Letter 278: I desired, when in Orphanene, to see your excellency; I had also hoped that while you were living at Corsagæna, there would have been nothing to hinder your coming to me at a synod which I had expected to hold at Attagæna; since, however, I failed to hold it, my desire was to see you in the hill-country; for here again Evesus, being in that ne...
Basil of Caesarea→Valerianus, of Illyricum|c. 373 AD|basil caesarea
diplomatic
Church council; Military conflict
When I was in Orphanene, I wanted to see Your Excellency. Then, when you were living at Corsagena, I hoped you might come to a synod I planned to hold at Attagena. When that synod fell through, I hoped to see you in the hill country, since Evesus, being in the neighborhood, held out prospects of our meeting. But I was disappointed on both occasions.
So I have decided to write and ask you to come to me. I think it only right that the younger man should visit the older. At our meeting I would also offer you my advice concerning your negotiations with certain people in Caesarea -- matters that call for my involvement if they are to reach a proper conclusion.
If this suits you, do not hold back from coming.
ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA
To Valerianus.
I desired, when in Orphanene, to see your excellency; I had also hoped that while you were living at Corsagæna, there would have been nothing to hinder your coming to me at a synod which I had expected to hold at Attagæna; since, however, I failed to hold it, my desire was to see you in the hill-country; for here again Evesus, being in that neighbourhood, held out hopes of our meeting. But since I have been disappointed on both occasions, I determined to write and beg that you would deign to visit me; for I think it is but right and proper that the young man should come to the old. Furthermore, at our meeting, I would make you a tender of my advice, touching your negotiations with certain at Cæsarea: a right conclusion of the matter calls for my intervention. If agreeable then, do not be backward in coming to 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/3202278.htm>.
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When I was in Orphanene, I wanted to see Your Excellency. Then, when you were living at Corsagena, I hoped you might come to a synod I planned to hold at Attagena. When that synod fell through, I hoped to see you in the hill country, since Evesus, being in the neighborhood, held out prospects of our meeting. But I was disappointed on both occasions.
So I have decided to write and ask you to come to me. I think it only right that the younger man should visit the older. At our meeting I would also offer you my advice concerning your negotiations with certain people in Caesarea -- matters that call for my involvement if they are to reach a proper conclusion.
If this suits you, do not hold back from coming.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.