Hieromartyr Basil of Ancyra

Basil was a priest of Ancyra in Galatia (today's Ankara) in the mid-4th century, a defender of the Nicene faith who for a time was barred from serving by a council of the Arian party in Constantinople. When the emperor Julian restored pagan sacrifice, Basil went through the city urging Christians not to take part, and was arrested and tortured on the orders of the governor Saturninus.

When Julian himself came to Ancyra on his way east, Basil was brought before him. Julian ordered seven strips of skin to be cut from his body each day; his Passion tells that Basil tore off one strip and threw it in the emperor's face. He died under torture with red-hot spikes on 28 January 363, and is remembered on 22 March, when Christians first honoured his body openly after Julian's death.