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

To Amphilochius, concerning the Canons.Church; they should be considered deserving of hearing after two or three years, and afterwardsof being permitted to stand in their place; but they must be kept from the communionof the good gift, and only restored to the place of communion after showing some fruit ofrepentance.V. Heretics repenting at death ought to be received; yet to be received, of course, notindiscriminately, but on trial of exhibition of true repentance and of producing fruit inevidence of their zeal for salvation. 2632VI. The fornication of canonical persons is not to be reckoned as wedlock, and theirunion is to be completely dissolved, for this is both profitable for the security of the Churchand will prevent the heretics from having a ground of attack against us, as though we inducedmen to join us by the attraction of liberty to sin.VII. Abusers of themselves with mankind, and with beasts, as also murderers, wizards,adulterers, and idolaters, are deserving of the same punishment. Whatever rule you havein the case of the rest, observe also in their case. There can, however, be no doubt that weought to receive those who have repented of impurity committed in ignorance for thirtyyears. 2633 In this case there is ground for forgiveness in ignorance, in the spontaneity ofconfession, and the long extent of time. Perhaps they have been delivered to Satan for awhole age of man that they may learn not to behave unseemly; 2634 wherefore order themto be received without delay, specially if they shed tears to move your mercy, and shew amanner of living worthy of compassion. 26352262632 τῶν κανονικῶν. The Greek is of either gender. The Ben. note is: Clericos sive eos qui in canone recensenturhac voce designari hactenus existimarunt Basilii interpretes, ac ipsi etiam Zonares et Balsamon. Sed ut canonicassive sacras virgines interpreter, plurimis rationum momentis adducor: 1. Basilius hoc nomine clericos appellarenon solet, sed sacras virgines, ut persici potest ex epistolis 52 et 175; 2. præscriptum Basilii non convenit in clericos,quorum nonnullis, nempe lectoribus et aliis ejus modi venia dabatur ineundi matrimonii, quamvis in canone recenserentur;3. prohibet Basilius ejusmodi stupra quæ honesto matrimonii nomine prætexi solebant. At id noninconcessum erat matrimonium, alios vero matrimonium post ordinationem inire nulla prorsus Ecclesia patiebatur,aut certe matrimonii pretium erat depositio. Contra virginibus nubentibus non longior pœna pluribus in locisimponebatur, quam digamis, ut perspicitur ex canone 18, ubi Basilius hance consuetudinem abrogat, ac virginummatrimonia instar adulterii existimat.2633 So the mss. But the Ben. note points out that there must be some error, if a sin knowingly committedwas punished by excommunication for fifteen years (Canons lviii., lxii., lxiii.), and one unwittingly committedby a punishment of twice the duration.2634 cf. 1 Tim. i. 20.2635 The Ben. note continues: “Deinde vero testatur Basilius eos fere hominis ætatem satanæ traditos fuisse.At ætas hominis (γενεά) sæpe annorum viginti spatio existimatur; velut cum ait Dionysius Alexandrinus Alexandrinusapud Eusebium, lib. vii. cap. 21. Israelitas in deserto fuisse duabus ætatibus. Ipse Basilius in Epistola 201,quæ scripta est anno 375, Neocæsarienses incusat quod sibi jam totam fere hominis ætatem succenseant; quos654