Basil Fool for Christ

Vasily the Blessed (known also as Basil, and as the fool for Christ; the Wonderworker of Moscow; or Blessed Vasily of Moscow; ; 1468 – 1552/1557) was a Russian fool for Christ (yurodivy) who is venerated as a saint of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Life

thumb|left|upright|The [[St Basil's Cathedral|Intercession Cathedral in Moscow is named after the saint.]]

Vasily was born to a serf family in December 1468 at the portico of the Epiphany Cathedral at Yelokhovo (now in Moscow). His father was named Jacob and his mother Anna.

Originally an apprentice shoemaker, he went to Moscow when he was sixteen. There he helped those who were ashamed to ask for alms, but were in need of help. He adopted an eccentric lifestyle of shoplifting and giving to the poor to shame the miserly and help those in need. He went naked and weighed himself down with chains. He rebuked Ivan the Terrible for not paying attention in church. Vasily was said to have the gift of prophecy.