36 (228). Without an Address, for Assistance
SAINT BASIL
36. Without an Address, for Assistance1 It has long been known to your Nobility, I think, that the presbyter of this place is my foster brother. What else, then, must I say to persuade your Excellency to look kindly upon him and to aid him in his affairs? Indeed, if you love me, as you assuredly do, then clearly you will wish to relieve with all means in your power those whom I love more than myself. What, then, is it that I request? That the assessment 2 formerly given be maintained for him. For, he indeed labors not a little in rendering service to us for our subsistence, because we, as you yourself know, possess nothing of our own, but are aided by the resources of our friends and relatives.
Therefore, look upon the household of my brother as mine, or, rather, as your own; and, in return for the good done for him, God will provide for both you and your household and your whole family His customary assistance. But, realize that it is my special concern that this man suffer no mistreatment in the assessment.
37. Without an Address, for a Foster Brotherl I am already viewing with suspicion the number of my letters. Indeed, against my will and because I cannot endure the annoyance of people begging us, I am forced to cry out.
Nevertheless, I write, since I can devise no other method of escape than to give letters each time to those asking for them.
1 Similar to the preceding and written at the same time.
2 Cf. Justin, Apol. 1.34.
1 Similar to the two preceding and of the same date.
LETTERS
Consequently, I fear lest, since many are carrying letters to you, this brother may be considered one of the many. I acknowledge that I have many friends and kinsmen in my native land and that I myself am placed in the position of a father 2 because of this dignity to which the Lord has appointed me.
But, I have only this one foster brother, the son of my nurse, and I pray that his household in which I was reared may continue under the same terms of assessment as before, in order that the presence of your Modesty, which benefits all, may not become an occasion of grief for him. However, I am, even at the present time, still supported by this household, since I have nothing of my own but am sustained by the resources of my loved ones; therefore, I entreat you to have consideration for the family in which I was brought up, inasmuch as you are preserving the necessities for my subsistence. And, in return for these favors, may God deem you worthy of eternal rest.
At any rate, I wish this fact, the truest of all, to be known to your Modesty, that the majority of his slaves accrued to him from us, as a recompense provided by our parents for our sustenance. Yet, the recompense is not altogether a gift, but a loan for life. Therefore, if he is involved in any serious trouble concerning them, 3 he may return them to us and we shall become again, in another manner, liable for payments and taxes.
2 Maran considers this to refer to his presbyterate. not to his episcopate.
3 I.e .• if the assessment is increased because of the slaves. the man may return them to St. Basil. who will himself then be responsible for the increased taxes.