St. Basil the Blessed (d. 1552), a Muscovite whose status as a "holy fool" earned him the privilege of speaking uncomfortable truths. He would wander naked through the streets of Moscow, praying and bearing witness.
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He would throw stones at the houses of people who made a display of their piety ("Devils lay siege to those") while kissing the pavement before houses of ills repute ("Angels weep over these"). Even Tsar Ivan the Terrible feared the holy man.
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One time Basil presented the Tsar with a piece of raw meat during the Lenten fast. When the Tsar protested that he did not eat meat during Lent, Basil responded: "Then why do you drink the blood of men?" After his death, the cathedral of Moscow was named for this Holy Fool.

Aug 2, 2019 · 12:59 PM UTC
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