Letter 89: 1. The eagerness of my longing is soothed by the opportunities which the merciful God gives me of saluting your reverence. He Himself is witness of the earnest desire which I have to see your face, and to enjoy your good and soul-refreshing instruction.

To Meletius, bishop of Antioch [leader of the pro-Nicene party in Antioch, exiled multiple times for opposing Arianism]. Brother Dorotheus the deacon is heading your way, so I'm taking the chance to write. First: please pray for me — that I don't become a stumbling block to my people or an obstacle to your own prayers before the Lord. Second: I'd like you to work out the details through Dorotheus. If you think we should send a letter to the Western bishops [the churches of Rome, Gaul, Italy, and Illyria — whose support the Eastern pro-Nicene party desperately needed], please draft it yourself. Even though Dorotheus can carry our message in person, it's right to put things in writing too. I've already met Sabinus, the deacon they sent, and I've written to bishops in Illyria, Italy, and Gaul, as well as some who wrote to me privately. But someone should also be sent on behalf of the whole Synod, carrying a second formal letter — I'm asking you to compose that one. Regarding Bishop Athanasius [of Alexandria — the towering champion of Nicene orthodoxy, exiled five times]: you already know the situation, but let me say it plainly. My letters alone won't accomplish anything unless he somehow receives communion from you. He was passed over last time, and the promise to rectify that was never fulfilled. From what I hear, he's eager to work with me and willing to do whatever he can — but he's hurt that he was sent away without communion and that nothing has changed since. You've no doubt heard about the state of things in the East [where Arian-leaning emperors and bishops still held considerable power]. Dorotheus can fill you in on the details in person. Please send him back right after Easter — he's waiting for an answer from Samosata [where Eusebius, another exiled pro-Nicene bishop, was based]. Support his dedication, strengthen him with your prayers, and send him on his way.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To Meletius, bishop of Antioch. 1. The eagerness of my longing is soothed by the opportunities which the merciful God gives me of saluting your reverence. He Himself is witness of the earnest desire which I have to see your face, and to enjoy your good and soul-refreshing instruction. Now by my reverend and excellent brother Dorotheus, the deacon, who is setting out, first of all I beg you to pray for me that I be no stumbling block to the people, nor hindrance to your petitions to propitiate the Lord. In the second place I would suggest that you would be so good as to make all arrangements through the aforementioned brother; and, if it seems well that a letter should be sent to the Westerns, because it is only right that communication should be made in writing even through our own messenger, that you will dictate the letter. I have met Sabinus the deacon, sent by them, and have written to the bishops in Illyria, Italy, and Gaul, and to some of those who have written privately to myself. For it is right that some one should be sent in the common interests of the Synod, conveying a second letter which I beg you to have written. 2. As to what concerns the right reverend bishop Athanasius, your intelligence is already aware of what I will mention, that it is impossible for anything to be advanced by my letters, or for any desirable objects to be carried out, unless by some means or other he receives communion from you, who at that time postponed it. He is described as being very anxious to unite with me, and to be willing to contribute all he can, but to be sorry that he was sent away without communion, and that the promise still remains unfulfilled. What is going on in the East cannot have failed to reach your reverence's ears, but the aforementioned brother will give you more accurate information by word of mouth. Be so good as to dispatch him directly after Easter, because of his waiting for the answer from Samosata. Look kindly on his zeal strengthen him by your prayers and so dispatch him on this commission. 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/3202089.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.