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

To Meletius, bishop of Antioch.Letter LXVIII. 2244To Meletius, bishop of Antioch.I wished to detain the reverend brother Dorotheus, the deacon, so long at my side, withthe object of keeping him until the end of the negociations, and so by him acquainting yourexcellency with every detail. But day after day went by; the delay was becoming protracted;now, the moment that some plan, so far as is possible in my difficulties, has occurred to meconcerning the course to be taken, I send him to approach your holiness, to make a personalreport to you on all the circumstances, and show you my memorandum, to the end that, ifwhat has occurred to me seems to you to be likely to be of service, your excellency may urgeon its accomplishment. To be brief, the opinion has prevailed that it is best for this ourbrother Dorotheus to travel to Rome, to move some of the Italians to undertake a voyageby sea to visit us, that they may avoid all who would put difficulties in their way. My reasonfor this course is that I see that those, who are all powerful with the Emperor, are neitherwilling nor able to make any suggestion to him about the exiled, but only count it so muchto the good that they see no worse thing befalling the Churches. If, then, my plan seemsgood also to your prudence, you will be good enough both to indite letters and dictatememoranda as to the points on which he must enlarge, and as to whom he had better addresshimself. And so that your despatches may have weight and authority, you will add all thosewho share your sentiments, even though they are not on the spot. Here all is uncertain;Euippius 2245 has arrived, but so far has made no sign. However, he and those who thinkwith him from the Armenian Tetrapolis and Cilicia are threatening a tumultuous meeting.1652244 Of the same time.2245 cf. Letter ccli.488