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Basil of Caesarea, Letters
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To the Cæsareans . A defence of his withdrawal, and concerning the faith .
Without address. To some friends .
To Arcadius, Imperial Treasurer .
Against Eunomius the heretic .
Without address. On the Perfection of the Life of Solitaries .
To Athanasius, father of Athanasius bishop of Ancyra .
To Athanasius, bishop of Ancyra .
To Cæsarius, brother of Gregory .
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata .
To the Church of Neocæsarea. Consolatory .
To the Church of Ancyra. Consolatory .
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata .
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata .
To his Brother Gregory, concerning the difference between οὐσία and ὑπόστασις.
To Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata .
To Paregorius, the presbyter .
To Meletius, Bishop of Antioch .
To Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria .
To the Governor of Neocæsarea .
To Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria .
To Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria .
To Meletius, bishop of Antioch .
To Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria .
Without inscription: about Therasius .
Without inscription, on behalf of Elpidius .
To Eustathius bishop of Sebastia .
To Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria .
To Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria .
That the oath ought not to be taken .
Without address on the same subject .
Without address on the subject of the exaction of taxes .
To Meletius, bishop of Antioch .
To the holy brethren the bishops of the West .
To Valerianus, Bishop of Illyricum .
To the Patrician Cæsaria , concerning Communion .
To Elias, Governor of the Province .
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata .
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata .
To Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata .
To the deaconesses, the daughters of Count Terentius .
To the guardian of the heirs of Julitta .
To Jovinus, Bishop of Perrha .
To Eustathius, Bishop of Sebasteia .
To Meletius, bishop of Antioch .
To Theodotus, bishop of Nicopolis .
To Pœmenius , bishop of Satala .
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata .
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata .
To Meletius Bishop of Antioch .
To Theodotus bishop of Nicopolis .
To Abramius, bishop of Batnæ .
To Diodorus, presbyter of Antioch .
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata .
To Antipater, on his assuming the governorship of Cappadocia .
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata .
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata .
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata .
To Amphilochius in the name of Heraclidas .
To Ascholius, bishop of Thessalonica .
Without address . In the case of a trainer
To Eupaterius and his daughter .
To Amphilochius on his consecration as Bishop .
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata .
To Ascholius, bishop of Thessalonica .
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata .
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata .
To Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium .
To the Master Sophronius, on behalf of Eunathius .
To Otreius, bishop of Melitene .
To the presbyters of Samosata .
To Eustathius, bishop of Himmeria .
To Theodotus, bishop of Beræa .
To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium .
To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium .
To Euphronius, bishop of Colonia Armeniæ .
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata .
To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium .
To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium .
To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium .
To the bishops of the sea coast .
To Elpidius the bishop. Consolatory .
To the notables of Neocæsarea .
To Meletius, bishop of Antioch.
To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium.
Against Eustathius of Sebasteia .
Consolatory, to the clergy of Colonia .
To the magistrates of Colonia.
To the magistrates of Nicopolis.
To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium.
To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium.
To Amphilochius, in reply to certain questions.
To the same, in answer to another question.
To the same, in answer to another question.
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata.
To the presbyters of Nicopolis .
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata.
To the Presbyters of Nicopolis.
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata .
To the bishops of Italy and Gaul concerning the condition and confusion of the Churches.
To Patrophilus, bishop of Ægæ .
To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium.
Without address. Commendatory.
To Patrophilus, bishop of Ægæ.
To the monks harassed by the Arians.
To the monks Palladius and Innocent.
To Eulogius, Alexander, and Harpocration, bishops of Egypt, in exile.
To Barses, bishop of Edessa, in exile.
To the wife of Arinthæus, the General. Consolatory.
Without address. Concerning Hera.
Without address. Concerning Hera.
To the assessor in the case of monks.
Without address. Excommunicatory.
Without address. Concerning an afflicted woman.
To Timotheus the Chorepiscopus .
Letters CCCXVI., CCCXVII., CCCXVIII., CCCXIX.
Letters CCCXVI., CCCXVII., CCCXVIII., CCCXIX.
Letters CCCXVI., CCCXVII., CCCXVIII., CCCXIX.
Letters CCCXVI., CCCXVII., CCCXVIII., CCCXIX.
Letters CCCXXX., CCCXXXI., CCCXXXII., CCCXXXIII.
Letters CCCXXX., CCCXXXI., CCCXXXII., CCCXXXIII.
Letters CCCXXX., CCCXXXI., CCCXXXII., CCCXXXIII.
Letters CCCXXX., CCCXXXI., CCCXXXII., CCCXXXIII.
Of the Holy Trinity, the Incarnation, the invocation of Saints, and their Images.
Letter CCLXXII.1490 Written in the last years of Basil’s life.
To Sophronius the magister officiorum.1491 cf. p. 134, n.
