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

To the people of Evæsæ.3. Now let those who charge me with unsound doctrine tell me in what way the menwhose deposition they refused to accept were heretical. Let them tell me in what way thosepromoted by them, and holding the same views as their fathers, are orthodox. If Euippiuswas orthodox, how can Eustathius, whom he deposed, be other than a layman? If Euippiuswas a heretic, how can any one ordained by him be in communion with Eustathius now?But all this conduct, this trying to accuse men and set them up again, is child’s play, got upagainst the Churches of God, for their own gain.When Eustathius was travelling through Paphlagonia, he overthrew the altars 3105 ofBasilides of Paphlagonia, 3106 and used to perform divine service on his own tables. 3107Now he is begging Basilides to be admitted to communion. He refused to communicatewith our reverend brother Elpidius, because of his alliance with the Amasenes; 3108 and nowhe comes as a suppliant to the Amasenes, petitioning for alliance with them. Even yeyourselves know how shocking were his public utterances against Euippius: now he glorifiesthe holders of Euippius’s opinions for their orthodoxy, if only they will cooperate in promotinghis restitution. And I am all the while being calumniated, not because I am doing anywrong, but because they have imagined that they will thus be recommended to the party atAntioch. The character of those whom they sent for last year from Galatia, as being likelyby their means to recover the free exercise of their episcopal powers, is only too well knownto all who have lived even for a short time with them. I pray that the Lord may never allowme leisure to recount all their proceedings. I will only say that they have passed throughthe whole country, with the honour and attendance of bishops, escorted by their mosthonourable bodyguard and sympathizers; and have made a grand entry into the city, andheld an assembly with all authority. The people have been given over to them. The altarhas been given over to them. How they went to Nicopolis, and could do nothing there ofall that they had promised, and how they came, and what appearance they presented ontheir return, is known to those who were on the spot. They are obviously taking every singlestep for their own gain and profit. If they say that they have repented, let them shew theirrepentance in writing; let them anathematize the Creed of Constantinople; let them separatefrom the heretics; and let them no longer trick the simple-minded. So much for them andtheirs.4. I, however, brethren beloved, small and insignificant as I am, but remaining ever byGod’s grace the same, have never changed with the changes of the world. My creed has not2923105 θυσιαστήρια .3106 i.e.Basilides, bishop of Gangra. cf. Letter ccxxvi. p. 268.3107 τραπεζῶν .3108 i.e.the Arian bishop of Amasia, who was intruded into the place of Eulalius. On the state of the Amasenechurch at his time, cf. Soz. vii. 2.801