Basil of Ancyra (Βασίλειος ὁ Ἀγκύρας) was a 4th-century physician and Christian bishop of Ancyra (modern Ankara). He was a prominent leader of the Homoiousian theological party, which argued the Son was "of like substance" (homoiousios) with the Father, seeking a middle path between Nicene orthodoxy and Arianism [1][2][3]. He played a key role at the Council of Ancyra in 358 CE, which opposed radical Anomoean Arianism, and faced periods of exile for his theological stance before his death around 364 CE [1][2][3]. While noted as a physician by contemporary historians, details of his medical practice are not elaborated in major sources.

His only extant work is the treatise On Virginity (Περὶ παρθενίας), a text on Christian asceticism [1][2].

Basil was a significant figure in the mid-4th-century Christological controversies. His leadership of the Homoiousians represented a major attempt at doctrinal compromise, and the Council of Ancyra importantly shaped imperial religious policy [1][2][3]. His treatise On Virginity remains a valuable source for understanding early Christian ascetic thought.

Sources 1. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Plato.stanford.edu): https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/byzantine-philosophy/#ChrTheFouCen 2. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (IEP.utm.edu): https://iep.utm.edu/basil-of-ancrya/ 3. Encyclopædia Britannica (Britannica.com): https://www.britannica.com/biography/Basil-of-Ancyra