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

IX.—Unbroken Friendships.
Brighter and happier intimacies were those formed with the older bishop of Samosata,
the Eusebius who, of all the many bearers of the name, most nearly realised its meaning, 227
and with Basil’s junior, Amphilochius of Iconium. With the former, Basil’s relations were
those of an affectionate son and of an enthusiastic admirer. The many miles that stretched
between Cæsarea and Samosata did not prevent these personal as well as epistolary communications.
228 In 372 they were closely associated in the eager efforts of the orthodox bishops
of the East to win the sympathy and active support of the West. 229 In 374 Eusebius was
exiled, with all the picturesque incidents so vividly described by Theodoret. 230 He travelled
slowly from Samosata into Thrace, but does not seem to have met either Gregory or Basil
on his way. Basil contrived to continue a correspondence with him in his banishment. It
was more like that of young lovers than of elderly bishops. 231 The friends deplore the
hindrances to conveyance, and are eager to assure one another that neither is guilty of forgetfulness.
232
The friendship with Amphilochius seems to have begun at the time when the young
advocate accepted the invitation conveyed in the name of Heracleidas, 233 his friend, and
repaired from Ozizala to Cæsarea. The consequences were prompt and remarkable. Amphilochius,
at this time between thirty and forty years of age, was soon ordained and consecrated,
perhaps, like Ambrose of Milan and Eusebius of Cæsarea per saltum, to the important
see of Iconium, recently vacated by the death of Faustinus. Henceforward the intercourse
between the spiritual father and the spiritual son, both by letters and by visits, was constant.
The first visit of Amphilochius to Basil, as bishop, probably at Easter 374, not only gratified
the older prelate, but made a deep impression on the Church of Cæsarea. 234 But his visits
were usually paid in September, at the time of the services in commemoration of the martyr
Eupsychius. On the occasion of the first of them, in 374, the friends conversed together on
the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, now impugned by the Macedonians, and the result was the
composition of the treatise De Spiritu Sancto. This was closely followed by the three famous
227 Bp. in 361. cf. Greg. Naz., Ep. xxviii. and xxix., and Theod., Ecc. Hist. xxvii.
228 In 369, it is to the prayers of Eusebius, under the divine grace, that Basil refers his partial recovery from
sickness (Ep. xxvii.), and sends Hypatius to Samosata in hope of similar blessing. (Ep. xxxi.)
229 Ep. xcii.
230 Ecc. Hist. iv. 14.
231 cf. Principal Reynolds in D.C.B. i. 372.
232 Epp. clvii., clviii., clxii., clxvii., clxviii., cxcviii., ccxxxvii., ccxxxix., ccxli., cclxviii.
233 Ep. cl.
234 Epp. clxiii., clxxvi.
Unbroken Friendships.
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