You were revealed as the sure foundatioin of the Church, granting all men a lordship which cannot be taken away, sealing it with your precepts, O Venerable and Heavenly Father Basil. 

"In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.    And when He came up out of the water, immediately He saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove;    and a voice came from heaven, "Thou art My beloved Son; with Thee I am well pleased."     (Mark 1:9-11)

"In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.   And when He came up out of the water, immediately He saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove;  and a voice came from heaven, "Thou art My beloved Son; with Thee I am well pleased."      (Mark 1:9-11)

"I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."    (Matt 3:11-12)

"And the tempter came and said to Him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But He answered, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" (Matt 4:3-4)

"As He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.  And He said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."    Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” (Matt 4:18-21)

“And He went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.” (Matt 4:23-24)

"But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."     (Matt 6:3-4)

"Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Matt 7:7-9)

We must all begin with the simple desire to see Christ. Today we hear the delightful story of Zacchaeus who was a sinner; but, knowing Christ was coming to his town, he had an ardent desire to see Him. Being of short stature, Zacchaeus climbed a tree enabling him to see above the crowd. Christ saw him and called him down and visited his house.   Zacchaeus repented and became a true disciple of Christ. Everything begins with the simple desire to see Christ.

We magnify you, O hierarchs of Christ, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom, and we honor your holy memory, for you pray for us to Christ our God!