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

To Olympius.Letter CXXXI. 2436To Olympius. 24371. Truly unexpected tidings make both ears tingle. This is my case. These compositionsagainst me, which are being carried about, have fallen upon ears by this time pretty wellseasoned, on account of my having formerly received the letter, appropriate enough to mysins, but which I should never have expected to be written by those who sent it. Neverthelesswhat followed did seem to me so extraordinarily cruel as to blot out all that had gone before.How could I fail to be driven almost out of my senses when I read the letter addressed tothe reverend brother Dazinas, full of outrageous insults and calumnies and of attacks againstme, as though I had been convicted of much pernicious designs against the Church?Moreover proofs were forthwith offered of the truth of the calumnies against me, from thedocument of whose authorship I am ignorant. Parts I recognise, I own, as having beenwritten by Apollinarius of Laodicea. These I had purposely not even ever read, but I hadheard of them from the report of others. Other portions I found included, which I hadnever either read or heard of from any one else; of the truth of this there is a faithful witnessin heaven. How then can men who shun lies, who have learnt that love is the fulfilling ofthe law, who profess to bear the burdens of the weak, have consented to bring these calumniesagainst me and to condemn me out of other men’s writings? I have often asked myself thisquestion, but I cannot imagine the reason, unless it be, as I have said from the beginning,that my pain in all this is a part of the punishment which is due to my sins.2. First of all I sorrowed in soul that truths were lessened by the sons of men; in thesecond place I feared for my own self, lest in addition to my other sins, I should become amisanthrope, believing no truth and honour to be left in any man; if indeed those whom Ihave most greatly trusted are proved to be so disposed both to me and to the truth. Be surethen, my brother, and every one who is a friend of the truth, that the composition is notmine; I do not approve of it, for it is not drawn up according to my views. Even if I didwrite, a good many years ago, to Apollinarius or to any one else, I ought not to be blamed.I find no fault myself if any member of any society has been cut off into heresy (and youknow perfectly well whom I mean though I mention nobody by name), because each manwill die in his own sin.This is my reply to the document sent me, that you may know the truth, and make itplain to all who wish not to hold the truth in unrighteousness. If it prove necessary to defend2436 Placed in 373.2437 cf. Letters xii. and xiii.576