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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 CCXCIX.
To a Censitor.1523 i.e. assessor of taxes.
I was aware, before you told me, that you do not like your employment in public affairs. It is an old saying that those who are anxious to lead a pious life do not throw themselves with pleasure into office. The case of magistrates seems to me like that of physicians. They see awful sights; they meet with bad smells; they get trouble for themselves out of other people’s calamities. This is at least the case with those who are real magistrates. All men who are engaged in business, look also to make a profit, and are excited about this kind of glory, count it the greatest possible advantage to acquire some power and influence by which they may be able to benefit their friends, punish their enemies, and get what they want for themselves. You are not a man of this kind. How should you be? You have voluntarily withdrawn from even high office in the State. You might have ruled the city like one single house, but you have preferred a life free from care and anxiety. You have placed a higher value on having no troubles yourself and not troubling other people, than other people do on making themselves disagreeable. But it has seemed good to the Lord that the district of Ibora1524 See geographical note in Prolegomena. should not be under the power of hucksters, nor be turned into a mere slave market. It is His will that every individual in it should be enrolled, as is right. Do you therefore accept this responsibility? It is vexatious, I know, but it is one which may bring you the approbation of God. Neither fawn upon the great and powerful, nor despise the poor and needy. Show to all under your rule an impartiality of mind, balanced more exactly than any scales. Thus in the sight of those who have entrusted you with these responsibilities your zeal for justice will be made evident, and they will view you with exceptional admiration. And even though you go unnoticed by them, you will not be unnoticed by our God. The prizes which He has put before us for good works are great.
ΚΗΝΣΙΤΟΡΙ
[1] Εἰδότι μοι ἔγραφες ὅτι δυσκόλως ἔχεις πρὸς τὴν τῶν κοινῶν ἐπιμέλειαν. Καὶ γὰρ παλαιός ἐστι λόγος, τοὺς ἀρετῆς μεταποιουμένους μὴ μεθ' ἡδονῆς ἑαυτοὺς ἐπιβάλλειν ἀρχαῖς. Τὰ γὰρ τῶν ἰατρευόντων ἴδια, ταῦτα ὁρῶ καὶ τῶν ἀρχόντων ὄντα. Ὁρῶσι γὰρ δεινὰ καὶ πειρῶνται ἀηδῶν καὶ ἐπ' ἀλλοτρίαις συμφοραῖς οἰκείας καρποῦνται λύπας, οἵ γε ὡς ἀληθῶς ἄρχοντες, ἐπεὶ ὅσον ἐμπορικὸν τῶν ἀνθρώπων καὶ πρὸς χρήματα βλέπον καὶ περὶ τὴν δόξαν ταύτην ἐπτοημένον μέγιστον τῶν ἀγαθῶν τίθεται τὸ παραλαβεῖν τινα δυναστείαν ἀφ' ἧς δυνήσονται φίλους εὖ ποιεῖν καὶ ἐχθροὺς ἀμύνεσθαι καὶ ἑαυτοῖς κατακτᾶσθαι τὰ σπουδαζόμενα. Ἀλλ' οὐ τοιοῦτος σύ. Πόθεν; Ὅς γε καὶ τῆς πολιτικῆς δυνάμεως τοσαύτης οὔσης ἑκὼν ἀνεχώρησας καὶ ἐξόν σοι κρατεῖν πόλεως ὡς μιᾶς οἰκίας: σὺ δὲ τὸν ἀπράγμονα καὶ ἡσύχιον εἵλου βίον, τὸ μήτε ἔχειν πράγματα μήτε παρέχειν ἑτέροις πλείονος σπουδῆς ἄξιον τιθέμενος ἢ ὅσου οἱ λοιποὶ τιμῶνται τὸ δυστροπεύειν. Ἀλλ' ἐπειδὴ ἐβουλήθη ὁ Κύριος τὴν Ἰβωριτῶν χώραν μὴ ὑπὸ καπήλοις ἀνθρώποις γενέσθαι μηδὲ ὥσπερ ἐν ἀνδραπόδων ἀγορᾷ εἶναι τὴν ἀποτίμησιν, ἀλλ', ὡς ἔστι δίκαιον, ἕκαστον γράφεσθαι, δέξαι τὸ πρᾶγμα, εἰ καὶ ἄλλως ὀχληρόν, ἀλλ' οὖν ὡς πρόξενόν σοι γενέσθαι δυνάμενον τῆς παρὰ Θεῷ εὐδοκιμήσεως. Καὶ μήτε δυναστείαν ὑποπτήξῃς μήτε πενίας καταφρονήσῃς, ἀλλὰ τὸ τῶν λογισμῶν ἀρρεπὲς τρυτάνης πάσης ἀρρεπέστερον παράσχου τοῖς διοικουμένοις. Οὕτω γὰρ καὶ τοῖς πεπιστευκόσι φανερὰ γενήσεταί σου ἡ περὶ τὸ δίκαιον σπουδὴ καὶ θαυμάσονταί σε παρὰ τοὺς ἄλλους. Ἢ κἂν ἐκείνους διαλάθῃ, τὸν Θεὸν ἡμῶν οὐ λήσεται τὸν μεγάλα ἡμῖν προθέντα τῶν ἀγαθῶν ἔργων τὰ ἆθλα.