Letter 36: It has, I think, been long known to your excellency that the presbyter of this place is a foster brother of my own. What more can I say to induce you in your kindness, to view him with a friendly eye, and give him help in his affairs? If you love me, as I know you do, I am sure that you will endeavour, to the best of your power, to relieve any o...
Basil of Caesarea→Unknown|c. 359 AD|basil caesarea
property economics
I believe Your Excellency already knows that the presbyter of this place is my foster brother. What more do I need to say to persuade you to look kindly on him and help him with his affairs? If you love me — and I know you do — I'm confident you'll do everything in your power to help someone I consider a second self.
What am I asking? Simply that he not lose his current tax assessment. He goes to considerable trouble looking after my needs, because — as you know — I have nothing of my own and depend entirely on the resources of my friends and relatives.
So treat my brother's household as you would mine — or better yet, as your own. In return for your kindness, God will never cease to bless you, your house, and your family.
I'm particularly worried that the new equalization of tax rates may hurt him unfairly.
ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA
Without address.
It has, I think, been long known to your excellency that the presbyter of this place is a foster brother of my own. What more can I say to induce you in your kindness, to view him with a friendly eye, and give him help in his affairs? If you love me, as I know you do, I am sure that you will endeavour, to the best of your power, to relieve any one whom I look upon as a second self. What then do I ask? That he do not lose his old rating. Really he takes no little trouble in ministering to my necessities, because I, as you know, have nothing of my own, but depend upon the means of my friends and relatives. Look, then, upon my brother's house as you would on mine, or let me rather say, on your own. In return for your kindness to him God will not cease to help alike yourself, your house, and your family. Be sure that I am specially anxious lest any injury should be done to him by the equalization of rates.
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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/3202036.htm>.
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I believe Your Excellency already knows that the presbyter of this place is my foster brother. What more do I need to say to persuade you to look kindly on him and help him with his affairs? If you love me — and I know you do — I'm confident you'll do everything in your power to help someone I consider a second self.
What am I asking? Simply that he not lose his current tax assessment. He goes to considerable trouble looking after my needs, because — as you know — I have nothing of my own and depend entirely on the resources of my friends and relatives.
So treat my brother's household as you would mine — or better yet, as your own. In return for your kindness, God will never cease to bless you, your house, and your family.
I'm particularly worried that the new equalization of tax rates may hurt him unfairly.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.