89 (273). To Meletius, Bishop of Antioch
LETTERS
89. To Meletius, Bishop of Antioch l The good God, in providing us with occasions for friendly greetings to your Honor, soothes the intensity of our longing. He Himself is witness of the desire which we have to see you personally and to en joy your excellent and soul-profiting instruction. And now, through our fellow deacon, the most pious and zealous brother Dorotheus/ who is going to you, we beseech you in the first place to pray for us, that we may not become an obstacle to the people, nor a hindrance to your prayers of supplication to the Lord. Next, we also suggest that you deign to give directions through the brother just mentioned. Moreover, if there is any need of writing to our brethren in the West, do you yourself dictate the letter, which ought, of necessity, be carried to them by one of our men. For, since we have met Sabin us, the deacon they sent, we have written to the Illyrian bishops and to the bishops throughout
Italy and Gaul, and also to some of those who wrote personally to us. Furthermore, it would be well advised for some one to be sent as from a general synod carrying a second letter; do you yourself have it written.
I For Meletius, Bishop of Antioch, cf. Letters 57 and 68. This letter was written before Easter, 372.
2 Dorotheus was a deacon of the Church of Antioch and of the com. munion of Meletius. SI. Basil had used him the year before to carry two letters to SI. Athanasius, asking him to use his influence with the bishops of the West so that they would intervene and heal the schism of the Church in Antioch by uniting all under Mdetius. Cf. Letters
48, 50, and 52. Toward the end of the same year, SI. Basil again sent Dorotheus to SI. Athanasius with letters for Pope Damasus and the Western bishops, asking for assistance in uniting the East. Cf. Letter
52. Dorotheus spent the winter in Italy but was unable to accomplish any good. He returned in 372 with letters from Pope Damasus to St.
Basil and 51. Athanasius which testified to their unity of faith. Cf.
Letters 61, 62, and 273. 51. Basil is now sending Dorotheus to Meletius requesting him to draw up more urgent letters to the bishops of the 'Vest.