Saint Basil Of Moscow is a Russian orthodox saint who is known as a "holy fool". He is somewhat of Robin Hood among all saints. The only nude saint of Russian orthodox church. Always portrayed naked.
Russia – In late 1400's, while Europe already lived in the mode of High-Renaissance, Russia began to form its state territory by uniting different Slavic principalities. It got finally rid of the Mongol yoke which lasted almost 250 years (!). Cities began to slowly grow. The rich became richer and the poor... as always... The peasants and lay people suffered while the state and the Church developed and got stronger. Moscow was becoming the Third Rome and it was gaining much power and prestige.
Russian orthodox church in the 15th century – Russian Church in Moscow becomes absolutely independent from the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Now it has its own primate and no obligations to report and/or obey any other authority. The church also becomes very close to the state (and remains so and to this day).
<< This here is the icon of St. Basil The Blessed Fool For Christ – A bas-relief in St. Basil's Cathedral, Moscow, Russia
These are the times and the circumstances when Saint Basil walked in earth and pretended to be a fool! He was the denouncer of wrong.
And he was very strange. In the summer heat and in the winter’s frost, he walked barefoot and naked through the streets of Moscow. In the markets he would upset stands with food and drinks, and later it would be found out that that food and those drinks were badly prepared. He would help those who needed help and condemn those who were hypocrites. He was able to foresee the future and always prayed for Moscow and Russian people.
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Saint Basil is always portrayed naked even in icons. – Why?
Why was he walking naked around town. Well, there are several reasons for his "nudism" and most of them are historical or religious.
The clothes were a measure of social status. – So, he refused any social status and preferred to be seen as the lowest of the low.
In pre-Christian Russia, there was a tradition of undressing and public nudity during pagan rituals. After the Christianity was adopted in Russia, the common people easily mixed rituals of the church with pagan rituals to which they were accustomed. – So, Basil's nudity was seen as the highest devotion to God.
Not to forget about the feeling of total equality when everybody around you – the Russian banya (sauna)! – is naked. – So, the nakedness of Basil was also seen by people as "he is one of us".
If you have order in your head, then you can walk around even without pants! – This is all Saint Basil to me.
Some say he was only pretending to be a fool. Good strategy. You can not ask much from the fool!
Saint Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, as viewed from Red Square
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