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

To Bishop Bosporius.majesty of demeanour. From all this I counted him among men most illustrious for highcharacter.However, towards the close of his life (I will not conceal the truth) I, together with manyof them that in our country 2181 feared the Lord, sorrowed over him with sorrow unendurable,because he signed the creed brought from Constantinople by George. 2182 Afterwards, fullof kindness and gentleness as he was, and willing out of the fulness of his fatherly heart togive satisfaction to everyone, when he had already fallen sick of the disease of which he died,he sent for me, and, calling the Lord to witness, said that in the simplicity of his heart hehad agreed to the document sent from Constantinople, but had had no idea of rejecting thecreed put forth by the holy Fathers at Nicæa, nor had had any other disposition of heartthan from the beginning he had always had. He prayed, moreover, that he might not be cutoff from the lot of those blessed three hundred and eighteen bishops who had announcedthe pious decree 2183 to the world. In consequence of this satisfactory statement I dismissedall anxiety and doubt, and, as you are aware, communicated with him, and gave overgrieving. Such have been my relations with Dianius. If anyone avers that he is privy to anyvile slander on my part against Dianius, do not let him buzz it slave-wise in a corner; lethim come boldly out and convict me in the light of day.1552181 Here Cæsarea appears to be called πατρίς. cf. Ep. viii. Vide Proleg.2182 i.e.the Homœan creed of Ariminum, as revised at Nike and accepted at the Acacian Synod of Constantinoplein 360. George is presumably the George bp. of Laodicea, who at Seleucia opposed the Acacians,but appears afterwards to have become reconciled to that party, and to have joined them in persecuting theCatholics at Constantinople. cf. Basil, Ep. ccli.2183 κήρυγμα. cf. p. 41.463