Letter 200: I am attacked by sickness after sickness, and all the work given me, not only by the affairs of the Church, but by those who are troubling the Church, has detained me during the whole winter, and up to the present time. It has been therefore quite impossible for me to send any one to you or to pay you a visit. I conjecture that you are similarly...

From: Basil, Bishop of Caesarea To: Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium Date: ~368 AD Context: Basil writes from deep illness, unable to visit Amphilochius, and sends the letter by a soldier named Meletius who is moving newly recruited troops through the region. Sickness after sickness has attacked me, and all the work piled on me -- not only by the affairs of the Church but by those who are making trouble for the Church -- has kept me pinned down the entire winter and up to this moment. It has been completely impossible for me to send anyone to you, let alone to visit in person. I imagine your situation is similar -- though not, God forbid, as to illness. May the Lord grant you continued health for carrying out his commands. But I know the care of the churches weighs on you just as it does on me. I was about to dispatch someone to get a clear report on your condition when my dear son Meletius, who is moving the newly enlisted troops, reminded me of the chance to greet you through him. I gladly seized the opportunity. He can serve as a letter in himself, both because of his good character and because he knows my situation thoroughly. Through him, I beg your reverence above all to pray for me: that the Lord may free me from this troublesome body; grant his churches peace; give you rest; and, once you have settled Lycaonia's affairs in apostolic fashion (as you have begun), provide an opportunity for you to visit us here as well. Whether I am still in the flesh or have already been called to depart to the Lord, I hope you will take an interest in our region as your own -- because it is. Strengthen what is weak. Rouse what is sluggish. By the power of the Spirit dwelling in you, transform everything into a condition pleasing to the Lord.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium I am attacked by sickness after sickness, and all the work given me, not only by the affairs of the Church, but by those who are troubling the Church, has detained me during the whole winter, and up to the present time. It has been therefore quite impossible for me to send any one to you or to pay you a visit. I conjecture that you are similarly situated; not, indeed, as to sickness, God forbid; may the Lord grant you continued health for carrying out His commandments. But I know that the care of the Churches gives you the same distress as it does me. I was now about to send some one to get me accurate information about your condition. But when my well beloved son Meletius, who is moving the newly enlisted troops, reminded me of the opportunity of my saluting you by him, I gladly accepted the occasion to write and had recourse to the kind services of the conveyor of my letter. He is one who may himself serve instead of a letter, both because of his amiable disposition, and of his being well acquainted with all which concerns me. By him, then, I beseech your reverence especially to pray for me, that the Lord may grant to me a riddance from this troublesome body of mine; to His Churches, peace; and to you, rest; and, whenever you have settled the affairs of Lycaonia in apostolic fashion, as you have began, an opportunity to visit also this place. Whether I be sojourning in the flesh, or shall have been already bidden to take my departure to the Lord, I hope that you will interest yourself in our part of the world, as your own, as indeed it is, strengthening all that is weak, rousing all that is slothful and, by the help of the Spirit Which abides in you, transforming everything into a condition well pleasing to the Lord. My very honourable sons, Meletius and Melitius, whom you have known for some time, and know to be devoted to yourself, keep in your good care and pray for them. This is enough to keep them in safety. Salute in my name, I beg you, all who are with your holiness, both all the clergy, and all the laity under your pastoral care, and my very religious brothers and fellow ministers. Bear in mind the memory of the blessed martyr Eupsychius, and do not wait for me to mention him again. Do not take pains to come on the exact day, but anticipate it, and so give me joy, if I be yet living on this earth. Till then may you, by the grace of the Holy One, be preserved for me and for God's Churches, enjoying health and wealth in the Lord, and praying for me. 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/3202200.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.