121 (195). To Theodotus, Bishop of Nicopolis
LETTERS
121. To Theodotus, Bishop of Nicopolis1 The winter is bitter and prolonged, so that we do not readily have the consolation of letters. For this reason, I realize,
I have seldom written to your Reverence or received letters from you. But since the most beloved brother Sanctissimus, our fellow presbyter, has undertaken a journey to you, through him I salute your Modesty and urge you to pray for me and to lend your ear to the brother just mentioned, so that you may learn from him the condition of affairs in the churches and may bring all possible zeal to the tasks lying before you.
I want you to know that Faustus came to us with a letter from a pope, asking that he be made a bishop. When we demanded a testimonial from your Reverence and from the other bishops, he disregarded us and went to Anthimus, and, after having received the appointment from him, without any mention being made of us, he returned.
I On the same subject and of the same date as the preceding letter. and one of the two (cf. Letter 130) extant letters of St. Basil to Theodotus.
Theodotus. Bishop of Nicopolis and Metropolitan of Lesser Armenia. was an aged prelate of noble character and unquestioned soundness of faith. and was highly esteemed by St. Basil. Theodotus. however. sus· pected Eustat\lius of Sebaste of heresy. and. when St. Basil showed himself unwilling to believe the suspicions and manifested an evident friendship for him. Theodotus turned his suspicions on St. Basil and refused to co-operate with him in the appointment of bishops to Lesser
Armenia.