Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers Series 2 - The Still Small ...

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 Cæsarea. 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 Cæsarea 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 Cæsarea 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 Cæsarea 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.
The success of the Catholics roused, as was inevitable, various feelings. Athanasius
wrote from Alexandria 147 to congratulate Cappadocia on her privilege in being ruled by so
illustrious a primate. Valens prepared to carry out the measures against the Catholic
province, which had been interrupted by the revolt of Procopius. The bishops of the province
who had been narrowly out-voted, and who had refused to take part in the consecration,
abandoned communion with the new primate. 148 But even more distressing to the new
archbishop than the disaffection of his suffragans was the refusal of his friend Gregory to
come in person to support him on his throne. Gregory pleaded that it was better for Basil’s
own sake that there should be no suspicion of favour to personal friends, and begged to be
140 Or. xliii.
141 Or. xliii. § 37.
142 Ep. xli.
143 Ep. xliii.
144 Ep. xlvii.
145 Or. xliii.
146 Or. xviii., xliii.
147 Athan., Ad Pall. 953; Ad Johan, et Ant. 951.
148 This is inferred from the latter part of Ep. xlviii. cf. Maran, Vit. Bas. xiii. 3.
Basil as Archbishop.
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