Letter 167: I am delighted at your remembering me and writing, and, what is yet more important, at your sending me your blessing in your letter. Had I been but worthy of your labours and of your struggles in Christ's cause, I should have been permitted to come to you and embrace you, and to take you as a model of patience. But since I am not worthy of this,...
Basil of Caesarea→Eusebius, Archbishop of Thessalonica|c. 367 AD|basil caesarea
From: Basil, Bishop of Caesarea
To: Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata
Date: ~367 AD
Context: A brief, warm note thanking Eusebius for writing and reflecting on the honor of being remembered by such a man.
I am delighted that you remember me and write, and what matters even more, that you send me your blessing in your letter. Had I been worthy of your labors and your struggles for Christ's cause, I would have been allowed to come to you, embrace you, and take you as a model of patience. But since I am not worthy of this, and am held back by many afflictions and much business, I do the next best thing: I greet your excellency and beg you not to grow tired of remembering me.
The honor and pleasure of receiving your letters is not only a benefit to me personally -- it is something I can boast of before the world: that I am held in regard by a man whose virtue is so great, and whose communion with God is so close, that by both his teaching and his example he draws others into that same communion.
ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata.
I am delighted at your remembering me and writing, and, what is yet more important, at your sending me your blessing in your letter. Had I been but worthy of your labours and of your struggles in Christ's cause, I should have been permitted to come to you and embrace you, and to take you as a model of patience. But since I am not worthy of this, and am detained by many afflictions and much occupation, I do what is next best. I salute your excellency, and beseech you not to grow weary of remembering me. For the honour and pleasure of receiving your letters is not only an advantage to me, but it is a ground of boasting and pride before the world that I should be held in honour by one whose virtue is so great, and who is in such close communion with God as to be able, alike by his teaching and example, to unite others with him in it.
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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/3202167.htm>.
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From:Basil, Bishop of Caesarea
To:Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata
Date:~367 AD
Context:A brief, warm note thanking Eusebius for writing and reflecting on the honor of being remembered by such a man.
I am delighted that you remember me and write, and what matters even more, that you send me your blessing in your letter. Had I been worthy of your labors and your struggles for Christ's cause, I would have been allowed to come to you, embrace you, and take you as a model of patience. But since I am not worthy of this, and am held back by many afflictions and much business, I do the next best thing: I greet your excellency and beg you not to grow tired of remembering me.
The honor and pleasure of receiving your letters is not only a benefit to me personally -- it is something I can boast of before the world: that I am held in regard by a man whose virtue is so great, and whose communion with God is so close, that by both his teaching and his example he draws others into that same communion.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.