His first episcopal service was in Murom, one of the oldest cities in Russia. Since he was living an unquestionably chaste life and the people were admonished by his virtues, the devil became envious of him and wanted to tarnish his reputation and make people think that he was living in impurity. For this reason, he took the form of a young girl who appeared through his bedroom window. This caused dissatisfaction among the people and the city’s nobles, who accused him of debauchery and decided to punish him without going through the church court. One day, while the people were gathered, they saw the girl fleeing from the bishop’s residence. The rumor spread and the voices of accusations rose until some people threatened to kill the poor bishop, who protested and maintained that he was innocent. He was given until three o’clock in the afternoon of the following day to prove his innocence.
That night Basil kept a vigil in his small church and then went out to the Cathedral of the Annunciation and prayed fervently before the icon of the Mother of God. Placing all his hope in the Most Holy Theotokos and taking the icon in his arms, he went to the Oka River where the people and nobles were waiting for him, ready to expel him. He took his mount and spread it on the surface of the water, then stood on it, holding the icon in his hands. Then he walked quickly on the water against the current. When the people of Murom saw this miracle, they cried out with tears: “Holy Bishop of God, Basil, forgive your sinful servants!” In this way the bishop reached Ryazan, where he was given a splendid reception and the people begged him to stay with them. Since then the See of Murom was transferred to Ryazan and the icon of the Mother of God is still there in the cathedral to this day.
The saint spent several years in Ryazan in peace and then had to flee to Paraislavl because of the Tatar invasion. There he reposed in peace in 1295. On June 10, 1609, it was discovered that his relics had not decomposed.
In addition to his feast day on July 3, the Russian Church has several feast days (the finding of his relics, the feast of the Ryazan Saints, the feast of the saint and the icon) (April 12, May 21, June 5, June 10, and July 10). Believers seek his help especially in their travels by land and sea.
