1Basil compares the ascetic to the king's soldier, who owns nothing, is fed and housed by the king, endures hardships and dangers, and is rewarded with honour and closeness to the king.
2The soldier of Christ must live without home, property, wife, or child, fighting unseen enemies within and for others, enduring persecution, trials, and death after Christ's example, sure that death is victory and will be rewarded with heaven and Christ's praise.
3Basil promises the faithful ascetic a crown among the angels or, if left on earth, honour as a protector of many; he adds that women too serve in Christ's army, as virgins and martyrs, and urges parents to offer their children to this service.
disputed · Generally accepted as an ascetic prologue; its attribution to Basil is doubted by some (see Migne's prefatory note).
Standing
Honoured by the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant traditions. Honoured as a saint or in a church calendar by: Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant.
Date
ca. 360-380 (approximate) · Undated; placed with Basil's ascetic writings.
Written at
Caesarea, Cappadocia (probable)
Language
Greek
Genre
treatise
Reference system
paragraph number (Migne's)
SBL abbreviation
Prooem. ascet.Not yet checked
Clavis
CPG 2883 (not yet checked)
Text from
J.-P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Graeca 31 (Paris, 1857), cols. 619-626 (Printed edition in the public domain; Bavarian State Library (MDZ) OCR of public-domain page images)
Critical editions
J.-P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Graeca 31 (Paris, 1857) (cited, not reproduced)