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

Basil to Gregory. 2560
Letter CLXIX. 2559
You have undertaken a kindly and charitable task in getting together the captive troop
of the insolent Glycerius (at present I must so write), and, so far as in you lay, covering our
common shame. It is only right that your reverence should undo this dishonour with a full
knowledge of the facts about him.
This grave and venerable Glycerius of yours was ordained by me deacon of the church
of Venesa 2561 to serve the presbyter, and look after the work of the Church, for, though the
fellow is in other respects intractable, he is naturally clever at manual labour. No sooner
was he appointed than he neglected his work, as though there had been absolutely nothing
to do. But, of his own private power and authority, he got together some wretched virgins,
some of whom came to him of their own accord (you know how young people are prone
to anything of this kind), and others were unwillingly forced to accept him as leader of their
company. Then he assumed the style and title of patriarch, and began all of a sudden to
play the man of dignity. He had not attained to this on any reasonable or pious ground; his
only object was to get a means of livelihood, just as some men start one trade and some another.
He has all but upset the whole Church, scorning his own presbyter, a man venerable
both by character and age; scorning his chorepiscopus, and myself, as of no account at all,
continually filling the town and all the clergy with disorder and disturbance. And now, on
being mildly rebuked by me and his chorepiscopus, that he may not treat us with contempt
(for he was trying to stir the younger men to like insubordination), he is meditating conduct
most audacious and inhuman. After robbing as many of the virgins as he could, he has
made off by night. I am sure all this will have seemed very sad to you. Think of the time
too. The feast was being held there, and, as was natural, large numbers of people were
gathered together. He, however, on his side, brought out his own troop, who followed young
men and danced round them, causing all well-disposed persons to be most distressed, while
loose chatterers laughed aloud. And even this was not enough, enormous as was the scandal.
I am told that even the parents of the virgins, finding their bereavement unendurable,
wishful to bring home the scattered company, and falling with not unnatural sighs and tears
at their daughters’ feet, have been insulted and outraged by this excellent young man and
2559 Placed in 374, on the misconduct of Glycerius, a deacon.
2560 Tillemont says either of Nyssa or Nazianzus. In the ms. Coisl. I. it is preceded by lxxi., unquestionably
addressed to Gregory of Nazianzus, and inscribed “to the same.” In the Codex Harl. it is inscribed Γρηγορί&
251· ἑταίρῳ. Garnier, however (Vit. S. Bas. xxxi. § iv.) allows that there are arguments in favor of Gregory of
Nyssa. Probably it is the elder Gregory who is addressed. See Prolegomena.
2561 Or Veësa, or Synnasa; the mss. vary.
Basil to Gregory.
629
218