Letter 75: You have many qualities which raise you above the common run of men, but nothing is more distinctly characteristic of you than your zeal for your country. Thus you, who have risen to such a height as to become illustrious throughout all the world, pay a righteous recompense to the land that gave you birth. Yet she, your mother city, who bore you...

To Aburgius, You have many admirable qualities, but what stands out most is your devotion to your homeland. You've risen to prominence across the entire world, yet you've never forgotten the city that raised you — and that deserves recognition. But I have to tell you what's happened to Caesarea [capital of Cappadocia, in modern central Turkey]. Our mother city has fallen into a state so dire it sounds like something out of ancient myth. Anyone visiting now — even people who knew her well — wouldn't recognize the place. The decline has been shockingly fast. Most of our magistrates have been removed, and nearly all the rest have been transferred to Podandus [a small town in the Taurus Mountains; Emperor Valens briefly proposed moving Caesarea's provincial capital there]. The few who remain are like severed limbs — they've lost all hope. The mood of despair is so heavy that the population has dwindled to almost nothing. The city looks like a desert. It's a heartbreaking sight for anyone who loves her, and a source of celebration for those who've been working toward our downfall. So who will help us? Who will even shed a tear for us? You've shown compassion for foreign cities in similar trouble — won't you do the same for the city that gave you birth? If you have any influence at all, now is the time to use it. God has clearly blessed you and has never let you down. All I'm asking is that you be willing to act on our behalf. Use whatever power you have to help your fellow citizens.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To Aburgius. You have many qualities which raise you above the common run of men, but nothing is more distinctly characteristic of you than your zeal for your country. Thus you, who have risen to such a height as to become illustrious throughout all the world, pay a righteous recompense to the land that gave you birth. Yet she, your mother city, who bore you and nursed you, has fallen into the incredible condition of ancient story; and no one visiting Cæsarea; not even those most familiar with her, would recognise her as she is; to such complete abandonment has she been suddenly transformed, many of her magistrates having been previously removed, and now nearly all of them transferred to Podandus. The remainder, torn from these like mutilated extremities, have themselves fallen into complete despair, and have caused such a general weight of despondency, that the population of the city is now but scanty; the place looks like a desert, a piteous spectacle to all who love it, and a cause for delight and encouragement to all who have long been plotting for our fall. Who then will reach out a hand to help us? Who will drop a tear of pity over our faith? You have sympathised with a stranger city in like distress; will not your kindly excellency feel for her who gave you birth? If you have any influence, show it in our present need. Certainly you have great help from God, Who has never abandoned you, and has given you many proofs of His kindness. Only be willing to exert yourself in our behalf, and use all the influence you have for the succour of your fellow citizens. 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/3202075.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.