St Basil the Great
329-379. ~ Basil was the son of St Basil, the Elder and St Emmelia.. He was born in Caesarea, Asia Minor, one of ten children. Basil was taught initially by his father and grandmother and later gained further education in the universities of Constantinople and Athens. After graduation, he was first employed as a teacher, but was persuaded to enter the religious life by his sister, St Macarius the Younger
After being baptised, Basil visited a number of monasteries in Palestine, Syria and Egypt, before finally settling at Pontus as a hermit. He was ordained in 363 and went back to Pontus and stayed for two years.
All his life, Basil had a constant battle against the heresy, Arianism and his friend St Gregory Nazianzen asked him to help fight its increase in Nazianzus. On his return to Caesarea, he was made archbishop, but experienced a difficult time in office by being drawn into many arguments and disagreements with the authorities. He put in a lot of time and effort helping the poor of the area and was involved in the building of a hospice for the sick. Basil was a very holy man, and a great speaker. Large crowds gathered each day to hear his sermons. He died at Caesarea in 379 at the age of forty-nine, just a few years before Arianism was stamped out on the death of the Arian king. During his lifetime, Basil wrote hundreds of spiritual letters and had a great influence on Eastern Christianity. He was made a Doctor of the Church .

St Gregory Nazianzen.
329-389 ~ Gregory was the son of St Gregory Nazianzen the Elder and St Nonna Born in Nazianzus, he studied in Caesarea with St Basil the Great At the age of thirty, Gregory went back to Nazianzus for a time to help his parents, before joining Basil in Pontus to live as hermits. Once again, he had to go home to help his elderly father, who was the Bishop of Nazianzus with his duties. While at home, he was ordained by his father and became Bishop of Sasima. He faced many difficulties in his diocese with the increase of Arianism and as a result, numerous disputes occurred. His father died in 374 and Gregory took over the duties of his see until another bishop could be elected. When the Arian king died, Gregory went about restoring the diocese, bringing at last, peace and order. He became Archbishop of Constantinople, but after a short time in office, became ill with a nervous breakdown. He went to Nazianzus to spend some time in solitude, which he had always wanted to do and died there in 390.