remembered for his many theological writings, which were very influential in shaping the Church, most notably his Longer Rules and Shorter Rules on monastic life and his Treatise on the Holy Spirit. Because of these writings, he along with Saint Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom became known as the Three Holy Hierarchs and Ecumenical Teachers. Over 300 of his personal letters have been preserved to this day and offer an insight into his life. After suffering ill-health, which may be attributed to his ascetic, observant lifestyle, Saint Basil the Great died on January 1, 379CE. He is celebrated in the Greek Orthodox Church on January 1st, his feast day, as well as January 30th along with the rest of the Three Holy Hierarchs. The Holy Monastery of Saint Basil is accessed through a small doorway on Saint Basil’s Alley. Within the humble Monastery is a beautifully painted icon of Saint Basil the Great, upon which his holy relic is encased. The Monastery also features a dark wooden iconostasis featuring paintings depicting Biblical figures and scenes, including The Last Supper. The Monastery is closed to visitors unless a Divine Liturgy has been scheduled, which usually occurs only on the feast days of Saint Basil. A visit to the Monastery can also be arranged through the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate.