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

To the Church of Parnassus. 2226
Letter LXII. 2225
Following an ancient custom, which has obtained for many years, and at the same time
shewing you love in God, which is the fruit of the Spirit, I now, my pious friends, address
this letter to you. I feel with you at once in your grief at the event which has befallen you,
and in your anxiety at the matter which you have in hand. Concerning all these troubles I
can only say, that an occasion is given us to look to the injunctions of the Apostle, and not
to sorrow “even as others which have no hope.” 2227 I do not mean that we should be insensible
to the loss we have suffered, but that we should not succumb to our sorrow, while we
count the Pastor happy in his end. He has died in a ripe old age, and has found his rest in
the great honour given him by his Lord.
As to the future I have this recommendation to give you. You must now lay aside all
mourning; you must come to yourselves; you must rise to the necessary management of the
Church; to the end that the holy God may give heed to His own little flock, and may grant
you a shepherd in accordance with His own will, who may wisely feed you.
2225 Placed about 371.
2226 A town in Northern Cappadocia, on the right bank of the Halys, on or near a hill whence it was named,
on the road between Ancyra and Archelais. The letter appears to Maran (Vita S. Bas. xvi.) to have been written
before the encouragement given to the Arians by the visit of Valens in 372. The result of Basil’s appeal to the
Parnassenes was the election of an orthodox bishop, expelled by the Arians in 375, and named Hypsis or
Hypsinus. cf. Letter ccxxxvii., where Ecdicius is said to have succeeded Hypsis; and ccxxxviii., where Ecdicius
is called Παρνασσηνός.
2227 1 Thess. iv. 13.
To the Church of Parnassus.
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