ST. BASIL THE GREAT AND THE IDEA OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OF YOUTH

SUMMARY: Purpuse: The aim of this article was to present an integral concept of Christian education as conceptualized by St. Basil the Great. The author analyzes three key areas: Ad adolescentes (education through selective reading of classical literature), De Spiritu Sancto (the spiritual and ecclesial dimensions of formation), and Epistles (relational and communal pedagogy). The research questions posed were: How does Basil connect the heritage of Greek culture with the Gospel? What place do virtue and askesis occupy in the educational process? How can his concepts inspire contemporary Catholic pedagogy? Methods: This article analyzes patristic sources in the context of their reception in the scholarly literature. It employs a monographic-descriptive approach and critically analyzes research from 2018–2025 (e.g., Peterson, Hughes, Huovinen, Fotineas, Kaminis). Results: The analysis revealed that Basil treated classical literature as propaideia - a preparatory stage for the Christian life. The key criterion is virtue (arete), while education is ascetic and exercisable (askesis). De Spiritu Sancto presents education as participation in the life of the Holy Spirit and the community of the Church. The letters, in turn, confirm the relational dimension of pedagogy, based on the bonds of master-disciple and pastor-community. Conclusion: Basil's educational thought is integral - it encompasses reason, morality, spirituality, and community. Its goal is to form the whole person toward holiness. Contemporary Catholic pedagogy can draw inspiration from four areas: (1) the prudent use of secular culture, (2) the centrality of virtue formation, (3) the relational nature of education, and (4) the rooting of education in the liturgy and life of the Church. Originality: This article demonstrates that patristics is not merely a subject of historical research, but a living source of inspiration for educational theory and practice. Basil's proposal, developed in the fourth century, remains relevant to the challenges of the 21st century: cultural pluralism, the crisis of authority, and the processes of secularization. Keywords: St. Basil the Great, Christian education, paideia, askesis, virtue, Catholic pedagogy.