57 (56). To Meletius, Bishop of Antioch
LETTERS
57. To Meletius, Bishop of Antiochl If the intensity of the joy with which you inspire us as often as you write were at all evident to your Reverence, I know that you would never have passed by any pretext offered you for writing. On the contrary, you would have contrived many excuses for sending us letters on every occasion, since you know the reward reserved by our loving Master for relieving the afflicted. For, everything here is replete with grief, and the thought of your Holiness is our only refuge from these evils. This thought is brought to us more vividly in your correspondence, letters full of all wisdom and grace. As a result, whenever we take your letter into our hands, first we notice its length, and we love it the more in proportion as it surpasses the usual length. Then we read it through, and we are always delighted with every word that meets our eyes. But, we are disappointed when we approach the end, so good is everything that you say in your letters! For, that is good which overflows from a good heart.
But, if we should be considered worthy because of your prayers not only to meet you in person while we are upon earth, but also to receive from your living voice beneficial instructions or provisions for the journey of our present and future life, we would esteem this the greatest of blessings, and regard it as the prelude of God's favor toward us. Indeed, we would already be following our desire if our brothers, most true and beloved in all respects, had not detained us.
Now, in order that I may not, through my letter, make public r Meletius had been exiled from Antioch in 364 because of his ortho. doxy, although he was not in full communion with the Catholics. This letter was written in 371. St. Basil's statement that the Church of Caesarea was still in an unfortunate state confirms this date.