120 (58). To Meletius, Bishop of Antioch
LETTERS
How these things are to be remedied should be the care of your Intelligence to consider. For, the charges fabricated against us by Sophronius are not a prelude of blessings, but a beginning of division and separation, and a striving to cool the charity in us. And we urge that he be restrained by your
Mercifulness from this harmful attack, and that your Charity attempt rather to bind together the parts which are disunited and not to intensify the separation of those who are eager for a division.
120. To Metetius, Bishop of Antioch!
I received a letter from Bishop Eusebius, dearly beloved of God, enjoining us to write again to the Western bishops concerning certain ecclesiastical affairs, and he wanted us to write the letter to be signed by all who are in communion.
But, since I did not see how I could write about the matters which he commanded, I have sent the memorandum to your
Reverence, so that you yourself, after reading it and b~ing attentive to the reports from the most beloved brother Sanctissimus,2 our fellow presbyter, may deign to write' about these affairs as seems best to you. We are ready to subscribe
For the identity of Meletius, d. Letter 66 n. 6. Previous letters addressed to Meletius are Letters 57, 68. and 89. This letter was probably written in 372. Letters 120. 121. 122. 129. and 130 are all related in the matter of chronology. Tillemont and the Benedictine editors agree as to the dating. but disagree in the identity of certain of the persons. Loofs. op. cit. 29. disagrees with the dating. but his arguments do not substantiate his claims.
2 Tillemont thinks that Sanctissimus was a priest from the West because of his Latin name. The Benedictines. however. consider him a presbyter of Antioch, since Roman names were common there. The Interest in Eastern affairs displayed by Sanctissimus, and the fact that St. Basil calls him his 'fellow presbyter' and sends him on several im_ portant missions. would indicate that he was an Eastern presbyter.
SAINT BASIL
to this and to have it quickly carried around to those in communion, so that he who is to go to the bishops of the West may set out with all the signatures. Give orders that we be informed immediately of what your Holiness has in mind, so that we may not be ignorant of your decisions.
Now, concerning the charges which are being concocted or even are already fabricated against us in Antioch, the same brother will report to your Honor, if a previous account of the happenings has not already made the circumstances clearly known to you. For, in truth, the hope of terminating the threats is near at hand. But, I want your Reverence to know that our brother Anthimus3 has made Faustus,4 who is with the pope,5 a bishop, without his having received the votes, and has appointed him in the place of our most revered brother Cyril. As a result, he has filled Armenia with dissensions. Accordingly, that they may not make false reports concerning us, and, also that we ourselves may not be blamed for the confusion of these acts, I have given your Dignity this information. Without doubt, you yourself will deign to make this known to the rest, for I think that many will be distressed at this disorder.
3 In 371, Anthimus., a contentious and ambitious prelate. claimed to be Metropolitan of Cappadocia Secunda with his diocese Tyana as a metro. politan see. He was joined by those prelates who opposed S1. Basil's election to the see of Caesarea.
4 All information about Faustus is procured from Letters 120, 121, and 122.
5 The title 'pope' was originally employed with great latitude. In the East it has always been used to designate simple priests. In the West, however, it seems always to have been restricted to bishops. It was prob· ably in the fourth century that it became a distinctive title of the Roman
Pontiff, and this was finally prescribed by Gregory VII. It is not known to whom S1. Basil is referring.