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

Unbroken Friendships.IX.—Unbroken Friendships.Brighter and happier intimacies were those formed with the older bishop of Samosata,the Eusebius who, of all the many bearers of the name, most nearly realised its meaning, 227and with Basil’s junior, Amphilochius of Iconium. With the former, Basil’s relations werethose of an affectionate son and of an enthusiastic admirer. The many miles that stretchedbetween Cæsarea and Samosata did not prevent these personal as well as epistolary communications.228 In 372 they were closely associated in the eager efforts of the orthodox bishopsof the East to win the sympathy and active support of the West. 229 In 374 Eusebius wasexiled, with all the picturesque incidents so vividly described by Theodoret. 230 He travelledslowly from Samosata into Thrace, but does not seem to have met either Gregory or Basilon his way. Basil contrived to continue a correspondence with him in his banishment. Itwas more like that of young lovers than of elderly bishops. 231 The friends deplore thehindrances to conveyance, and are eager to assure one another that neither is guilty of forgetfulness.232The friendship with Amphilochius seems to have begun at the time when the youngadvocate accepted the invitation conveyed in the name of Heracleidas, 233 his friend, andrepaired from Ozizala to Cæsarea. The consequences were prompt and remarkable. Amphilochius,at this time between thirty and forty years of age, was soon ordained and consecrated,perhaps, like Ambrose of Milan and Eusebius of Cæsarea per saltum, to the importantsee of Iconium, recently vacated by the death of Faustinus. Henceforward the intercoursebetween the spiritual father and the spiritual son, both by letters and by visits, was constant.The first visit of Amphilochius to Basil, as bishop, probably at Easter 374, not only gratifiedthe older prelate, but made a deep impression on the Church of Cæsarea. 234 But his visitswere usually paid in September, at the time of the services in commemoration of the martyrEupsychius. On the occasion of the first of them, in 374, the friends conversed together onthe doctrine of the Holy Spirit, now impugned by the Macedonians, and the result was thecomposition of the treatise De Spiritu Sancto. This was closely followed by the three famous227 Bp. in 361. cf. Greg. Naz., Ep. xxviii. and xxix., and Theod., Ecc. Hist. xxvii.228 In 369, it is to the prayers of Eusebius, under the divine grace, that Basil refers his partial recovery fromsickness (Ep. xxvii.), and sends Hypatius to Samosata in hope of similar blessing. (Ep. xxxi.)229 Ep. xcii.230 Ecc. Hist. iv. 14.231 cf. Principal Reynolds in D.C.B. i. 372.232 Epp. clvii., clviii., clxii., clxvii., clxviii., cxcviii., ccxxxvii., ccxxxix., ccxli., cclxviii.233 Ep. cl.234 Epp. clxiii., clxxvi.43