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Translated by Bl. Jackson.
St Basil the Great Resources Online and in Print
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This Part: 129 Pages
Page 61
Letter CCLI. [3096]
To the people of Evaesae. [3097]
1. My occupations are very numerous, and my mind is full of many anxious cares, but I have never forgotten you, my dear friends, ever praying my God for your constancy in the faith, wherein ye stand and have your boasting in the hope of the glory of God. Truly nowadays it is hard to find, and extraordinary to see, a Church pure, unharmed by the troubles of the times, and preserving the apostolic doctrine in all its integrity and completeness. Such is your Church shewn at this present time by Him who in every generation makes manifest them that are worthy of His calling. May the Lord grant to you the blessings of Jerusalem which is above, in return for your flinging back at the heads of the liars their slanders against me, and your refusal to allow them entry into your hearts. I know, and am persuaded in the Lord, that "your reward is great in heaven," [3098] even on account of this very conduct. For you have wisely concluded among yourselves, as indeed is the truth, that the men who are "rewarding me evil for good, and hatred for my love," [3099] are accusing me now for the very same points which they are found to have themselves confessed and subscribed.
2. Their presenting you with their own signatures for an accusation against me is not the only contradiction into which they have fallen. They were unanimously deposed by the bishops assembled at Constantinople. [3100] They refused to accept this deposition and appealed to a synod of impious men, [3101] refusing to admit the episcopacy of their judges, in order not to accept the sentence passed upon them.
The reason alleged for their non-recognition was their being leaders of wicked heresy. All this [3102] happened nearly seventeen years ago. The principal men of those who deposed them were Eudoxius, Euippius, George, [3103] Acacius, and others unknown to you. [3104]
The present tyrants of the churches are their successors, some ordained to fill their places, and others actually promoted by them.
[3096] Placed in 376.
[3097] Euassai. Possibly Ptolemy's Seioua. Ramsay, Hist. Geog. A. M. 304. Now Yogounes, i.e. ;'Agios 'Ioannes.
[3098] Matt. v. 12.
[3099] Ps. cix. 5.
[3100] i.e. in January 360. Soc. ii. 41-43; Soz. iv. 24.
[3101] The Synod of Lampsacus in 365 is probably referred to, but Socrates (v. 14) mentions several synods of the Homoiousians.
[3102] i.e. the deposition.
[3103] Of uncertain see.
[3104] A ms. variety is "to me."
Reference address : https://www.elpenor.org/basil/letters-3.asp?pg=61
