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

To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata.
Letter CCXXXVII. 3002
1. I both wrote to your reverence by the vicar of Thrace, and sent other letters by one
of the officers of the treasury of Philippopolis, who was starting from our country into
Thrace, and begged him to take them on his departure. But the vicar never received my
letter, for while I was visiting my diocese, 3003 he came into town in the evening and started
early in the morning, so that the church officers did not know of his coming, and the letter
remained at my house. The treasurer, too, on account of some unexpected and urgent
business, set out without seeing me or taking my letters. No one else could be found; so I
remained, sorry at not being able to write to you and at not receiving any letter from your
reverence. Yet I was wishful, were it possible, to tell you all that happens to me day by day.
So many astonishing things happen as to need a daily narrative, and you may be sure that
I would have written one, unless my mind had been diverted from its purpose by the pressure
of events.
2. The first and greatest of my troubles was the visit of the Vicar. As to whether he is
a man really heretically minded I do not know; for I think that he is quite unversed in doctrine,
and has not the slightest interest or experience in such things, for I see him day and
night busy, both in body and soul, in other things. But he is certainly a friend of heretics;
and he is not more friendly to them than he is ill-disposed to me. He has summoned a
synod of wicked men in mid-winter in Galatia. 3004 He has deposed Hypsinus and set up
Ecdicius in his place. 3005 He has ordered the removal of my brother on the accusation of
one man, and that one quite insignificant. Then, after being occupied for some little time
about the army, he came to us again breathing rage and slaughter, 3006 and, in one sentence,
delivered all the Church of Cæsarea to the Senate. He settled for several days at Sebaste,
separating friends from foes, 3007 calling those in communion with me senators, and condemning
them to the public service, while he advanced the adherents of Eustathius. He has
3002 Placed in 376.
3003 παροικία. cf. p. 163, n.
3004 i.e. at Ancyra.
3005 i.e.at Parnassus. Parnassus is placed by Ramsay at a ford a few miles higher up the Halys than Tchikin
Aghyl. (Hist Geog. of Asia Minor, p. 255.)
3006 cf. Acts ix. 1.
3007 φυλοκρινῶν. The word occurs also in the De Sp. S. § 74, and in Letter cciv. § 2. Another reading in this
place is φιλοκρινῶν, “picking out his friends.”
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata.
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