Basil Shuang

Basil Shuang
Born	(1888-12-23)23 December 1888 Beijing, Qing Dynasty China
Died	3 January 1962(1962-01-03) (aged 73) Beijing, People's Republic of China
Education	Theological seminary at the Russian Spiritual Mission in Beijing
Church	Russian Orthodox Church (Chinese Orthodox Church as an autonomous church under ROC)
Ordained	1915 (deacon), 1948 (priest and monk), 1957 (bishop)
Title	Bishop of Beijing (Eastern Orthodox Church)

Bishop Basil (Chinese: 主教瓦西里, born Yao Fu'an, Chinese: 姚福安, or Yao Shuanglin, Chinese: 姚双林; 23 December 1888 – 3 January 1962) was the bishop of the Chinese Orthodox Church, who served as bishop of Beijing.

Biography

He was born in Beijing on December 23, 1888. He graduated from theological seminary at the Russian Orthodox Mission in Beijing, and was ordained to the diaconate on May 11, 1915, by Bishop Innocent (Figurovsky).

He served a deacon during 33 years. In 1948 was ordained to the priesthood. He was elevated to the rank of hegumen in 1948. In 1951, Patriarch Alexy I of Moscow consecrated him as bishop of Tianjin, however Yao did not accept the patriarch's consecration.

In May 1957, he was consecrated as bishop of Beijing. His service continued until the year of 1962 when he died in January of that year.

He was among the only two Chinese priests who became Orthodox bishops. The other was Bishop Symeon Du of Shanghai. After his death, no succeeding bishops were elected in Beijing. The position remains vacant.