St. Basil the Based
While looking into the confrontation between Emperor Valens and Basil the Great (329-379 AD), Bishop of Caesarea, I came across this beautifully-written summary (excerpt quoted below in italics).
I’m gratified by the example of St. Basil, whose bold commitment to right confession and practice (including a biblical Christology and the administration of closed communion) was confirmed by his imperviousness to the hierarchy in both church and state who sought to intimidate him. He responded not only with courage, but with élan and humor.
May we all be so faithful, bold and courageous in our own dark day and age - against all comers, no matter who they may be.
Basil and the Emperor
On his return from victories over the barbarians, Valens made a visit to Caesarea. Ahead of him traveled a man named Modestus, prefect of the guard, and ahead of Modestus traveled a troop of Arian bishops. By the time Modestus arrived, he found Basil making a firm standing against the bishops. Modestus summoned Basil with the thought of intimidating him. Modestus claimed submission in the name of the emperor. Basil refused in the name of God. Modestus threatened poverty, exile, torture, and death. Basil replied that none of these things frightened him; he had nothing to lose except a few rags and books; banishment could not remove him from the care of God; torture could not greatly harm a body almost dead already; death could only come as a friend to hasten his last journey. Modestus exclaimed in amazement that he had never had anyone speak thus to him before.
"Perhaps," replied Basil, "you have never met a bishop before."
The prefect reported to Valens, saying that other measures would have to be found to crush the prelate. Valens was not a man of strength, either physical or moral; he was obese and had crooked legs and a defective eye; he was hesitant in speech and action. The contrast between himself and Basil must have appeared dramatic. Basil was of upright carriage, commanding height, dignified manner, with long beard, high cheekbones, brown hair and eyes. Valens was so far from being able to pursue the challenge that he even agreed to attend church on the eve of Theophany. The church was crowded. The voices of the singers thundered mightily over the sea of heads. Before the sanctuary stood Basil, statuesque, like a prophet of old and quite indifferent to the interruption of the imperial arrival. Valens, who must have been unsure whether he was in heaven or on earth, staggered as he approached the throne of God.
The next day he had an interview with Basil concerning church matters. It was on this occasion that Basil's wit and sense of humor were manifest. The emperor had a steward named, like the Greek orator of the third century B.C., Demosthenes. This man was chief of the imperial kitchen, but he took it upon himself to interrupt the conversation between the emperor and the archbishop, and to give his opinions of the theological questions being discussed. He even threatened Basil with a knife and was told to return to his kitchen.
"An illiterate Demosthenes!" was Basil's comment, "It is better for him to cook the emperor's stew than to cook the divine dogmas."
Valens was pleased by the humor, and as a result made a contribution to Basil's orphanage, but his friendliness was purely superficial. Basil would not admit Arians to communion, and Valens could not tolerate his refusal. At the same time Valens was much distressed by the dangerous illness of his infant son, and asked Basil to pray for him in spite of the fact that he had just threatened him with exile.
Basil was not free of discourtesy on the part of public officials. On one occasion a widow came to him for help because an unwelcome marriage was being forced upon her. Basil's enemies made this an occasion for evil insinuations, and the magistrate went so far as to tear Basil's garment from his emaciated body and threaten him with torture. Basil replied that if this treatment was going to relieve him of his liver, it might relieve him of a great inconvenience, for he suffered from his liver!