Editing Basil of Caesarea (section)

===Early life and education===
Basil was born into the wealthy family of [[Basil the Elder]],<sup>[]</sup> and [[Emmelia of Caesarea]], in [[Cappadocia]], around 330.<sup>[]</sup> His parents were known for their piety.<sup>[]</sup> His maternal grandfather was a Christian [[martyr]], executed in the years prior to [[Constantine I]]'s conversion.<sup>[]</sup><sup>[]</sup> His pious widow, [[Macrina the Elder|Macrina]], herself a follower of [[Gregory Thaumaturgus]] (who had founded the nearby church of [[Neocaesarea]]),<sup>[]</sup> raised Basil and his four siblings (who also can be venerated as saints): [[Macrina the Younger]], [[Naucratius]], [[Peter of Sebaste]] and [[Gregory of Nyssa]].

Basil received more formal education in Caesarea Mazaca in [[Cappadocia]] (modern-day [[Kayseri]], [[Turkey]]) around 350-51.<ref name=Hildebrand>Hildebrand (2007), p. 19.</ref> There he met [[Gregory of Nazianzus]], who would become a lifetime friend.<sup>[]</sup> Together, Basil and Gregory went to [[Constantinople]] for further studies, including the lectures of [[Libanius]]. The two also spent almost six years in [[Athens]] starting around 349, where they met a fellow student who would become the emperor [[Julian the Apostate]].<sup>[]</sup><sup>[]</sup>

Basil's life changed radically after he encountered [[Eustathius of Sebaste]], a charismatic bishop and ascetic.<sup>[]</sup> Abandoning his legal and teaching career, Basil devoted his life to God. A letter described his spiritual awakening:
:I had wasted much time on follies and spent nearly all of my youth in vain labors, and devotion to the teachings of a wisdom that God had made foolish. Suddenly, I awoke as out of a deep sleep. I beheld the wonderful light of the Gospel truth, and I recognized the nothingness of the wisdom of the princes of this world.<sup>[]</sup>