68 (57). To Meletius, Bishop of Antioch
LETTERS
As a consequence, it is entirely necessary and at the same time advantageous for some to be united with this man, as small streams unite with great rivers, and for some proper regulation to be made for the others which will bring peace to the people, and will be in accord with your intelligence and with your renowned skill and zeal. As your unsurpassed3
Wisdom is not unaware, these same arrangements are already satisfactory on the whole to your co-religionists in the West, as the letter brought to us by the blessed Sylvanus· declares.
68. To Metetius, Bishop of Antioch1 Hitherto, we wished to keep the most pious2 brother Dorotheus,3 our fellow deacon, with us, so that at the end of our negotiations we might send him back to acquaint your Honor with the details of what has taken place. But, since we had long delayed, postponing matters from day to day, and since at the same time a certain plan occurred to us for action to be taken in our perplexity, we dispatched this same brother to meet your Holiness, personally to report everything, and to set forth our suggestion. Our purpose was that, if our ideas should appear to be useful, your Excellency should zealously strive for their realization.
Now, to put it briefly, the opinion has prevailed that this same brother of ours, Dorotheus, should go to Rome and 3 Anhyperbleton_a title of distinction which St. Basil uses for both clergymen and laymen.
4 The identity of Sylvanus cannot be determined.
1 The same Bishop Meletius of whom St. Basil speaks with such esteem in the preceding letter. Cf. also Letter 66 n. 4. The letter is of the same date as the preceding.
2 Eulabestaton_a title of distinction used by St. Basil for the lower ranks of the clergy. but never for bishops.
11 Cf. Letter 67.