Letter 231 TO AMPHILOCHIUS BISHOP OF ICONIUM excerpt
prelude 1: the letters of basil
Letter 231 TO AMPHILOCHIUS BISHOP OF ICONIUM excerpt40 This letter was written at the end of 37541 to Basil's protégé and intimate friend, Amphilochius. The tone therefore is very different to that of the preceding letter and we learn Basil's real opinion of Demosthenes. We learn also that though Gregory is perforce absent from his see, he is living in a situation free of worry—i.e. he is not under the control of the civil authorities, because he has fled Demosthenes' jurisdiction. That seems to be the import of the word ÍperÒriÒw used in the previous letter, if it is understood to mean not merely 'abroad', but literally 'beyond the borders', i.e. he is now out of the civil diocese of Pontica, which covered Bithynia, Paphlagonia,
Galatia, Pontus, Cappadocia and Armenia.42 In short, Gregory has gone south, either to the civil diocese of Asia, which included Isauria, or of Oriens, which included Cilicia. This helps explains why he never travelled so far north as Pontus to visit Annisa during his period of exile.
. . . And know that our most God-beloved brother is over the border,43 not enduring the annoyances of the shameless. And Doara44 is in turmoil, for the great fleshy whale45 is throwing affairs there into confusion. According to the report of those who know, our enemies are contriving plots against us at court; but thus far the hand of the Lord has been with us (Lk 1.66). Only pray that we are not left aside46 in the end.
For my brother too continues calm;47 and Doara has received the old muleteer48—what else can it do?—and the Lord will scatter the plans of our enemies. However, our one relief from all troubles both present and anticipated is in seeing you. Therefore, if it ever becomes possible for you, as long as we are still above ground, deign to come and see us . . .
40 Mss.: VPBM, LC, ed.: Courtonne III, 36–38 at 37, Def 3.358–363 at 361–362, tr.: NPNF 2nd ser. 8.272.
41 Fedwick, op. cit., p.17.
42 See R. Van Dam, Kingdom of Snow (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2002), 78.
43 ÍperÒriÒw eÙti.
44 One of the dioceses in Cappadocia Secunda, under the bishop of Tyana.
45 I.e. Demosthenes.
46 §gkataleifye›nai, i.e., not by God, but by political machinations with regard to the Church.
47 diãgei ênetow, 'living free of care', or, in the NPNF translation, 'is taking things quietly'.
48 This seems to mean an Arian/semi-Arian bishop, once of that menial occupation, instated by Demosthenes. See Letter 239 below.