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

To Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria.Share the grief of the beleaguered people. Offer prayers for peace. Ask favour from theLord, that He will send some memorial of peace to the Churches. I know how weak lettersare to move men in matters of such importance; but you yourself no more need exhortationfrom others than the noblest athletes need the children’s cheers. It is not as though I wereinstructing one in ignorance; I am only giving a new impulse to one whose energies arealready roused. For the rest of the affairs of the East perhaps you may need the aid of more,and we must wait for the Westerns. But plainly the discipline of the Church of Antiochdepends upon your reverence’s being able to control some, to reduce others to silence, andto restore strength to the Church by concord. 2241 No one knows better than you do, that,like all wise physicians, you ought to begin your treatment in the most vital parts, and whatpart is more vital to the Churches throughout the world than Antioch? Only let Antiochbe restored to harmony, and nothing will stand in the way of her supplying, as a healthyhead, soundness to all the body. Truly the diseases of that city, which has not only been cutasunder by heretics, but is torn in pieces by men who say that they are of one mind withone another, stand in need of your wisdom and evangelic sympathy. To unite the sunderedparts again, and bring about the harmony of one body, belongs to Him alone Who by Hisineffable power grants even to the dry bones to come back again to sinews and flesh. Butthe Lord always works His mighty works by means of them that are worthy of Him. Onceagain, in this case too, we trust that the ministry of matters so important may beseem yourexcellency, with the result that you will lay the tempest of the people, do away with the partysuperiorities, and subject all to one another in love, and give back to the Church her ancientstrength.1642241 To end the schism caused by the refusal of the Eustathian or old Catholic party to recognise Meletiusas bishop of the whole orthodox body. The churches of the West and Egypt, on the whole, supported Paulinus,who had been ordained by Lucifer of Cagliari, bishop of the old Catholics. The Ben. Ed. supposes the wordοἰκονομῆσαι, which I have rendered “control,” to refer to Paulinus. The East supported Meletius, and if theοἰκονομία in Basil’s mind does refer to Paulinus, the “management” meant may be management to get rid ofhim.486