NPNF2-08. Basil: Letters and Select Works - Holy Bible Institute

To Gregory.at such a crisis, as I ranged my eyes in all directions I bethought me of your loving spirit,your right faith, and your unceasing zeal on behalf of the churches of God. I have thereforesent the well beloved Eustathius, 2162 the deacon, to invite your reverence, and implore youto add this one more to all your labours on behalf of the Church. I entreat you also to refreshmy old age by a sight of you; and to maintain for the true Church its famous orthodoxy, byuniting with me, if I may be deemed worthy of uniting with you, in the good work, to giveit a shepherd in accordance with the will of the Lord, able to guide His people aright. I havebefore my eyes a man not unknown even to yourself. If only we be found worthy to securehim, I am sure that we shall acquire a confident access to God and confer a very great benefiton the people who have invoked our aid. Now once again, aye, many times I call on you,all hesitation put aside, to come to meet me, and to set out before the difficulties of winterintervene.1532162 cf. Letter cxxxvi., where it appears that Basil kindly nursed a deacon Eustathius. The fact of an Eustathiusbeing one of Basil’s deacons is so far in favour of Basil’s having written the letter. But Eustathius was acommon name, and Eustathius, a monk, is mentioned in the will of Gregory of Nazianzus.457