Saint Vasili – (Basil)

This painted Icon of “Saint Vasili” was a gift from my dear mother.
It is one of my most cherished items.
After a visit to Greece she gave me this portrait of the Saint whom I received my name.
My birth name Vasilios, “Vaz” was my Grandfathers name as well.
In Greece it is conventional that the first son be named for the Fathers, Father who in many instances is derived out of the Orthodox Tradition.

Peace / Kyrie Eleison
vazVanelli

A friend retold a tale of Saint Vasili that she had been told: The legend says:

THE LEGEND OF SAINT VASILI (BASIL)

Saint Vasili (Basil in English) was a bishop in Asia Minor, now known as Turkey. They had an evil ruler who took all the jewels and coins from the people of the kingdom. The ruler was killed and the dilemma presented to Bishop Vasili was how to return the coins and jewels to the people.
Vasili ordered cooks throughout the kingdom to bake loaves of bread. They were given jewels and coins to put in each loaf. Miraculously it was said, each person received their own goods back from the loaf of bread they were given.

This is why Greeks everywhere bake a loaves of “Vasilopita” or “Basil’s Bread” every New Year’s day, on the feast day of St. Basil, with a coin baked in the bread. The tradition is that the first slice of bread is for God, the next for the home and all the remaining slices for the members of the family, father, mother, children and any guests. The legend is, whomever finds the coin in their piece of bread will have good luck throughout the year.

Saint Vasili “Basil” is also known as the patron saint of orphans and there is an orphanage in New York, St. Basil’s academy – www.saintbasilacademy.org/1 – and every year churches bake this bread as a fundraiser with all proceeds going to the orphanage. Olympia Snow, Senator from Maine, grew up in this orphanage.

Contributed by: Elaine Koutsulis Laird