The History of St. Basil's Church

Founding
Saint Basil, Patron Saint
The Parish
The Church
Parish Volunteers
Parish School of Religion (PSR)
Catholic Elementary School
Vision for the Future
 

Founding

On June 14, 1960, on the birthday of its Patron Saint, St. Basil the Great Parish was established by Archbishop Edward F. Hoban.  The church was situated on a sixteen and a half acre site on a hilltop in Brecksville, Ohio, where it still exists today, then and now, a glorious site.  Father John T. Ciolek was appointed pastor of the newly established Parish of Saint Basil the Great in Brecksville effective Tuesday, June 21st by Bishop Hoban.  The charter membership consisted of 350 families.  In 1981, there were 1400 families and at this writing, there are 2650 families with total parishioners numbering 7000 persons.

Saint Basil, Patron Saint

St. Basil, who was born June 14, 330, was a genius and a Saint.  Surprisingly, the 4th century in which he lived is far better documented than even some modern periods in history, so we know more about his person and his circumstances than would be expected.

The ancestors of Basil lived in Caesarea of Cappadocia (modern Armenia), where after the conquest by Roman Legions, was stationed a Roman military garrison.  The culture was Greek and Roman and sophisticated.  Everything was peaceful for three centuries until the persecution of the Christians broke out all over the Empire.  Basil's maternal grandfather, a lawyer, left civilization for the wilderness of the woods to safeguard his beautiful and gifted wife and their seven daughters.  Safe from the ravages of persecution, the two, well educated themselves, spent the next ten years in teaching and training their children.  After the persecution ceased in the reign of Emperor Constantine, the family returned from exile and in rapid succession the religious and talented daughters were eagerly courted and wed.

The boy, Basil, was sent to Athens for advanced study to what would now be an equivalent of a State University with worldwide resources and international temptations.  Here his natural gift for public speaking and his sharp intelligence were polished and he came to instant success as a teacher and speaker.  As a trained layman, skilled in rhetoric, he preached at the Cathedral, gave the Lenten series, became the Bishop's administrative assistant, and when the Bishop died, was elected his successor.

In his 10 years as Bishop of Caesarea, Basil saw truth and spirituality prevail in this town and in the process, he himself became a Saint.

St. Basil died on January 1, 370.  His feast day is January 2nd.  His other feast day is June 14th, his actual birth date.  For an in-depth reading of St. Basil the Great, please click here to visit the website of the Priests of Saint Basil (the Basilian Fathers).

The Parish

The newly formed parish was drawn from neighboring St. Michael Church in Independence and Assumption Church in Broadview Heights.

Immediately two masses were held in Brecksville High School Auditorium, now the Central School, through the gracious cooperation of the Brecksville School Board, 850 attended the first Sunday.  On June 21, 1960 Fr. John T. Ciolek  became the first pastor of the newly established parish of St. Basil the Great and served as its pastor until his retirement in 1983.  Fr. Ciolek died on September 25, 1986

The Church

Ground was broken March 18th, 1962, for an eight-room school to be used as a temporary church seating 670 and 2 classrooms for religion classes.  Next were erected the Administration Building housing six classrooms, a first floor of offices, counseling rooms, meeting rooms, and administration center.  The second floor remains the priests' residence.  A.J.P. Martini, a parishioner, was the builder.

Bishop Clarence G. Issenmann, visiting all deaneries and parishes of the Diocese within months of his coming, inspected the St. Basil complex of buildings and immediately gave permission for the Church construction to go ahead.

Plans begun in 1960, and representing six years of thinking and rethinking, were put out to bids.  Construction began in November 1966, continued through 1967 until February 11, 1968.

The Most Reverend Issenmann, Bishop of Cleveland, and the Rev. John T. Ciolek, St. Basil's Pastor, supported architect Anthony S. Ciresi, F.A.J.A. in an innovative approach which dispensed with an apse and placed the sanctuary in the large nave room giving the plan a bud-like form and bringing more of the congregation closer to the meaningful rituals taking place in the altar area.  This form could be viewed as a modification of the traditional circular plan which, like the basilican plan, has Fourth Century roots, but it eliminated a church-in-the-round disadvantage of having clergy stand with backs toward some of the congregation part of the time.

The main altar represents Jesus Christ, and worshipers in any seat in Church face their Lord and Master.  The communion rail is made up of twelve smaller altars or tables representing the twelve Apostles.  Altar and Communion Rails are made of white marble (Italian White Cloud) and golden veined black marble (French St. Laurent).  It is appropriately significant that only relics of martyrs are enclosed in the main altar of churches.  The relic of St. Innocent, a martyr, was placed in the main altar of St. Basil Church.  The relic of St. Basil is located in the sacristy of the church as well as in the chapel of the priests' residence.

The place of baptism (gateway to all other Sacraments) is at the axis of the Altar and is of the same material as the Altar, the cryptogram of the Trinity, triangle and interlocked circles in gold leaf are the only decorations.

The massive candlesticks in the sanctuary -- of wrought and cast bronze -- were created about 1907.  The sanctuary lamp was converted from a Neopolitan of cloisonné (enamel) some 200 years old.

Solemn dedication of the church took place on July 11, 1982 by Bishop Anthony Pilla.  The walls of the church are blessed with holy oil and small candleholders are placed around the perimeter of the church and four in the sanctuary.  The Bishop gives the Paschal candle to the Deacon, who, together with the assisting priests, lights all the candles in the church, including those which mark the points at which the walls were anointed.

To be dedicated, a church must be a permanent installation and be free of debt.

Father Edward Camille served as second pastor from 1983 until 1994.  During his tenure, in 1993 the Parish Center was extensively remodeled and the Education Center with six classrooms and office space were added.

Father Walter Jenne was named pastor on December 1, 1994.

Over the years the parish has been served by several diocesan priests as Associates, currently by the Sisters of St. Joseph (C.S.J.), and formerly by the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland (OSU), as well as dedicated lay persons.

Parish Volunteers

In addition to the clergy, religious and secular staff, St. Basil Parish is fortunate in having numerous lay parishioners volunteer their time and energies in a variety of avenues.  A list of Commissions, Organizations, Ministries, and Programs active at St. Basil follows:

Parish School of Religion (PSR)

St. Basil Parish does not have an elementary school, but does have a high quality Parish School of Religion (PSR).  At the time of this writing, PSR enrollment totals approximately 900, including Preschool through Grade 12.

Catholic Elementary School

St. Basil and St. Michael (Independence) Parishes work very closely in providing an opportunity for children from St. Basil to attend St. Michael School.  The St. Michael Kindergarten is located in St. Basil's Education Center.

Vision for the Future

St. Basil the Great has developed a comprehensive Vision for the Future of the parish for the five-year period of 1999-2003.  The plan includes eight overall Initiatives and numerous Goals related to each Initiative.  We have begun implementation of the Initiatives and related Goals through the Commissions of the Parish Pastoral Council.  Copies of the Vision document may be obtained from the Rectory Offices.