Letter 128

To a Bishop, expelled from his diocese for refusing to accept Arian doctrine. You have recovered what you truly are — you have not lost it. When a man is struck from the rolls of impiety, he is not at the same moment deprived of the throne of genuine piety. Welcome your exile from Egypt, and believe that the prophet's cry was also addressed to you: "What have you to do with the land of Egypt, that you should drink from the waters of the Nile?" [Jeremiah 2:18]. It is a people that has long been rebellious against God and hostile to the Holy Fathers.

Letter 128: Consolation [1] To a Bishop, expelled from his Bishopric because he was unwilling to subscribe to the Arian dogma. You have recovered what you were, you have not lost it. For when one is struck off from the list of impiety, he is not at the same moment deprived of the throne of piety. Welcome this banishment of yours from Egypt, and believe that it was also to you that the prophet cried aloud: [2] What hast thou to do with the land of Egypt, that thou shouldest drink from the water of Geon?" note [ Jeremiah 2.18.] It is a race which has for a long time been rebellious to God and an enemy of the Holy Fathers.