Letter XXXI.270    Placed in 369.  cf. note on Letter ccxxxvi.

To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata.

The death is still with us, and I am therefore compelled to remain where I am, partly by the duty of distribution, and partly out of sympathy for the distressed.  Even now, therefore, I have not been able to accompany our reverend brother Hypatius,271    Nothing more is known of this Hypatius.  Gregory of Nazianzus (Ep. 192) writes to a correspondent of the same name. whom I am able to style brother, not in mere conventional language, but on account of relationship, for we are of one blood.  You know how ill he is.  It distresses me to think that all hope of comfort is cut off for him, as those who have the gifts of healing have not been allowed to apply their usual remedies in his case.  Wherefore again he implores the aid of your prayers.  Receive my entreaty that you will give him the usual protection alike for your own sake, for you are always kind to the sick, and for mine who am petitioning on his behalf.  If possible, summon to your side the very holy brethren that he may be treated under your own eyes.  If this be impossible, be so good as to send him on with a letter, and recommend him to friends further on.

ΕΥΣΕΒΩΝᾼ ΕΠΙΣΚΟΠῼ

[1] Οὔπω ἡμᾶς ὁ λιμὸς ἀνῆκε, διόπερ ἀναγκαία ἡμῖν ἐστιν ἡ ἐπὶ τῆς πόλεως διαγωγή, ἢ οἰκονομίας ἕνεκεν, ἢ συμπαθείας τῶν θλιβομένων. Ὅθεν οὐδὲ νῦν ἠδυνήθην κοινωνῆσαι τῆς ὁδοῦ τῷ αἰδεσιμωτάτῳ ἀδελφῷ Ὑπατίῳ, ὃν οὐκ αὐτὸ δὴ τοῦτο εὐφημίας ἕνεκεν ἀδελφὸν ἔχω προσαγορεύειν, ἀλλὰ διὰ τὴν ὑποῦσαν ἡμῖν ἐκ φύσεως οἰκειότητα. Αἵματος γάρ ἐσμεν τοῦ αὐτοῦ. Ὃς ὁποῖα μὲν κάμνει οὐδὲ τὴν σὴν ἔλαθε τιμιότητα. Λυπεῖ δὲ ἡμᾶς ὅτι πᾶσα παραμυθίας ἐλπὶς ἐπ' αὐτῷ περικέκοπται, τῶν ἐχόντων τὰ τῆς ἰάσεως χαρίσματα οὐδὲν ἐπ' αὐτοῦ τῶν συνήθων ἐνεργῆσαι συγχωρηθέντων. Διὸ πάλιν τῶν σῶν προσευχῶν τὴν βοήθειαν ἐπικαλεῖται. Σὺ δὲ τὰ συνήθη προστῆναι, καὶ διὰ τὴν σεαυτοῦ περὶ τοὺς κάμνοντας εὐσπλαγχνίαν καὶ δι' ἡμᾶς τοὺς ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ πρεσβεύοντας, παρακλήθητι, καί, εἰ μὲν οἷόν τε, πρὸς ἑαυτὸν μεταστεῖλαι τοὺς εὐλαβεστάτους τῶν ἀδελφῶν, ὥστε ὑπὸ ταῖς σαῖς ὄψεσι προσαχθῆναι αὐτῷ τὴν ἐπιμέλειαν, εἰ δὲ τοῦτο ἀδύνατον, μετὰ γραμμάτων αὐτὸν προπέμψαι καὶ συστῆσαι τοῖς ἔμπροσθεν καταξίωσον.