81 (319). To Bishop Innocent
SAINT BASIL
the greatness of their benefit to us, you would never have let pass any opportunity of writing which was offered to you.
And, if we should be accounted worthy, by the aid of your prayers, to see you, to enjoy noble gifts, and to add to the story of our life the meeting with your truly great and apostolic soul, we would assuredly consider that we had received from the loving kindness of God a consolation compensating for all we have suffered in our whole life.
81. To Bishop Innocenti As I was delighted at receiving your Charity's letter, so in the same measure was I grieved because you have placed upon us a burden of responsibilities which exceeds our strength. For, how shall we be able, from so great a distance, to be in charge of such an important administration?
Doubtless, as long as the Church possesses you, it rests, as it were, on its own supports. But, if the Lord makes some dispensation of your life, who as revered as you can I send out from here to care for the brethren? What you honorably and sensibly requested in your letter, desiring in your lifeti.me to see him who is to rule the chosen flock of the Lord after you, that the blessed Moses also desired and saw. Therefore, since the position is important and much talked of, and your work is well known to many, and since the times are difficult and in need of a mighty pilot in the face of the continual squalls and the floods rising up against the Church, I did not think it safe for my soul to treat the matter perfunctorily.
Especially was I mindful of what you have written, that you 1 This letter is assigned by Wittig to St. John Chrysostom. Cf. Letter 50 n. l. The Benedictines ascribe it to St. Basil. written in 372.
LETTERS
intend to oppose me before the Lord, citing me for negligence concerning the churches.
In order, then, that I may not go to trial with you, but rather may find in you a companion in my defense before Christ, I looked around in the meeting of the presbyters in the city and chose as a most honorable vessel the offspring of the blessed Hermogenes,2 who in the great CounciP wrote the important and inviolable profession of faith. This man has been a presbyter of the Church for many years, is steadfast in character, fully acquainted with the canons, undeviating in faith, and has lived a life up to the present time of self-control and asceticism, even though the rigor of his austere living has already wasted away his flesh. He is poor and has no means of livelihood in this world, so that he does not even have enough bread, but together with the brethren who are associated with him makes a living by the work of his hands. It is my desire to send him.
If, then, you need such a man as this and not, rather, some younger person fit only to serve as a messenger and to fulfill routine secular duties, be so kind as to write me at the very first opportunity, in order that I may send you this man who is chosen of God, suitable for the work, and revered by those who come in contact with him. He also instructs his opponents with meekness. I could, indeed, have sent him out immediately, but, since you had first requested a man both honorable and beloved by me in other respects, but far inferior to the one mentioned above, I wished to make
2 He was the spiritual offspring of Hermogenes. who had ordained him.
Hermogenes had been Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia and the pred. ecessor of Dianius. Cf. Letters 244 and 263.
3 I.e .• at Nicaea. St. Basil seems to forget that Leonlius was present at Nicaea as Bishop of Caesarea. Hermogenes may have been present in lower orders and may have written the creed.