Letter 143: Had it been possible for me to meet your excellency I would have in person brought before you the points about which I am anxious, and would have pleaded the cause of the afflicted, but I am prevented by illness and by press of business. I have therefore sent to you in my stead this chorepiscopus, my brother, begging you to give him your aid and...

I'm writing to you because I can't come in person — I'm dealing with illness and a heavy workload. Instead, I'm sending this chorepiscopus [a rural bishop who served as Basil's deputy in outlying areas], a brother of mine. Please welcome him, work with him, and take his advice seriously. He's honest and sharp — exactly the kind of person you want consulting on these matters. If you'd be willing to visit the hospital for the poor that he manages, I'm sure you'll be impressed. I've heard you already fund one of the hospitals in Amasea [a major city in Pontus, in modern northern Turkey] out of your own wealth, so you know this kind of work well. Once you've seen what he's doing, I'm confident you'll give him whatever he needs. Your colleague has already promised me some support for the hospitals. I'm not telling you this to pressure you into matching him — you're the kind of person who leads in generosity, not follows. I just want you to know that others have already stepped up.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To another accountant. Had it been possible for me to meet your excellency I would have in person brought before you the points about which I am anxious, and would have pleaded the cause of the afflicted, but I am prevented by illness and by press of business. I have therefore sent to you in my stead this chorepiscopus, my brother, begging you to give him your aid and use him and to take him into counsel, for his truthfulness and sagacity qualify him to advise in such matters. If you are so good as to inspect the hospital for the poor, which is managed by him, (I am sure you will not pass it without a visit, experienced as you are in the work; for I have been told that you support one of the hospitals at Amasea out of the substance wherewith the Lord has blessed you), I am confident that, after seeing it, you will give him all he asks. Your colleague has already promised me some help towards the hospitals. I tell you this, not that you may imitate him, for you are likely to be a leader of others in good works, but that you may know that others have shown regard for me in this matter. 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/3202143.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.