115 (87). To the Heretic Simplicia
SAINT BASIL
Now the following conditions, I am convinced, are not objectionable to you, and are sufficient assurance in themselves for the brethren mentioned above-namely, that you profess the faith as set forth by our Fathers once assembled in Nicaea and deny not a single one of the statements there, but realize that the three hundred and eighteen, coming together without contention, did not speak without the operation of the Holy Spirit; and that you add to that Creed also that one must not say that the Holy Spirit is a creature, nor, moreover, be in communion with those who say it, that thus the Church of God may be pure, having no admixture of weeds. If this certainty is offered to them by your Mercifulness, they are also ready to exhibit a like submission to you.
I pledge myself on the part of the brethren that they will in no way oppose, but will show to you all good behavior in the highest degree, if this one thing sought by them is readily offered by your Perfection.
115. To the Heretic Simplicial Ill-advisedly do men heap abominations upon their betters and indulge their inferiors. Therefore, I myself now restrain my tongue, stifling by silence any rebuke for the insolence
The tone of this letter (written in 372 or 373) is entirely different from that of St. Basil"s other letters. but there seems no reason for questioning its authenticity. The circumstances referred to in the letter can be understood from Letter 38 of St. Gregory of Nazianzus. It appears that a certain church in Cappadocia elected as its bishop the slave of a very wealthy woman called Simplicia. who was very generous but of suspected orthodoxy. St. Basil and St. Gregory unwisely ordained the man before receiving the permission of his owner, who in her anger threatened St. Basil with the vengeance of her slaves afld eunuchs. In this letter St. Basil answers her threats. After the death of St. Basil she directed her efforts to St. Gregory in order to compel him to annul the ordination. Cf. Maran. Vita Rasi/ii, xxv. The Migne edition states
LETTERS
directed against me. I shall wait for the Judge above who knows how to finally avenge every evil. For, even though a person should pour out money more plentifully than sand, he injures his soul if he tramples upon justice. Now, God always demands a sacrifice, not, I mean, as if needing it, yet accepting a pious and righteous mind as a precious sacrifice. But, when anyone treads on his own soul by transgressing, God considers his prayers profane.
Therefore, be mindful of the last day, and do not, if you please, argue with us. We have more knowledge than you, and we are not so choked within with thoms, nor do we mix tenfold evil with a few virtues. You have roused up against us lizards and toads,2 creatures of spring, forsooth, but unclean ones. However, a bird will come from above to devour them. For, the account I must render is not according to what you think, but as God knows how to judge. And, if there is also need of witnesses, slaves will not take the stand, nor the ignominious and utterly abandoned race of eunl.!chsthis they certainly are, neither man nor woman, lustful, envious, venal, quick-tempered, effeminate, gluttonous, avaricious, rough, querulous about their dinner, unstable, niggardly, acquisitive, insatiable, mad, and jealous. And what further is it possible to say? Condemned to the knife at their very birth, how can their minds really be straight, whose very feet are twisted? They are chaste without reward-as a result of the that the Codex Caesareus 67 contains the following prefatory note for this letter: 'Letter of the same to Simplicia. about her eunuchs. She was a heretic. Now. when Basil was ill. and was entering a bath to wash. the same Simplicia ordered her eunuchs and maids to throw his towels outside; and straightway the just judgment of God destroyed some of them. And the same Simplicia sent money to the same blessed Basil to make amends for her insult. but he would not receive them and wrote this to her: The writer of this comment was evidently unacquainted with the letter of St. Gregory of Nazianzus quoted above.
2 Apparently. the slaves and eunuchs.