Editing Basilides (section)

===Epiphany===
Although we have no evidence that Basilides, like some others, regarded [[Baptism of Jesus|Jesus's Baptism]] as the time when a Divine being first was joined to Jesus of Nazareth, it seems clear that he attached some unusual significance to the event. St. Hippolytus of Rome implied that Basilides regarded the Baptism as the occasion when Jesus received "the Gospel" by a Divine illumination.<ref>[[s:Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume V/Hippolytus/The Refutation of All Heresies/Book VII/Part 14|St. Hippolytus of Rome, ''Philosophumena'' Book vii.]]</ref>

"They of Basilides," says Clement,<ref>''Strom.'' i. 146, p. 408.</ref> "celebrate the day of His Baptism by a preliminary night-service of [Scripture] readings." The Venice MS. states that the Basilideans celebrated the night before the Epiphany singing and flute-playing in a heathen temple at Alexandria: so that probably the Basilidian rite was a modification of an old local custom.<ref>{{harvnb|Hort|1911}} cites Venice MS. ii. 483 Dind.: iii. 632 Oehler.</ref>