Letter 215 TO DOROTHEUS THE PRESBYTER2
prelude 1: the letters of basil
my old longing can now, at any rate, be fulfilled with the help of your prayers; although it is true that this sojourn abroad had caused me great difficulties, since the affairs of our own church have been neglected for so long a time.
4. Yet if, while we are still on earth, God will deem us worthy to see your Piety in our church, we shall have truly good hopes for the future also, that we shall not be wholly excluded from the gifts of God. 5. Let this take place if possible, we beg you, at the synod we hold every year in memory of the most blessed martyr Eupsychius25 on the seventh day of the month of September,26 an event which is now approaching.
6. Moreover, we are encompassed by matters worthy of serious attention which need your collaboration, concerning both the appointment of bishops, 7. and the investigation and deliberation of the actions meditated against us by Gregory of Nyssa in his simplicity,27 who convenes synods regarding Ancyra and leaves nothing undone to plot against us.28
Letter 215 TO DOROTHEUS THE PRESBYTER29 Basil wrote this letter in the autumn of 375. His letter 243 also mentions
Dorotheus who carried a letter for Basil. In 215.3 Basil shows himself of mixed mind with regard to Gregory. He would dearly wish that his brother might be willing to go as envoy of the eastern Neo-nicenes to Pope Damasus of Rome, but he is too aware of his complete lack of political sense (see letters 58 and 100 above) to expect that he would avail in dealing with one whom Basil regards as too haughty to listen to those who would speak candidly of Eastern affairs from intimate acquaintance.
Versification is supplied here in the absence of any in Courtonne.
25 A layman who was martyred during the Emperor Julian's visit to Caesarea in 362, for his part in overthrowing a temple to Fortune. See Sozomen, H.E. 5.11.
Basil used the annual synod as an occasion to rally his diocese.
26 Basil uses the Latin name: toË Septembr¤ou.
27 ka‹ sk°yin t«n meletvm°nvn kayÉ ≤m«n parå t∞w xrhstÒthtow Grhgor¤ou toË Nussa°vw.
28 ıw sunÒdouw sugkrÒtei katå tØnÉAgkÊran ka‹ oÈd°na trÒpon §pibouleÊvn ≤m›n éf¤hsin. Instead of translating 'convenes synods in Ancyra'—the new bishop of Nyssa is scarcely in any position to be convening synods in the metropolis of Galatia—it is better to understand katå as translated here (L&S Lexicon 883 #Biii, iv2). The reference seems to be to the followers of Marcellus of Ancyra.
29 Mss.: VPBM, LC, ed.: Courtonne II, 206–207, Def 3.236–239, tr.: NPNF 2nd ser. 8.254–255.