Letter 139: 1. I have already heard of the persecution in Alexandria and the rest of Egypt, and, as might be expected, I am deeply affected. I have observed the ingenuity of the devil's mode of warfare.

To the Christians of Alexandria, I've heard about the persecution happening in Alexandria and across Egypt, and it has shaken me deeply. What strikes me most is how clever the devil's strategy has become. When open persecution from pagans only made the Church grow stronger, he changed tactics. Now our persecutors call themselves Christians. We suffer just as our ancestors did, but the world doesn't see it as suffering for Christ — because the people attacking us claim his name too. For a long time after hearing the news, I sat in stunned silence. What your persecutors have done is shameless and inhuman. They showed no respect for the elderly, no regard for people's service to their communities, no care for the bonds of affection. They tortured people, humiliated them, drove them into exile, and seized everything they could get their hands on — with no fear of either human judgment or the reckoning that awaits them before the righteous Judge. [Context: The "persecutors" here are Arian Christians — followers of a theology that denied Christ was co-equal with the Father. Under Emperor Valens, Arians had state backing and were violently suppressing orthodox bishops and congregations across the eastern empire.] All of this has nearly driven me out of my mind. I've even found myself wondering: has the Lord abandoned his churches entirely? Is this the end — the great falling away Paul warned about, when "the lawless one" would be revealed, "who opposes and exalts himself above everything called God"? [2 Thessalonians 2:4] But if this is a temporary trial, then stand firm, you brave athletes of Christ. And if the whole world is heading toward its final transformation — well, then we shouldn't be surprised that we feel the shockwaves too. God is faithful. He won't let you be tested beyond what you can bear, but will provide a way through [1 Corinthians 10:13]. Brothers and sisters, martyrs' crowns are waiting for you. The great confessors of the faith are reaching out their hands to welcome you into their ranks. Remember: none of the saints won their glory through comfort and flattery. They were all refined by fire. Some endured mockery and flogging; others were sawn in two or killed by the sword. That is what holiness looks like. Blessed is anyone who suffers for Christ — and more blessed still is the one whose suffering is greatest, because "the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" [Romans 8:18]. --- I wish I could come to you in person. Nothing would make me happier than to see you face to face, embrace you as fellow athletes of Christ, and share in your prayers. But my body has been wasted by long illness — I can barely leave my bed. And there are many people watching me like wolves, waiting for any chance to attack Christ's flock here. [Context: Basil was under constant pressure from the Arian-allied imperial government. Emperor Valens's prefect Modestus had already threatened him with exile, confiscation, and death.] So I'm writing instead, and I ask two things of you. First, please pray for me — that whatever days or hours I have left, I can serve the Lord faithfully according to his gospel. Second, forgive me for the delay in writing. It took a long time to find someone I could trust to carry this letter. I'm sending it with my son Eugenius, a monk. Please pray for me and for the whole Church through him — and write back with your news, so that hearing from you can lift my spirits.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To the Alexandrians. 1. I have already heard of the persecution in Alexandria and the rest of Egypt, and, as might be expected, I am deeply affected. I have observed the ingenuity of the devil's mode of warfare. When he saw that the Church increased under the persecution of enemies and flourished all the more, he changed his plan. He no longer carries on an open warfare, but lays secret snares against us, hiding his hostility under the name which they bear, in order that we may both suffer like our fathers, and, at the same time, seem not to suffer for Christ's sake, because our persecutors too bear the name of Christians. With these thoughts for a long time we sat still, dazed at the news of what had happened, for, in sober earnest, both our ears tingled on hearing of the shameless and inhuman heresy of your persecutors. They have reverenced neither age, nor services to society, nor people's affection. They inflicted torture, ignominy, and exile; they plundered all the property they could find; they were careless alike of human condemnation and of the awful retribution to come at the hands of the righteous Judge. All this has amazed me and all but driven me out of my senses. To my reflections has been added this thought too; can the Lord have wholly abandoned His Churches? Has the last hour come, and is the falling away thus coming upon us, that now the lawless one may be revealed, the son of perdition who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God and is worshipped? 2 Thessalonians 2:4 But if the temptation is for a season, bear it, you noble athletes of Christ. If the world is being delivered to complete, and final destruction, let us not lose heart for the present, but let us await the revelation from heaven, and the manifestation of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. If all creation is to be dissolved, and the fashion of this world transformed, why should we be surprised that we, who are apart of creation, should feel the general woe, and be delivered to afflictions which our just God inflicts on us according to the measure of our strength, not letting us be tempted above that we are able, but with the temptation giving us a way to escape that we may be able to bear it? 1 Corinthians 10:13 Brothers, martyrs' crowns await you. The companies of the confessors are ready to reach out their hands to you and to welcome you into their own ranks. Remember how none of the saints of old won their crowns of patient endurance by living luxuriously and being courted; but all were tested by being put through the fire of great afflictions. For some had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, and others were sawn asunder and were slain with the sword. These are the glories of saints. Blessed is he who is deemed worthy to suffer for Christ; more blessed is he whose sufferings are greater, since the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 2. Had it but been possible for me to travel to you I should have liked nothing better than to meet you, that I might see and embrace Christ's athletes, and share your prayers and spiritual graces. But now my body is wasted by long sickness, so that I can scarcely even leave my bed, and there are many who are lying in wait for me, like ravening wolves, watching the moment when they may be able to rend Christ's sheep. I have therefore been compelled to visit you by letter; and I exhort you first of all most earnestly to pray for me, that for the rest of my remaining days or hours I may be enabled to serve the Lord, in accordance with the gospel of His kingdom. Next I beg you to pardon me for my absence and for my delay in writing to you. I have only with great difficulty found a man able to carry out my wishes. I speak of my son, the monk Eugenius, by whom I beseech you to pray for me and for the whole Church, and to write back news of you so that, when I hear, I may be more cheerful. 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/3202139.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.