Letter 248: So far as my own wishes are concerned I am grieved at living at such a distance from your reverence. But, as regards the peace of your own life, I thank the Lord Who has kept you out of this conflagration which has specially ravaged my diocese. For the just Judge has sent me, in accordance with my works, a messenger of Satan, who is buffeting m...
Basil of Caesarea→Amphilochius, of Iconium|c. 371 AD|basil caesarea
grief deathimperial politics
Theological controversy; Imperial politics; Persecution or exile
For my own part, I grieve at living so far from you. But for the sake of your peace of mind, I thank the Lord for keeping you out of this firestorm that has ravaged my diocese in particular. The just Judge has sent me, in accordance with my deserts, a "messenger of Satan" who is battering me hard and vigorously defending the heresy. He has carried the war against us to such extremes that he does not even shrink from shedding the blood of those who trust in God.
You must have heard that a man named Asclepius, because he refused communion with Doeg [Basil's contemptuous nickname for an Arian opponent, after the biblical traitor], was beaten to death by them -- or rather, through their blows was translated into life. You can assume the rest of their behavior is of a piece with this: persecutions of presbyters and teachers, and everything you would expect from men abusing imperial authority at their personal whim.
But in answer to your prayers, the Lord will give us relief from all this, and patience to bear our trials in a manner worthy of our hope in Him. Please write to me often about everything that concerns you. If you can find a trustworthy person to send for the book I have finished, do so -- once your approval has cheered me, I can send it on to others as well.
May you be preserved for me and for the Church of the Lord, in good health, rejoicing in the Lord, and praying for me.
ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA
To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium.
So far as my own wishes are concerned I am grieved at living at such a distance from your reverence. But, as regards the peace of your own life, I thank the Lord Who has kept you out of this conflagration which has specially ravaged my diocese. For the just Judge has sent me, in accordance with my works, a messenger of Satan, who is buffeting me severely enough, and is vigorously defending the heresy. Indeed to such a pitch has he carried the war against us, that he does not shrink even from shedding the blood of those who trust in God. You cannot fail to have heard that a man of the name of Asclepius, because he would not consent to communion with Doeg, has died under the blows inflicted on him by them, or rather, by their blows has been translated into life. You may suppose that the rest of their doings are of a piece with this; the persecutions of presbyters and teachers, and all that might be expected to be done by men abusing the imperial authority at their own caprice. But, in answer to your prayers, the Lord will give us release from these things, and patience to bear the weight of our trials worthily of our hope in Him. Pray write frequently to me of all that concerns yourself. If you find any one who can be trusted to carry you the book that I have finished, be so kind as to send for it, that so, when I have been cheered by your approval, I may send it on to others also. By the grace of the Holy One may you be granted to me and to the Church of the Lord in good health rejoicing in the Lord, and praying for me.
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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/3202248.htm>.
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For my own part, I grieve at living so far from you. But for the sake of your peace of mind, I thank the Lord for keeping you out of this firestorm that has ravaged my diocese in particular. The just Judge has sent me, in accordance with my deserts, a "messenger of Satan" who is battering me hard and vigorously defending the heresy. He has carried the war against us to such extremes that he does not even shrink from shedding the blood of those who trust in God.
You must have heard that a man named Asclepius, because he refused communion with Doeg [Basil's contemptuous nickname for an Arian opponent, after the biblical traitor], was beaten to death by them -- or rather, through their blows was translated into life. You can assume the rest of their behavior is of a piece with this: persecutions of presbyters and teachers, and everything you would expect from men abusing imperial authority at their personal whim.
But in answer to your prayers, the Lord will give us relief from all this, and patience to bear our trials in a manner worthy of our hope in Him. Please write to me often about everything that concerns you. If you can find a trustworthy person to send for the book I have finished, do so -- once your approval has cheered me, I can send it on to others as well.
May you be preserved for me and for the Church of the Lord, in good health, rejoicing in the Lord, and praying for me.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.