129 (59). To Meletius, Bishop of Antioch
SAINT BASIL
129. ToM eletius, Bishop of Antioch 1 I knew that the present charge brought against Apollinaris,2 who is so prone to say anything, would astonish the ears of your Perfection. In fact, I myself, until now, was not conscious that he had been accused. At present, however, the citizens of Sebasteia, after making investigations in some place or other, have produced these statements and are carrying a document, through which they are also trying to condemn us especially, on the ground that we hold the same opinions. It contains such expressions as these: 'Therefore, it is necessary to conceive the first identity always conjointly, or, rather, in union with the difference; saying that the second and the third are the same. For, what the Father is first, this the Son is secondly, and the Spirit thirdly. But again, what the Spirit is first, this the Son is secondly, in as far as the Lord is also the Spirit; and the Father thirdly, in as far as the Spirit is God.' And, to interpret this horrible saying more forcefully: 'that the Father is paternally the St. Meletius. Bishop of Antioch, was born in Melitene in Lesser Ar· menia, and died at Antioch in 381. He apparently believed that truth lay in delicate distinctions. but his formula was so indefinite that it is difficult even today to grasp it clearly. He was neither a thorough
Nicene nor a decided Arian. and he passed alternately as an Anomean. a Homoiousian, a Homoian, or a Neo.Nicene, seeking always to remain outside any inflexible classification, After his death his name long remained for the Eastern faithful a rallying sign and a synonym of orthodoxy. It is in this letter that St. Basil. in refuting the charge of teaching heresy, nat,nes Apollinaris as the author of the document which is being attributed to himself. The Benedictines assign this letter to the year 373. Loofs presents rather unconvincing evidence to prove that this and the following one were written in the summer of 375.
Z Apollinaris the Younger. Bishop of Laodicea. flourished during the last half of the fourth century. He was at first highly esteemed bv St. Basil and St. Athanasius for his classical culture. piety. and steadfastness to the Nicene Creed. Later. he taught that Christ had a human body and a human sensitive soul. but no rational mind, the Divine Logos taking the place of the last.
LETTERS
Son, and the Son is filially the Father, and in like manner as regards the Spirit, in so far as the Trinity is one God.'
These are the expressions that are being bruited about.
I can never believe that they are the inventions of those circulating them, although from their slanders against us I think that there is nothing they have not dared. In fact, when they wrote to some of their own followers, after adding the slander against us they introduced these statements, specifying that they were the words of heretics but not revealing the author of the document, in order that we might be considered br many to be the writer. However, their inventiveness would not have gone so far as to compose these words, I am convinced. Therefore, in order to disclaim the charge of blasphemy which was current against us, and to manifest to all that there is nothing in common between us and those who make these statements, we have been compelled to mention that man 3 as one who is approaching the impiety of Sabellius. 4 So much, then, for this matter.
However, there has come from the court a messenger announcing that, after the first resolution of the emperor, to which those who were pouring out slanders against us had roused him, a second thought had occurred to him, so that, as a result, we were not given over to the accusers nor were we surrendered to their will, as had been determined at first; at least, up to the present, there has been some delay. Now, whether matters remain the same, or whether something more lenient is decided, we shall make known to your Reverence.
And, if the former measure prevails, this also will not be hidden from you.
No doubt, the brother Sanctissimus has been with you for a long time, and what he is seeking has been made known to 3 I. e .. Apollinaris.
4 For Sabellius, d. Letter 125 n. 5.
SAINT BASIL
your Perfection. If, then, the letter to the Western bishops seems to contain anything urgent, be so kind as to draft it and send it on to us, so that we may get it signed by those who are of like mind with us, and may have ready the subscription drawn up on a separate sheet. This we can fasten to it when it is being carried around by the brother, our fellow presbyter. For, since I found nothing important in the memorandum, I did not have anything to write to those in the West. In fact, the necessary points have been taken up before, and to write superfluities is absolutely foolish. And would it not be ridiculous to be a nuisance about t~ same matters?
This, however, seemed to me to be some untouched material, as it were, and to offer grounds for a letter-to urge them not to receive without investigation the communion of those coming from the East, but, having once chosen one part, to receive the rest on the testimony of those who are already in communion and not to associate themselves with everyone who writes the Creed on a pretense, indeed, of orthodoxy.
For, thus they will find themselves in communion with those who are at odds with each other, who frequently put forward the same statements of doctrine, but fight with one another as violently as those who are most widely at variance.
In order, then, that the heresy may not be further enkindled when those who are in disagreement with each other bring forward their opposing formulae, the bishops of the West must be urged to make a distinction as regards their communion with chance-comers and communion established by written document according to the regulation of the Church. 5
5 From this passage and Letter 224 the Benedictine editors perceive two kinds of communion: the first. personal. in the Eucharist and prayer; the second, by letter.