The New International Encyclopædia/Basilian Monks

BASILIAN MONKS, or MONKS OF SAINT BA′SIL. An order founded by Saint Basil, Bishop of Caesarea, in 358; it grew to large numbers before the death of the founder (379). They were numerous in Spain. Italy, and Sicily, and the greater portion of the monks of the Greek Church are of the order. There are some in the United States and Canada. There are also Basilian nuns, who call Macrina, the sister of Basil, their founder. The records of the order show that it furnished 14 Popes, many cardinals, and nearly 12.000 martyrs. The rule of Basil is the foundation of that of Benedict, the great founder of Western monasticism.