Basil the Great

One of the elders said that when Saint Basil came to a cenobium, after giving the appropriate teaching he said to the superior, “Do you have a brother here who has obedience?” The superior said to him, “Master, they are all your servants and are striving to be saved.” Basil said to him again, “Do you truly have someone who has obedience?” The superior brought him one brother, and Saint Basil used him as a server at the meal. After they had eaten, the brother gave him water to wash. Saint Basil said to him, “Come, and I too will give you water to wash.” The brother allowed him to pour the water for him. Basil said to him, “When I enter the sanctuary, come, so that I may make you a deacon.” When this had been done, he also made him a presbyter and took him with him to the episcopal residence because of his obedience.