Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen

Basil (c. 329–379) and Gregory (c. 329–390) met as students in Athens and became lifelong friends. Basil tried the monastic life, wrote rules for monks that still guide Eastern monasticism, and in 370 became bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, where he built a great complex to care for the poor and the sick. He died on January 1, 379.

Gregory, a shy poet and theologian, was made a bishop almost against his will. In 379 he went to Constantinople to lead the small community that held to the faith of Nicaea, and his famous sermons on the Trinity earned him the name "the Theologian." He presided for a time over the Council of Constantinople in 381, then retired to Cappadocia to pray and write. Both are Doctors of the Church.

In the Greek tradition January 1 is Saint Basil's day: families cut the vasilopita, a sweet bread with a coin hidden inside, and the one who finds it is said to be blessed for the year. In the West they are honored together, with Basil's brother Gregory of Nyssa, as the Cappadocian Fathers.