98 (259). To Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata
SAINT BASIL
omit nothing as too humble to say or to do, to take no account of the length of journeys, and to shrink from no other irksome trials, so that I may meet with the reward of the peacemaker.
And if anyone follows us as we point out this way, that is excellent, and my prayer attains its end; but, if he draws away to the opposition, I shall not, in consequence, withdraw from my decision. But, each one himself on the day of retribution will recognize the fruits of his own labors.
98. To Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata1 Although I was exceedingly eager to go to Nicopolis, after receiving the letter from your Holiness containing your refusal to go, I gave up my desire, at the same time recalling all my infinnities. Moreover, I realized the perfunctory manner of those inviting me, giving us a cursory invitation through the most revered brother Hellenius,2 the assessor of Nazianzus, and not deigning to send a second messenger to remind us of these same matters or to escort us on the road. At all events, since our sins have made us an object of suspicion to them, we feared lest, perhaps, we might cloud the brightness of the festival for them by our presence. Now, with your Excellency we do not hesitate to strip ourselves for great struggles, but without you we are unequal to the task of facing even trifling afflictions. Since our discussion with them was to be on ecclesiastical matters, we have, therefore, let the time
1 This letter was written, according to Loofs (op. cit. 25), at Sebaste in the middle of June, 372.
2 A surveyor of customs at Nazianzus and a confidential friend of St.
Basil and St. Gregory of Nazianzus. He was an Armenian and had a brother who, like himself, had acquired a reputation for eloquence. In 371 Hellenius had conveyed a letter from St. Gregory to St. Basil; cf.
St. Basil, Letter 71.
LETTERS
of the festival pass, and deferred the conference until a period of quiet and tranquillity. We have also resolved to go to Nicopolis to talk over the needs of the churches with Bishop
Meletius,3 dearly beloved of God, if he should refuse the journey to Samosata. But, if he should not refuse to go, we shall accompany him, if this fact is made clear to us by both of you-by him in his answer to us concerning these matters
(for we have written), and by your Reverence.
We were intending to hold a meeting with the bishops from Cappadocia Secunda, but, since they had been given the name of another province,4 they suddenly believed that they had become of a different nation and race from us. They ignored us as completely as those who have had no acquaintance with us at all, and have never come to speak with us.
Likewise, a second interview with the most revered Bishop Eustathius was expected, and this we have had. For, since many were crying out against him on the ground that he was in some way perverting the faith, we held a conference with him, and we found, with the help of God, that he was prudently consistent with the true faith in its entirety. The letters of the bishops were not carried to your Honor through the fault of those very persons who ought to have transmitted ours, but the fact, being driven out of my mind by my continual worries, escaped my notice.
I wanted my brother Gregory5 to govern a church commensurate with his natural ability. This meant the whole
Church under the sun gathered into one. But, since this is impossible, let him be a bishop, not exalted by the place, but himself exalting the place. For, it is truly characteristic of lJ For Meletius, d. Letters 57, 68, 89, 120, 129, and 216.
4 Cf. preceding letter and note.
5 According to Tillemont, this reference is to St. Basil's own brother, St.
Gregory of Nyssa. Maran. however, thinks that St. Basil is referring to St. Gregory of Nazianzus.