154 (337). To Ascholius, Bishop of Thessalonica
LETTERS
we return thanks to God because you continue to be mindful of us, and do not because of any slander lessen the love which formerly, either by a wise judgment or a kindly practice, you consented to entertain for us. Therefore, we pray to the holy
God both that you may persevere in the same disposition toward us and that we may be worthy of the honor which you bestowed on us through your letter.
154. To Ascholius, Bishop of Thessalonica 1 You have acted rightly and according to the law of spiritual charity in having begun the correspondence between us and ."tirred us to a like zeal by your good example. For, the friendship of the world needs the eyes and a personal meeting to initiate an acquaintance therefrom. But, those who know how to love spiritually do not use the flesh as the promoter of friendship; on the contrary, they are led to the spiritual union through the fellowship of the faith. Therefore, thanks be to the Lord, who has consoled our hearts by showing that not among all has charity grown cold, but that there are somewhere in the world men who reveal the stamp of Christ's teaching. Accordingly, your office seemed to me to be like that of the stars, which in their nightly concourse give light, some to one part of the heavens and others to another; whose splendor is most beautiful, and more beautiful, perhaps, because of their unexpectedness. And such are you, the lights of the churches, very few and easily numbered in this gloomy
Ascholius baptized Theodosius at Thessalonica in 380 and was present at the Council of Constantinople in 381. Cf. Letters 164 and 165; also
Socrates, Ecc. Hist. 5.6,8. Letter 15 of St. Ambrose was written at the death of Ascholius. In it St. Ambrose says of Ascholius: 'Ad summum sacerdotillm a Macedonicis obsecratus populis, elect us a sacerdotibus:
This letter was written in 373.
SAINT BASIL
state of affairs, shining, as it were, in the moonless night, and, besides possessing the charm of virtue, being yet more dearly beloved because of the infrequency with which you are found.
Your letter revealed sufficiently your disposition toward us. Even if it was brief in the number of its syllables, at least in the correctness of thought it gave adequate proof to us of your principles. Now, the fact that you have been concerned about the most blessed Athanasius is the clearest evidence that you are sound in the most important matters. In return, therefore, for the pleasure derived from your letter we express our great gratitude to our most honorable son
Euphemius, 2 for whom I, on my part, pray that there may be every assistance from the Holy One. I urge you also to pray with us, in order that we may quickly receive him back with his most modest3 wife, our daughter in the Lord. And let me urge you, too, not to stay our happiness at its beginning, but to write on every occasion that is offered and by the frequency of your communication to increase your love toward us. Tell us also about the churches there, whether they are in accord, and pray for us here, so that there may be a great calm among us, too, after our Lord has rebuked the wind and the sea.
2 The bearer of the leller from Ascholius to Sl. Basil.
3 Kosmiotdtes-a title of distinction applied by St. Basil to laymen.