Basil the Confessor (died 750) was an Eastern Orthodox saint who lived in the 8th century and was tortured by the Byzantine Emperor Leo III. With his pupil Prokopy, St. Basil the Confessor, who was a monk, was imprisoned for venerating icons, since at that time it was prohibited. After Leo III died in 741, St. Basil was taken out of prison. He died in 750 and is venerated February 28 (New Style; March 13 Old Style).