Ep. LXVI.

(The following letter is sometimes attributed to Basil, and is found in his works as well as in those of Gregory.  The mss. however, with only a single exception, give it to the latter.)

You give me pleasure both by writing and remembering me, and a much greater pleasure by sending me your blessing in your letter.  But if I were worthy of your sufferings and of your conflicts for Christ and through Christ I should have been counted worthy also to come to you, to embrace Your Piety, and to take example by your patience in your sufferings.  But since I am not worthy of this, being troubled with many afflictions and hindrances I do what is next best.  I address Your Perfection, and I beg you not to be weary of remembering me.  For to be deemed worthy of your letters is not only profitable to me, but is also a matter to boast of to many people, and is an honour, because I am considered by a man of so great virtue, and such near relations with God, that he can bring others also by word and example into relation to Him.

[66] ΤΩΙ ΑΥΤΩΙ

Καὶ γράφων καὶ μεμνημένος εὐφραίνεις ἡμᾶς, καί, ὃ τούτου μεῖζον, εὐλογῶν ἐν τοῖς γράμμασιν. Ἡμεῖς δέ, εἰ ἦμεν ἄξιοι τῶν σῶν παθημάτων καὶ τῆς ὑπὲρ Χριστοῦ καὶ διὰ Χριστὸν ἀθλήσεως, κατηξιώθημεν ἂν καὶ μέχρι σοῦ γενόμενοι περιπτύξασθαί σου τὴν θεοσέβειαν καὶ τύπον λαβεῖν τῆς ἐν τοῖς παθήμασι καρτερίας. Ἐπειδὴ δὲ ἀνάξιοι τούτου τυγχάνομεν, πολλαῖς θλίψεσι καὶ ἀσχολίαις ἐνοχλούμενοι, ὃ δεύτερόν ἐστι ποιοῦμεν: προσαγορεύομεν πρὸς τὴν τελειότητά σου καὶ ἀξιοῦμεν μὴ ἀποκάμνειν σε μεμνημένον ἡμῶν. Οὐ γὰρ ὠφέλεια ἡμῖν μόνον τῶν σῶν καταξιοῦσθαι γραμμάτων, ἀλλὰ καὶ καύχημα πρὸς τοὺς πολλοὺς καὶ καλλώπισμα ὅτι λόγος ἡμῶν ἐστι παρ' ἀνδρὶ τοσούτῳ τὴν ἀρετὴν καὶ τοσαύτην ἔχοντι πρὸς Θεὸν οἰκειότητα ὥστε καὶ ἄλλους οἰκειοῦν δύνασθαι καὶ λόγῳ καὶ ὑποδείγματι.