35 (236). Without an Address, in Behalf of Leontius
LETTERS
zeal for that which is honorable. May the Lord graciously preserve you to us and to His churches for the improvement of our lives and the amendment of our souls, and may He deem us worthy of the benefit of seeing you again.
35. Without an Address, in Behalf of Leontius1 I have already written to you and shall often write even more concerning many persons on the ground that they are kinsmen of miIl:e. For, the needy are always with us, nor are we able to deny them a favor. Besides, no one is dearer to me nor more able to give me relief by his prosperity than my most revered brother, Leontius. So, treat his household as if you were coming to me myself, not in the state of poverty in which I now am with God, but as though I had obtained some wealth and was possessed of lands. For, it is evident you would not make me a poor man, but would guard my present possessions, or even augment my wealth. This, then, we entreat you to do in the case of the household of the aforementioned man. And for this you will receive from me the customary reward-a prayer to the holy God for your labors-a reward for your honesty, and goodness, and forestalling care of those in need.
1 Written before St. Basil's episcopate. asking that justice be done in the assessments to Leontius. the same to whom Letter 21 was addressed.