Letter 120: I have received a letter from the very God-beloved bishop Eusebius, in which he enjoins that a second letter be written to the Westerns about certain Church matters. He has expressed a wish that the letter should be drawn up by me, and signed by all those who are in communion. Having no means of writing a letter about these wishes of his, I have...

To Meletius, bishop of Antioch [leader of the pro-Nicene Christian community in Antioch, frequently exiled by Arian-sympathizing emperors]: I've received a letter from Bishop Eusebius [Eusebius of Samosata, a close ally of Basil and Meletius in the pro-Nicene cause], asking that we send a second letter to the Western bishops about certain Church matters. He wants me to draft it and have everyone in our communion sign it. But I don't have enough information to write what he's asking for, so I'm forwarding his notes to you. Once you've read them and heard from our brother Sanctissimus, our fellow presbyter, who can fill you in on the details, I'd appreciate it if you could draft the letter yourself — whatever you think best. We'll agree to it and get it circulated for signatures right away, so the messenger who's about to leave for the Western bishops can carry it with him. Please let me know your decision as quickly as possible so I'm not left in the dark. As for the scheme being cooked up against me in Antioch — or that may have already been carried out — Sanctissimus will give you the details, unless the news reaches you first. There's reason to hope the threats will come to nothing. I also want you to know that our brother Anthimus [bishop of Tyana, a rival of Basil's after the province of Cappadocia was divided] has ordained a man named Faustus as bishop — someone living with the pope [here meaning a senior bishop, not the bishop of Rome] — without any proper election, replacing our brother Cyril. He's filled Armenia with schisms. I'm telling you this so no one can pin the blame on me for this mess. Please spread the word to the others. I expect this kind of irregularity will upset many people.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To Meletius, bishop of Antioch. I have received a letter from the very God-beloved bishop Eusebius, in which he enjoins that a second letter be written to the Westerns about certain Church matters. He has expressed a wish that the letter should be drawn up by me, and signed by all those who are in communion. Having no means of writing a letter about these wishes of his, I have sent on his minute to your holiness, in order that, when you have read it and can give heed to the information given by the very dear brother Sanctissimus, our fellow presbyter, you may yourself be so good as to indite a letter on these points as seems best to you. We are prepared to agree to it and to lose no time in having it conveyed to those in communion with us, so that, when all have signed it may be carried by the messenger, who is on the point of starting on his journey to visit the bishops of the West. Give orders for the decision of your holiness to be communicated to me as quickly as possible, that I may not be ignorant of your intentions. As to the intrigue which is now being devised, or has already been devised against me, in Antioch, the same brother will convey intimation to your holiness, unless indeed the report of what has been done does not anticipate him and make the position clear. There is ground for hope that the threats are coming to an end. I wish your reverence to know that our brother Anthimus has ordained Faustus, who is living with the pope as bishop, without having received the votes, and in place of our right reverend brother Cyril. Thus he has filled Armenia with schisms. I have thought it right to tell your reverence this, lest they should lie against me, and I be responsible for these disorderly proceedings. You will of course deem it right to make this known to the rest. I think such irregularity will distress many. 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/3202120.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.