BASIL of ANCIRA. — He lived in the 4th century. Initially a physician, he was elected in 336 metropolitan of Ancyra in Galatia. The Council of Sardica in 344 deemed his election uncanonical. B. withdrew to Philippopoli, yielding the position to Marcellus, now rehabilitated. In 350 B. took his revenge by driving Marcellus out. He was the leader of the Homoousians and took part in all the intrigues of the Semi-Arians. He was the principal adversary of Photinus and later led the struggle against Acacius of Caesarea and his followers, the Homoeans. The Acacians, however, used their influence with the emperor to depose B. and send him into exile; he died around 365. B. maintained only the similarity of essence and did not admit or understand the “identity” of substance between the Father and the Son.
BASILIO DI ANCIRA
BIBL.: Μεγάλη Ἑλληνικὴ Ἐγκυκλοπαίδεια, VI, p. 766; Hede-Leclercq, I, II, pp. 764–769; R. Le Bachelet, s. V. in DTHC, Romualdo Souran II, 1, col. 461.