Metr. Basilio was born on [[July 18]], 1937 in Vittoria (near Ragusa, [[Sicily]]). In 1981 he was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[priest]] in the [[Russian Orthodox Church]]. In 1995 he became [[bishop]] of Ostia under a moderate [[jurisdiction]] of [[Greek Old Calendarists]] movement. In 1996 he became orthodox [[Archbishop]] of Ostia. In 2008 he joined the [[Orthodox Church in Italy]], as vicar of [[Antonio (de Rosso) of Ravenna|Metropolitan Antonio]] and Archbishop of Florence. After Metropolitan Antonio's death, on 16 March 2009 he became the new Archbishop of [[Ravenna]] and [[L'Aquila]] and [[Metropolitan]] of Italy.