32 (84). To the Master Sophronius
SAINT BASIL
whom I have the right to give this name, not only as a title of respect, but because of the natural relationship existing between us, for we are of the same blood.
Your Honor is not una ware of the nature of the illness he suffers. It grieves us that he has been deprived of all hope of relief, since those who have the gift of healing have not been able to give him any alleviation with their accustomed remedies. Therefore, he again implores the aid of your prayers, and we, too, urge you to intercede for him in your usual manner, both because of your own compassion for the sick and for our sake who are interceding for him, and indeed, if possible, summon to yourself the most pious of the brothers, so that treatment may be procured for him under your very eyes. If this is impossible, then be so kind as to send him forward with letters and recommendations.
32. To the Master Sophronius l Our brother Gregory, 2 the bishop, dearly beloved of God,3 is sharing the benefit of these times. For he, also, in common with everyone else, suffers the buffetings of successive slanders
Sophronius was a nalive of Cappadocia and a school companion of S1.
Basil and St. Gregory. who became very prominent in the civil affairs of the country. In 365 he was appointed prefect of Constantinople as a reward for warning the Emperor Valens of the attempted usurpation by I'rocopius; d. Amm. Marc. 25.9. He is known ~hiefty f~om l.he le~ lers of St. Basil and St. Gregory. who were contmually mvokmg hIS aid for various persons; cf. Letters 76. 96. 177. 180. 192.272; also Greg.
Naz .• Letters 21. 22. 29. 37. 39. 135. This letter was written in 369.
2 St. Gregory of NazianlUs is meant here. As he was not a bishop at t~is time. Maran suggests that ho episcopos is a marginal gloss whIch crept into the text. This cannot refer to Gregory the Elder. because he did not adopt the monastic life.
3 Theophilestatos-a title of distinction which St. Basil uses for bishops only.
LETTERS
showered upon him like unexpected blows. For, men who do not fear God and who are, perhaps, hard pressed by the greatness of their troubles now insolently threaten him on the ground that Caesarius4 borrowed money from them.
The loss of the money is, indeed, not serious, for he long ago learned to despise riches; but, since the executors had received very little of Caesarius' wealth, his estate having fallen into the hands of slaves and of men no better in character than slaves, who freely divided among themselves the articles of most value, they, the executors, had very little left, and believed that this little belonged to no one. They, therefore, both of their own deliberate choice and because of the request of the departed, immediately used it for those in need. For, it is reported that he said when dying: 'I want the poor to have all my possessions'; therefore, as administrators of the will of Caesarius, they distributed this property with all expediency. And now, both the poverty of a Christian and the continual haranguings of demagogues encompass him. 5 So, it occurred to me to give an explanation to your Honor, so worthy of all praise, in order that you might discuss with the Prefect of the Treasury the matter of a reasonable solution concerning him, and at one and the same time show esteem for the man whom you have known of old, glorify the Lord who receives as done for Him whatever is done for His servants, and honor us, your special friend,
4 Gregory's brother; cf Letter 26. Caesarius had died. bequeathing all his property to the. poor and leaving St. Gregory as exec.utor. However. servants looted the house. so that St. Gregory found a comparatively small amount of money. Furthermore. a number of persons presented themselves shortly afterwards as creditors of the estate. and their claims. through incapable of proof, were paid. Others then came forward until no more were admitted. Then a lawsuit was threatened. To p'ut an end to all this. St. Basil wrote this letter to Sophronius. seeking his aid. Cf.
Greg. Naz .• Letter 29.
5 I.e .• St. Gregory, the priest. must deal with creditors and claimants.
SAINT BASIL
and also might in your great wisdom devise a means of relief from these insulting and intolerable disturbances.
Surely, no one is so ignorant of Gregory as to suspect anything unseemly on his part, such as scheming in this affair because he was fond of money. The proof of his liberality is obvious. He has gladly given up the remainder of Caesarius' property to the Treasury, which possessions have been taken over, and the advocate of the Treasury answers those attacking him and demands proofs, for we ourselves are unfitted to attend to such matters. Your Excellency may ascertain that, as long as it was possible, no one went away from him without obtaining what he wished, but each one carried away without difficulty what he sought. As a result, many are sorry that they did not ask for more in the first place, and this has made the number of slanderers especially large.
For, keeping in mind the example of the first recipients, one false claimant after another appears.
We urge your Dignity, 6 therefore, to take a stand against all these abuses, to hold back the flood, as it were, and entirely to break off the succession of evils. But, you are well aware of how you can aid in this matter, so that you need not wait for us to teach you the manner; because of our inexperience in world affairs we are ignorant in this case, also, of how we may obtain deliverance. Therefore, be yourself the counselor and administrator, devising, through your own great wisdom, the form of the aid.
6 Semnoteta-a title of address used by St. Basil for both dergymen and laymen.