The University Chapel is named in honor of St. Basil the Great, a fourth
century bishop of Caesarea in Pontus (modern Turkey), one of the seven universal Doctors of the Church; that is, a person
recognized as one of her most important teachers. Early in the nineteenth century the founders of the Basilian Fathers chose
Basil as their patron, largely because in his life he combined three characteristics important to their own vocation: St.
Basil was a great theologian, interpreter of the Bible and teacher of the Christian faith, but, more than many others, he
appreciated the value of Greek secular learning, having received the most complete education available in his day. He was
also a founder of monastic life. Basils teaching has formed the basic Rule of all monks of the Eastern Church as well as influenced
monasticism of the West. When asked by the University administration to suggest a name for the Chapel, the Basilian Fathers,
who established the University of Saint Thomas in 1947, were almost unanimous in proposing the "Chapel of St. Basil."
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