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

To Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria.To Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria.Letter LXIX. 22461. As time moves on, it continually confirms the opinion which I have long held of yourholiness; or rather that opinion is strengthened by the daily course of events. Most men areindeed satisfied with observing, each one, what lies especially within his own province; notthus is it with you, but your anxiety for all the Churches is no less than that which you feelfor the Church that has been especially entrusted to you by our common Lord; inasmuchas you leave no interval in speaking, exhorting, writing, and despatching emissaries, whofrom time to time give the best advice in each emergency as it arises. Now, from the sacredranks of your clergy, you have sent forth the venerable brother Peter, whom I have welcomedwith great joy. I have also approved of the good object of his journey, which he manifestsin accordance with the commands of your excellency, in effecting reconciliation where hefinds opposition, and bringing about union instead of division. With the object of offeringsome contribution to the action which is being taken in this matter, I have thought that Icould not make a more fitting beginning than by having recourse to your excellency, as tothe head and chief of all, and treating you as alike adviser and commander in the enterprise.I have therefore determined to send to your reverence our brother Dorotheus the deacon,of the Church under the right honourable bishop Meletius, being one who at once is anenergetic supporter of the orthodox faith, and is earnestly desirous of seeing the peace ofthe Churches. The results, I hope, will be, that, following your suggestions (which you areable to make with the less likelihood of failure, both from your age and your experience inaffairs, and because you have a greater measure than all others of the aid of the Spirit), hemay thus attempt the achievement of our objects. You will welcome him, I am sure, andwill look upon him with friendly eyes. You will strengthen him by the help of your prayers;you will give him a letter as provision by the way; you will grant him, as companions, someof the good men and true that you have about you; so you will speed him on the road towhat is before him. It has seemed to me to be desirable to send a letter to the bishop ofRome, begging him to examine our condition, and since there are difficulties in the way ofrepresentatives being sent from the West by a general synodical decree, to advise him toexercise his own personal authority in the matter by choosing suitable persons to sustainthe labours of a journey,—suitable, too, by gentleness and firmness of character, to correctthe unruly among us here; able to speak with proper reserve and appropriateness, andthoroughly well acquainted with all that has been effected after Ariminum to undo the violentmeasures adopted there. I should advise that, without any one knowing anything about it,2246 Of the same period as the preceding.489