Letter 62: Following an ancient custom, which has obtained for many years, and at the same time showing you love in God, which is the fruit of the Spirit, I now, my pious friends, address this letter to you. I feel with you at once in your grief at the event which has befallen you, and in your anxiety at the matter which you have in hand. Concerning all th...

To the church at Parnassus [a city in Cappadocia, modern central Turkey], I'm writing to you as part of a long tradition, and out of genuine love in God — the fruit of the Spirit. I share in your grief over your loss, and I understand the weight of the decision now before you. All I can say about these troubles is what Paul said: we should not grieve like those who have no hope [1 Thessalonians 4:13]. That doesn't mean we shouldn't feel the loss — of course we should. But we shouldn't be crushed by it. Your pastor lived to a good old age and died honored by the Lord. He is at rest. As for what comes next, here is my advice: set aside your mourning now. Gather yourselves and turn your attention to the practical needs of the church. Pray that God will watch over his little flock and send you a shepherd after his own heart — one who will care for you wisely.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To the Church of Parnassus. Following an ancient custom, which has obtained for many years, and at the same time showing you love in God, which is the fruit of the Spirit, I now, my pious friends, address this letter to you. I feel with you at once in your grief at the event which has befallen you, and in your anxiety at the matter which you have in hand. Concerning all these troubles I can only say, that an occasion is given us to look to the injunctions of the Apostle, and not to sorrow even as others which have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 I do not mean that we should be insensible to the loss we have suffered, but that we should not succumb to our sorrow, while we count the Pastor happy in his end. He has died in a ripe old age, and has found his rest in the great honour given him by his Lord. As to the future I have this recommendation to give you. You must now lay aside all mourning; you must come to yourselves; you must rise to the necessary management of the Church; to the end that the holy God may give heed to His own little flock, and may grant you a shepherd in accordance with His own will, who may wisely feed you. 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/3202062.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.