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

To Amphilochius, concerning the Canons.he is himself an adulterer because he makes her commit adultery; and the woman who liveswith him is an adulteress, because she has caused another woman’s husband to come overto her.X. Those who swear that they will not receive ordination, declining orders upon oath,must not be driven to perjure themselves, although there does seem to be a canon makingconcessions to such persons. Yet I have found by experience that perjurers never turn outwell. 2642 Account must however be taken of the form of the oath, its terms, the frame ofmind in which it was taken, and the minutest additions made to the terms, since, if noground of relief can anywhere be found, such persons must be dismissed. The case, however,of Severus, I mean of the presbyter ordained by him, does seem to me to allow of relief ofthis kind, if you will permit it. Give directions for the district placed under Mestia, to whichthe man was appointed, to be reckoned under Vasoda. Thus he will not forswear himselfby not departing from the place, and Longinus, having Cyriacus with him, will not leavethe Church unprovided for, nor himself be guilty of neglect of work. 2643 I moreover shallnot be held guilty of taking action in contravention of any canons by making a concessionto Cyriacus who had sworn that he would remain at Mindana and yet accepted the transfer.His return will be in accordance with his oath, and his obedience to the arrangement willnot be reckoned against him as perjury, because it was not added to his oath that he wouldnot go, even a short time, from Mindana, but would remain there for the future. Severus,who pleads forgetfulness, I shall pardon, only telling him that One who knows what is secretwill not overlook the ravaging of His Church by a man of such a character; a man who originallyappoints uncanonically, then imposes oaths in violation of the Gospel, then tells a2642 The Ben. note refers to the case of Dracontius, who had sworn that he would escape if he were ordainedbishop, and so did; but was urged by Athanasius to discharge the duties of his diocese, notwithstanding his oath.2643 On this obscure passage the Ben. note is: Longinus presbyter erat in agro Mestiæ subjecto. Sed cum isdepositus essit ob aliquod delictum, ac forte honorem sacerdotii retineret, ut nonnumquam fiebat, Severus episcopusin ejus locum transtulit Cyriacum, quem antea Mindanis ordinaverat, ac jurare coegerat se Mindanis mansurum.Nihil hac in re statui posse videbatur, quod non in magnam aliquam diffcultatem incurreret. Nam si in agroMestiæ subjecto Cyriacus remaneret, perjurii culpam sustinebat. Si rediret Mindana, ager Mestiæ subjectuspresbytero carebat, atque hujus incommodi culpa redundabat in caput Longini, qui ob delictum depositus fuerat.Quid igitur Basilius? Utrique occurrit incommodo; jubet agrum, qui Mastiæ subjectus erat Vasodis subjici, id estloco, cui subjecta erant Mindana. Hoc ex remedio duo consequebatur Basilius, ut et ager ille presbytero noncareret, et Cyriacus ibi remanens Mindana tamen redire censeretur, cum jam hic locus eidem ac Mindanachorepiscopo pareret.657