101 (202). A Letter of Consolation
SAINT BASIL
Therefore, we ask, if it be possible, that this visit take place at the time of the synod which we cele.brate yearly on the seventh day of the month of September in memory of the blessed martyr, Eupsychius,2 an event now approaching. For, matters deserving of attention and needing assistance from you lie before us, namely, in regard to the appointment of bishops and in reference to a consultation and consideration of the actions directed against us by Gregory of Nyssa, who is organizing synods in Ancyra and in no way is ceasing, in his simplicity,3 to scheme against us.
10 1. A Letter of Consolation I That this, our first letter to you, should have a more cheerful subject is a matter worthy of prayer. For, in this way, everything would have been according to our desire, because we wish that the whole life of all those who choose to live in piety should proceed prosperously toward a good end. But, these circumstances have been assuredly ordered for the benefit of our souls by our Lord who directs our lives according to His ineffable wisdom. For, through them, He has rendered
2 The martyrdom of Eupsychius, according to the Roman calendar. is celebrated on April 9 (Boll. Acta. SS. April 9). He suffered during the reign of Julian fOT helping to destroy a temple to Fortune. Cf.
Sozomen, Ecc. Hist. 5.11. The orders of Julian for the rebuilding of the temple were never fulfilled, but a church was built on the spot and dedicated to Eupsychius. St. Basil is here inviting Eusebius to a festival held annually in honor of Eupsychius, and in Letter 252 he summons the bishops of Pontus to the festival of the dedication of this church.
3 According to the Benedictine editors, this is another occasion on which St. Gregory displays his lack of tact. For it is lack of tact and not of affection toward St. Basil that causes his opposition. Cf. also, Letter 58.
Editions anterior to the Benedictine add to this title, 'to the wife of Arinthaeus: but no manuscript known at present contains it. The letter was written in 372.
LETTERS
life painful to you and has led us, who are joined with you through the love of God, to sympathy. Now, on learning from our brethren in what troubles you were, it seemed that we ought to bring you all possible consolation. If, therefore, it had also been possible to cross over to the place in which your Nobility happens to reside, I would have considered it as of the greatest importance to do so. The feebleness, however, of our body and the numerous duties in which we are engaged, both rendering even this journey which we have undertaken a cause of great harm to our churches, have induced us to visit your Dignity by letter, reminding you that these afflictions from the Lord who watches over us do not happen to the servants of God without benefit, but for a trial of true love toward the God who created us. For, as the toils of the contests lead the athletes on to their crowns, so also the test through tribulations leads Christians on to perfection, if we receive with becoming patience and in all gratitude what is dispensed to us by the Lord.
All things are directed by the goodness of the Master.
Nothing which happens to us should be received as distressful, although at present it affects our weakness. In fact, even if we are ignorant of the reasons for which each event is applied as a blessing to us from the Master, nevertheless, we ought to be convinced of this-that what happens is assuredly advantageous either for us as a reward for our patience, or for the soul which was taken up, lest, tarrying too long in this life, it should be filled with the evil which exists in this world. For, if the hope of Christians were limited to this life, with reason would the premature separation from the body be considered difficult, but, if the beginning of true life for those living in God is the release of the soul from these corporeal chains, why do we grieve, even as those who