70 (220). Without Address, concerning a Synod
SAINT BASIL
out immediately on the first voyage, so that some of the things for which we prayed can be accomplished at least next year.
Now, this you yourself will understand even before we speak and you certainly will be careful that, when these men take charge, if God wills it, they will not start schisms in the churches, but will in every way draw together into unity those holding the same doctrines, even if they find some who have personal reasons for differences with each other. This is necessary, lest the orthodox people, revolting with their leaders, should be split into many factions. For there is need of zealous endeavor that everything be considered secondary to peace, and that before all else attention be given to the Church at Antioch, so that the sound part may not become weak by being divided on the question of the Persons.7 Or, rather, you yourself will hereafter care for all these matters when, as we pray, with God's help you will find all entrusting to you the affairs. pertaining to the present condition of the churches.
70. Without Address, concerning a Synod!
To renew bonds characteristic of the early love and again to restore to vigor the peace of the Fathers, the heavenly and saving gift of Christ, which has been dimmed by time, is for us both essential and advantageous, and it will be, I well know, a pleasure to your Christ-loving spirit. For, what could be more pleasing than to see men who are separated by such great distances bound in a union of love into one harmonious
7 I.e .• of the Godhead.
I This letter is considered by all. including Tillemont and the Benedic. tine editors. as addressed to Pope Damasus. It was written in the autumn of 371.
LETTERS
membership in the body of Christ? Almost the whole East, most honorable Father (and by the East I mean the regions from Illyricum to Egype) is being shaken by a mighty storm and flood. The old heresy sown by Arius, the enemy of truth, is now shamelessly springing up, like a bitter root that yields deadly fruit, and is finally prevailing. For, as a result of calumny and abuse, the champions of sound faith in each diocese have been banished from the Church, and the control of affairs has been handed over to those who are leading captive the souls of purest faith. We have awaited one solution of the difficulties-the visitation of your Mercifulness. 3
Indeed, in times past, your incredible charity has always attracted us and we for a short time regained strength in our soul because of the joyful report that we should have a visitation from you. But, we are utterly disappointed in our hope, and, being no longer able to endure, we have resorted to an exhortation by letter, asking you to rouse yourselves to our assistance and send some of the like-minded brethren either to reconcile those at variance or to restore to friendship the churches of God, or, at least, to make more evident to you those responsible for the confusion. This will also make it clear to you with whom you ought for the future to have communion.
We do not at all seek something new, but what has been customary both with the other blessed men of 01d,4 who 2 Roughly. the two eastern prefectures of Diocletian and his successors.
3 Eusplanchnias-a title of address used by St. Basil for clergymen. but not found in the works of other authors.
4 The bishops of Rome. The Benedictine edition points out that the kindness of the bishops of Rome here mentioned by St. Basil is borne out by the evidence both of Dionysius. Bishop of Corinth (d. Eusebius.
Hist. Eccl. 4.23). of Dionysius of Alexandria (Dionysius to Sixtus II in Eusebius. Hist.Eccl. 7.5). and of Eusebius himself in his history.
The troubles here referred to took place in the time of Gallienus. when the Scythians plundered Cappadocia and the neighboring countries (d.
Sozomen. Eccl. Hist. 2.6).