1. It has been reported to me by Actiacus the deacon, that certain men have moved you to anger against me, by falsely stating me to be ill-disposed towards your excellency. I cannot be astonished at a man in your position being followed by certain sycophants. High position seems to be in some way naturally attended by miserable hangers-on of this kind. Destitute as they are of any good quality of their own whereby they may be known, they endeavour to recommend themselves by means of other people’s ills. Peradventure, just as mildew is a blight which grows in corn, so flattery stealing upon friendship is a blight of friendship. So, as I said, I am by no means astonished that these men should buzz about your bright and distinguished hearth, as drones do about the hives. But what has moved my wonderment, and has seemed altogether astounding, is that a man like yourself, specially distinguished by the seriousness of your character, should have been induced to give both your ears to these people and to accept their calumny against me. From my youth up to this my old age I have felt affection for many men, but I am not aware that I have ever felt greater affection for any one than for your excellency. Even had not my reason induced me to regard a man of such a character, our intimacy from boyhood would have sufficed to attach me to your soul. You know yourself how much custom has to do with friendship. Pardon my deficiency, if I can show nothing worthy of this preference. You will not ask some deed from me in proof of my good will; you will be satisfied with a temper of mind which assuredly prays for you that you may have all that is best. May your fortunes never fall so low, as that you should need the aid of any one so insignificant as myself!
2. How then was I likely to say anything against you, or to take any action in the matter of Memnonius? These points were reported to me by the deacon. How could I put the wealth of Hymetius before the friendship of one so prodigal of his substance as you are? There is no truth in any of these things. I have neither said nor done anything against you. Possibly some ground may have been given for some of the lies that are being told, by my remarking to some of those who are causing disturbance, “If the man has determined to accomplish what he has in mind, then, whether you make disturbance or not, what he means to be done will certainly be done. You will speak, or hold your tongues; it will make no difference. If he changes his mind, beware how you defame my friend’s honourable name. Do not, under the pretence of zeal in your patron’s cause, attempt to make some personal profit out of your attempts to threaten and alarm.” As to that person’s making his will, I have never said one word, great or small, directly or indirectly, about the matter.
3. You must not refuse to believe what I say, unless you regard me as quite a desperate character, who thinks nothing of the great sin of lying. Put away all suspicion of me in relation to the business, and for the future reckon my affection for you as beyond the reach of all calumny. Imitate Alexander, who received a letter, saying that his physician was plotting his death, at the very moment when he was just about to drink his medicine, and was so far from believing the slanderer that he at one and the same time read the letter and drank the draught.1492 Plut., Alex. I refuse to admit that I am in any way inferior to the men who have been famous for their friendship, for I have never been detected in any breach of mine; and, besides this, I have received from my God the commandment of love, and owe you love not only as part of mankind in general, but because I recognise you individually as a benefactor both of my country and of myself.
ΣΩΦΡΟΝΙῼ ΜΑΓΙΣΤΡῼ
[1] Ἀπήγγειλέ μοι Ἀκτίακος ὁ διάκονος ὅτι σέ τινες ἐλύπησαν καθ' ἡμῶν διαβάλλοντες ἡμᾶς ὡς οὐκ εὐνοϊκῶς πρὸς τὴν σὴν διακειμένους σεμνότητα. Ἐγὼ δὲ οὐκ ἐθαύμασα εἴ τινές εἰσιν ἀνδρὶ τοσούτῳ παρεπόμενοι κόλακες. Πεφύκασι γάρ πως ταῖς μεγάλαις δυναστείαις αἱ ἀνελεύθεροι αὗται παραφύεσθαι θεραπεῖαι: οἳ διὰ τὸ ἀπορεῖν οἰκείου ἀγαθοῦ δι' οὗ γνωρισθῶσιν ἐκ τῶν ἀλλοτρίων κακῶν ἑαυτοὺς συνιστῶσι. Καὶ σχεδὸν ὥσπερ ἡ ἐρυσίβη τοῦ σίτου ἐστὶ φθορὰ ἐν αὐτῷ γινομένη τῷ σίτῳ, οὕτω καὶ ἡ κολακεία τὴν φιλίαν ὑποδυομένη λύμη ἐστὶ τῆς φιλίας. Οὐ τοίνυν ἐθαύμασα, ὡς ἔφην, εἴ τινες ὥσπερ οἱ κηφῆνες τὰ σμήνη, οὕτως αὐτοὶ τὴν λαμπράν σου καὶ θαυμαστὴν ἑστίαν περιβομβοῦσιν. Ἀλλ' ἐκεῖνό μοι θαυμαστὸν ἐφάνη καὶ παντελῶς παράλογον, τὸ σὲ ἄνδρα ἐπὶ τῷ βάρει τοῦ ἤθους μάλιστα διαφανῆ ἀνασχέσθαι αὐτοῖς ἀμφοτέρας ἀνεῖναι τὰς ἀκοὰς καὶ διαβολὴν κατ' ἐμοῦ παραδέξασθαι, ὃς πολλοὺς ἀγαπήσας ἐκ πρώτης ἡλικίας μέχρι τοῦ γήρως τούτου οὐδένα οἶδα εἰς φιλίαν τῆς σῆς τελειότητος προτιμήσας. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ εἰ μὴ ὁ λόγος ἔπεισέ με ἀγαπᾶν τοιοῦτον ὄντα, ἐξήρκει ἡ ἐκ παιδὸς συνήθεια προσδῆσαί με τῇ ψυχῇ σου. Οἶδας δὲ ὅσον δύναται πρὸς φιλίαν τὸ ἔθος. Εἰ δὲ οὐδὲν δείκνυμι τῆς προαιρέσεως ταύτης ἄξιον, σύγγνωθί μου τῇ ἀσθενείᾳ. Καὶ γὰρ οὐδὲ αὐτὸς ἔργον παρ' ἐμοῦ εἰς ἀπόδειξιν τῆς εὐνοίας ἐπιζητεῖς, ἀλλὰ προαίρεσιν δηλονότι τὰ βέλτιστά σοι συνευχομένην. Μὴ γάρ ποτε εἰς τοσοῦτον καταβαίη τὰ σὰ ὥστε τῆς παρὰ τῶν οὕτω σμικρῶν ὁποῖος αὐτός εἰμι εὐεργεσίας προσδεηθῆναι.
