August 2 is the feast day of Saint Basil the Fool, aka Basil the Blessed, Wonderworker of Moscow, Blessed Basil of Moscow, or Fool for Christ;

Born to serfs in December of 1468 or 1469, he was originally a shoemaker in Moscow. He adopted an eccentric lifestyle of shoplifting and giving to the poor to shame the miserly and help those in need.

He went naked and weighed himself down with chains. He rebuked Ivan the Terrible for not paying attention in church and for his violent behaviour towards the innocent. When he died on August 2, 1552 or 1557, St Macarius, Metropolital of Moscow served his funeral with many clergy. Ivan the Terrible himself was one of the pallbearers.

He is buried in what most Westerners call St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, although the real name is Trinity Church. In an interesting twist of history, the world remembers The Fool for Christ in one of the most magnificent pieces of architecture of all time.