Sketch of the Life and Works of Saint Basil the Great

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Page 30

He was under the suspicion of Sabellian unsoundness. He slighted and slandered Basil on several apparently trivial pretexts, and on one occasion hastened from Nicopolis for fear of meeting him. [221] He expressed objection to supposed novelties introduced into the Church of Caesarea, to the mode of psalmody practiced there, and to the encouragement of ascetic life. [222] Basil did his utmost to win back the Neocaesareans from their heretical tendencies and to their old kindly sentiments towards himself.

The clergy of Pisidia and Pontus, where Eustathius had been specially successful in alienating the district of Dazimon, were personally visited and won back to communion. [223] But Atarbius and the Neocaesareans were deaf to all appeal, and remained persistently irreconcilable. [224] On his visiting the old home at Annesi, where his youngest brother Petrus was now residing, in 375, the Neocaesareans were thrown into a state of almost ludicrous panic. They fled as from a pursuing enemy. [225] They accused Basil of seeking to win their regard and support from motives of the pettiest ambition, and twitted him with travelling into their neighbourhood uninvited. [226]

[221] Ep. cxxvi.

[222] Ep. ccvii.

[223] Epp. cciii. and ccxvi.

[224] Epp. lxv., xxvi., ccx.

[225] Ep. ccxvi.

[226] Ib.

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