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St Basil the Great Resources Online and in Print
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130 Pages
Page 19
Basil may or may not have taken Gregory's advice not to put himself forward. But Gregory and his father, the bishop, from this time strained every nerve to secure the election of Basil. It was felt that the cause of true religion was at stake. "The Holy Ghost must win." [140] Opposition had to be encountered from bishops who were in open or secret sympathy with Basil's theological opponents, from men of wealth and position with whom Basil was unpopular on account of his practice and preaching of stern self-denial, and from all the lewd fellows of the baser sort in Caesarea. [141] Letters were written in the name of Gregory the bishop with an eloquence and literary skill which have led them to be generally regarded as the composition of Gregory the younger. To the people of Caesarea Basil was represented as a man of saintly life and of unique capacity to stem the surging tide of heresy. [142] To the bishops of the province who had asked him to come to Caesarea without saying why, in the hope perhaps that so strong a friend of Basil's might be kept away from the election without being afterwards able to contest it on the ground that he had had no summons to attend, he expresses an earnest hope that their choice is not a factious and foregone conclusion, and, anticipating possible objections on the score of Basil's weak health, reminds them that they have to elect not a gladiator, but a primate. [143] To Eusebius of Samosata he sends the letter included among those of Basil [144] in which he urges him to cooperate in securing the appointment of a worthy man. Despite his age and physical infirmity, he was laid in his litter, as his son says [145] like a corpse in a grave, and borne to Caesarea to rise there with fresh vigour and carry the election by his vote. [146] All resistance was overborne, and Basil was seated on the throne of the great exarchate.
[140] Or. xliii.
[141] Or. xliii. S: 37.
[142] Ep. xli.
[143] Ep. xliii.
[144] Ep. xlvii.
[145] Or. xliii.
[146] Or. xviii., xliii.
Reference address : https://www.elpenor.org/basil/life-works.asp?pg=19