[2] Πῶς οὖν ἔμελλον ἐγὼ ὑπεναντίον τί σοι λέγειν ἢ πράττειν ἐν τοῖς κατὰ Μεμνόνιον πράγμασι; Ταῦτα γάρ μοι ἀπήγγειλεν ὁ διάκονος. Πῶς δὲ τὴν Ὑμητίου εὐπορίαν προτιμοτέραν ἐτιθέμην τῆς σῆς οἰκίας, ἀνδρὸς οὕτω δαπανῶντος τὴν οὐσίαν; Ἀλλ' οὐκ ἔστι τούτων οὐδὲν ἀληθές: οὔτε τι εἴρηται παρ' ἐμοῦ οὔτε πέπρακται ὑπεναντίον. Ἐκεῖνο δὲ ἴσως ἀφορμὴν ἔδωκε τοῖς τὰ ψευδῆ λέγουσι τὸ παρ' ἐμοῦ πρός τινας τῶν θορυβούντων λεχθέν, ὅτι: »Εἰ μὲν προῄρηται εἰς ἔργον ἀγαγεῖν τὴν ἑαυτοῦ γνώμην ὁ ἄνθρωπος, κἂν θορυβήσητε ὑμεῖς κἂν μή, γενήσεται πάντως καὶ λαλούντων ὑμῶν καὶ σιωπώντων οὐδὲν ἧττον τὰ σπουδαζόμενα. Εἰ δὲ μεταβεβούλευται, μὴ παρασύρητε τὸ σεμνὸν ὄνομα τοῦ φίλου ἡμῶν μηδὲ ἐν προσχήματι δὴ τῆς περὶ τὸν προστάτην ἡμῶν σπουδῆς ἑαυτοῖς τι κέρδος ἐντεῦθεν ἐξ ὧν ἐπανατείνεσθε φόβον καὶ ἀπειλὴν καταπράττεσθε.« Πρὸς δὲ αὐτὸν ἐκεῖνον τὸν τὰς διαθήκας γράφοντα οὔτε δι' ἐμαυτοῦ οὔτε δι' ἑτέρου ἐφθεγξάμην ἢ μικρὸν ἢ μεῖζον περὶ τοῦ πράγματος τούτου.
[3] Καὶ τούτοις ἀπιστεῖν οὐκ ὀφείλεις, εἰ μὴ παντελῶς με ὡς ἀπεγνωσμένον ἡγῇ, καὶ καταφρονεῖν με τῆς μεγάλης ἁμαρτίας τοῦ ψεύδους. Ἀλλὰ πάνυ ἡμῖν αὐτὸς καὶ τὴν ἐπὶ τῷ πράγματι τούτῳ ὑπόνοιαν ἄφες καὶ τοῦ λοιποῦ πάσης διαβολῆς ὑψηλοτέραν ποιοῦ τὴν ἐμὴν περὶ σὲ διάθεσιν τὸν Ἀλέξανδρον μιμούμενος, ὃς ἐπιστολὴν κατὰ τοῦ ἰατροῦ δεξάμενος ὡς ἐπιβουλεύοντος, ἐπειδὴ ἔτυχεν ἐν αὐτῷ τῷ καιρῷ φάρμακον λαβὼν ὥστε πιεῖν, τοσοῦτον ἀπέσχε πιστεῦσαι τῷ διαβάλλοντι ὥστε ὁμοῦ τε τὴν ἐπιστολὴν ἀνεγίνωσκε καὶ τὸ φάρμακον ἔπινεν. Οὐδενὸς γὰρ τῶν ἐπὶ φιλίᾳ γνωρίμων ἀτιμότερον ἐμαυτὸν ἀξιῶ τίθεσθαι τῷ μήτε ἁλῶναί ποτε εἰς φιλίαν ἐξαμαρτὼν καὶ ἔτι παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ μου λαβεῖν τὴν ἐντολὴν τῆς ἀγάπης, ἧς χρεώστης εἰμὶ οὐ μόνον κατὰ τὴν κοινὴν τῶν ἀνθρώπων φύσιν, ἀλλ' ὅτι καὶ ἰδίως εὐεργέτην σε γνωρίζω ἐμαυτοῦ τε καὶ τῆς πατρίδος.