Fr Paul Gooley reads from the Gospel of John (1: 19-28) in which John the Baptist declares he is not the Christ and says, ‘I baptize with water, but… the one who comes after me, I am not fit to undo his sandal strap’. Afterwards, Fr Paul shares a little about the lives of Sts Basil and Gregory whose memorials we celebrate today. Fr Paul notes Basil was born in 330 at Caesarea in Cappadocia into a Christian family. A brilliant scholar and a virtuous man, Basil started by becoming a hermit but was made a bishop in 370. He fought against the Arians and wrote many notable works, in particular the monastic rule that bears his name and which many monks in the East follow to this day. He was also generous to the poor. He died on 1 January 379. Gregory was born in 330. He travelled widely in search of knowledge. He followed his friend Basil into the wilderness, but he too was ordained and later made a bishop. He was elected Bishop of Constantinople in 381 but, because of the factional fighting occurring within the Church, he retired and he died on 25 January 389 or 390. He is known as “Gregory the Theologian” in honour of his learning and eloquence. So today, Fr Paul invites us to ask, ‘Sts Basil and Gregory…Pray for us!’