Letter 104: Merely to write to so great a man, even though there be no other reason, must be esteemed a great honour. For communication with personages of high distinction confers glory upon all to whom it is permitted. My supplication, however, is one which I am driven by necessity to make to your excellency, in my great distress at the condition of my who...

To Modestus, Prefect [Modestus: the praetorian prefect of the East, one of the most powerful officials in the Roman Empire] Writing to someone of your stature is an honor in itself, but I'm writing out of genuine necessity — my entire region is in crisis, and I need your help. Here is the situation. Under the old census, clergy — presbyters and deacons — were exempt from civil tax obligations. Recently, however, new census officials have enrolled them on the tax rolls without any authorization from you. A few older clergy were spared on account of their age, but the rest were not. I'm asking you to restore the old exemption for clergy. This would be a lasting testament to your generosity — something people will remember and honor for generations. But let me be specific about what I'm proposing, because I want to get this right. I'm *not* asking for personal exemptions granted to the individual clergy currently on the rolls. If we did that, the exemption would simply pass to their successors, who may not always deserve it. Instead, I'm asking for a general rule: let the exemption apply to the clergy *as a class*, according to the public register, with local church leaders determining who qualifies in each place. This approach benefits everyone. It brings you lasting credit. It inspires prayers for the emperor and his household. And it's actually better for the government too — because it doesn't exempt *all* clergy indiscriminately, only those genuinely serving and in need. That's already how we handle things when we're given the freedom to do so.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To the prefect Modestus. Merely to write to so great a man, even though there be no other reason, must be esteemed a great honour. For communication with personages of high distinction confers glory upon all to whom it is permitted. My supplication, however, is one which I am driven by necessity to make to your excellency, in my great distress at the condition of my whole country. Bear with me, I beg you, kindly and in accordance with your own characters and reach a helping hand to my country, now beaten to the knee. The immediate object of my entreaty is as follows. By the old census, the clergy of God, presbyters and deacons, were left exempt. The recent registrars, however, without any authority from your lordship, have enrolled them, except that in some cases a few were granted immunity on the score of age. I ask, then, that you will leave us this memorial of your beneficence, to preserve through all coming time your good fame; that in accordance with the old law the clergy be exempt from contribution. I do not ask the remission to be conceded personally and individually to those who are now included, in which case the grace will pass to their successors, who may not always be worthy of the sacred ministry. I would suggest that some general concession be made to the clergy, according to the form in the open register, so that the exemption may be given in each place to ministers by the rulers of the Church. This boon is sure to bring undying glory to your excellency for your good deeds, and will cause many to pray for the imperial house. It will also really be profitable to the government, if we afford the relief of exemption, not generally to all the clergy, but to those who from time to time are in distress. This, as any one who chooses may know, is the course we actually pursue when we are at liberty. About this page Source. Translated by Blomfield Jackson. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 8. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3202104.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.