Basil of Ancyra

BASIL (BASILAS) OF ANCYRA: A physician, born at Ancyra, and bishop there from 336, succeeding Marcellus (q.v.). He was deposed by the Synod of Sardica in 343, reinstated by Constantius in 350, and, with George of Laodicea (q.v.), became the leader of the homoiousian middle party. In 360 he was banished to Illyria, and died in exile. With George he composed a dogmatic memoir and, according to Jerome, also a writing against Marcellus, a treatise on virginity, and “some other things.” The sources are Socrates, Hist. eccl., ii, 26, 42; iii, 25; Jerome, De vir. ill., lxxxix; Sozomen, Hist. eccl., iv, 24; Philostorgius, v, 1; Epiphanius, Hær., lxxiii, 12-22. See Arianism.

G. Krüger.

Bibliography: J. Schladebach, Basilius von Ancyra, Leipsic, 1898; DCB, i, 281-282.