About - Saint Basil Academy

Mission

Saint Basil Academy is the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese’s home for children in need. Located in the beautiful Hudson Valley of New York, our mission is to provide a safe and loving Orthodox Christian environment where resident children, Orthodox and non-Orthodox alike, are nurtured to become healthy members of society with vision and hope.

Saint Basil Academy also serves faithful of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and other visitors from around the world. It is our larger responsibility to serve and support the congregation of priests, laity and youth in our Orthodox community through our Trainings and Retreats at Saint Basil. If our congregation and community thrives, so will our children.

Hear Saint Basil Academy Executive Director, Constantine L. Sitaras, describe life at Saint Basil:

History

Saint Basil Academy was founded in 1944 under Archbishop Athenagoras with the great assistance of the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society. Although it began as an orphanage, Saint Basil Academy has continued to evolve over the last eight decades to become what it is today: a well-equipped residential care center responding to the ever-evolving needs of children and families in crisis.

Campus

The Saint Basil Academy campus is located on 150 acres of land in Garrison, NY, on the banks of the Hudson River. It overlooks the historic West Point Academy. It is home to abundant wildlife such as nesting sites for bald eagles and borders-protected National Audubon Society marshlands.

The campus is also home to several buildings of great architectural and historical significance, such as our Main Building which was previously the home of Colonel Jacob Ruppert (former National Guardsman, New York Congressman, and owner of the New York Yankees), the AHEPA School building, Nicholas J Sumas Learning Center, Daughters of Penelope indoor swimming pool, Pan-Arcadian Hall and the memorial Chapel gifted by the Chirgotis family, to name a few.

Stay tuned for a soon-to-be video tour of all the beautiful buildings. We are abundantly grateful for all of the significant support from our generous donors. The campus also contains numerous hiking trails, vistas, and scenic places for contemplation, exploration, training and retreat. Locate us here.

Chapel

Join our Chapel services which not only support our residents but are open to the broader community and serves our neighbors in the area. It is located on our campus. All are welcome! Find our chapel schedule here.

Saint Basil the Great

Saint Basil, always compassionate to those who needed assistance, was the first to establish orphanages, hospitals, and homes for the aged in the 4th century. Together, these institutions became known as “Basiliada,” philanthropic societies serving those in need. Saint Basil is revered as one of the greatest Fathers of the Church: He died at forty-nine years old on January 1, 379 A.D.

Born to a wealthy and distinguished family in Caesarea, Asia Minor, in 330 A.D., Saint Basil was educated in Constantinople and Athens, the cultural centers of the world. Although he received a secular education and became an outstanding scholar, he abandoned school for the contemplation found in the ascetic life.

Consequently, he returned to Caesarea in 356 and distributed his fortune to the poor. He was joined by this friend Gregory (Nazianzos) the Theologian in 358 and, together, the two founded several monasteries. In 364, Saint Basil was ordained to the priesthood and then, in 370, he was elected Bishop of Caesarea.

Saint Basil continued to offer his talents to the church by arranging the Liturgy that bears his name which is celebrated ten times a year (Christmas Eve, January 1st, January 5th, the five Sundays of Great Lent, Holy Thursday, and Holy Saturday). Saint Basil also wrote several exegetical and doctrinal treatises which paved the way for the triumph of Orthodoxy at the Second Ecumenical Council in 381. St. Basil’s day is celebrated on January 1st.

Together with Saint Gregory the Theologian and Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Basil the Great is recognized as one of the three great hierarchs of the Orthodox Church. The Church celebrates the feast of these venerable Three Hierarchs on January 30th.

Saint Basil Academy, which provides shelter and nurtures children and families, bears the name of Saint Basil in his honor.

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