Bible Dictionaries
Basilian Monks

Charles Buck Theological Dictionary

Religious, of the order of St. Basil, in the fourth century, who, having retired into a desert in the province of Pontus, founded a monastery, and drew up rules, to the amount of some hundreds, for his disciples. This new society soon spread all over the East; nor was it long before it passed into the West. Some pretend that St. Basil saw himself the spiritual father of more than 90, 000 monks in the East only; but this order, which flourished for more than three centuries, was considerably diminished by heresy, schism, and a change of empire. The historians of this order say that it has produced 14 popes, 1805 bishops, 3010 abbots, and 11, 085 martyrs, besides an infinite number of confessors and virgins. This order likewise boasts of several emperors, kings, and princes, who have embraced its rule.

Bibliography Information
Buck, Charles. Entry for 'Basilian Monks'. Charles Buck Theological Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​cbd/​b/basilian-monks.html. 1802.