Case file · Folklore / legend
Basil the Blessed foretells the Moscow fire
Moscow tradition says the holy fool Basil wept before a church on the eve of the great fire of June 1547, which destroyed much of the city; the fire set off a riot against the Glinsky family.
1547 CE · 55.75, 37.62 · status: legend
The account
Basil (died 1552 or 1557) went naked in winter, rebuked Ivan the Terrible and became Moscow's most loved yurodivy (fool for Christ). He was buried by the new Intercession Cathedral on Red Square, which came to be known by his name. His Life contains many prophecies of this kind.
The sceptical view
The prophecy is known from his later Life; the fire and riot are documented.