Ep. XLIII.  To the Bishops.

(The comprovincial Bishops had notified the elder Gregory of their Synod, but without mentioning its date or purpose or inviting him to take part in it—probably because they knew how strongly he would support the election of Basil, to which they were unfavourable.  S. Gregory therefore wrote the following letter in his father’s name.)

How sweet and kind you are, and how full of love.  You have invited me to the Metropolis, because, as I imagine, you are going to take some counsel about a Bishop.  So much I learn from you, though you have not told me either that I am to be present, or why, or when, but have merely announced to me suddenly that you were setting out, as though resolved not to respect me, and as not desirous that I should share your counsels, but rather putting a hindrance in the way of my coming, that you may not meet me even against my will.  This is your way of action, and I will put up with the insult, but I will set before you my view and how I feel.  Various people will put forward various candidates, each according to his own inclinations and interests, as is usually the case at such times.  But I cannot prefer anyone, for my conscience would not allow it, to my dear son and fellow priest Basil.  For whom of all my acquaintance do I find more approved in his life, or more powerful in his word, or more furnished altogether with the beauty of virtue?  But if you allege weak health against him, I reply that we are choosing not an athlete but a teacher.  And at the same time is seen in this case the power of Him that strengthens and supports the weak, if such they be.  If you accept this vote I will come and take part, either in spirit or in body.  But if you are marching to a foregone conclusion, and faction is to overrule justice, I shall rejoice to have been overlooked.  The work must be yours; but pray for me.13    There is here a various reading (the difference being merely the result of itacism) which seems to give a better sense; “Ours is to pray for you.”

[43] ΤΟΙΣ ΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΙΣ

Ὡς ἡδεῖς ὑμεῖς καὶ φιλάνθρωποι καὶ περιττοὶ τὴν ἀγάπην: κεκλήκατε ἡμᾶς ἐπὶ τὴν μητρόπολιν, ὡς οἶμαι, περὶ ἐπισκόπου τι βουλευσόμενοι, _τοῦτο γὰρ ὑμῶν αἰσθάνομαι, οἵ γε μήθ' ὅτι παρεῖναι δεῖ, μήτ' ἐφ' ᾧ, μήθ' ὅτε προαγορεύσαντες, ἀθρόως ἡμῖν ὅτι ἐξώρμησθε δεδηλώκατε, ὡς ἄν τινες οὐ τιμᾶν ἐγνωκότες ἢ κοινωνοὺς ἔχειν ἐσπουδακότες, ἀλλὰ τὸ παρεῖναι ἀποσπουδάζοντες, ἵνα μηδ' ἄκουσιν ἡμῖν περιπέσητε. Τὸ μὲν οὖν ὑμέτερον τοιοῦτον, καὶ οἴσομεν ὑβριζόμενοι: τὸ δ' ἡμέτερον, ὅπως ἔχει, παραστήσομεν. Ἄλλοι μὲν ἄλλους δηλαδὴ προβαλοῦνται, κατὰ τοὺς ἑαυτῶν ἕκαστος τρόπους ἢ πόρους, ὅπερ ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις φιλεῖ συμβαίνειν. Ἡμεῖς δ' οὐδένα προτιμῆσαι δυνάμεθα, οὐδὲ γὰρ ὅσιον, τοῦ τιμιωτάτου υἱοῦ ἡμῶν Βασιλείου τοῦ πρεσβυτέρου. Τίνα γάρ, ὧν ἴσμεν, εὑρίσκομεν ἢ βίῳ δοκιμώτερον, ἢ λόγῳ δυνατώτερον, καὶ πανταχόθεν εἰς ἀρετῆς κάλλος ἐξησκημένον; Εἰ δὲ ἀσθένεια πρόφασις, _οὐ γὰρ ἀθλητὴν προβαλεῖσθε, ἀλλὰ διδάσκαλον, καὶ ἅμα που τὸ δυνατὸν τοῦ τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς, ἄνπερ ὦσι τοιοῦτοι, ῥώννυντος καὶ ὑπερείδοντος. Ἂν ταύτην δέχησθε τὴν ψῆφον, καὶ παρεσόμεθα καὶ συλληψόμεθα ἢ πνευματικῶς, ἢ καὶ σωματικῶς. Εἰ δ' ἐπὶ ῥητοῖς ἡ ὁδὸς καὶ κρατεῖν μέλλοιεν αἱ συστάσεις παρὰ τὸ δίκαιον, χαίρομεν παρεωραμένοι. Ὑμέτερον ἔστω τὸ ἔργον, ἡμῶν δ' ὑπερεύχεσθε.