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

To the very well beloved and reverend brethren the presbyters Acacius, Aetius, Paulus, andSilvanus; the deacons Silvinus and Lucius, and the rest of the brethren the monks, Basil,the bishop.Letter CCLVI. 3123To the very well beloved and reverend brethren the presbyters Acacius, Aetius, Paulus, andSilvanus; the deacons Silvinus and Lucius, and the rest of the brethren the monks, Basil,the bishop. 3124News has reached me of the severe persecution carried on against you, and how directlyafter Easter the men who fast for strife and debate 3125 attacked your homes, and gave yourlabours to the flames, preparing for you indeed a house in the heavens, not made withhands, 3126 but for themselves laying up in store the fire which they had used to your hurt.I no sooner heard of this than I groaned over what had happened; pitying not you, mybrethren, (God forbid!) but the men who are so sunk in wickedness as to carry their evildeeds to such an extent. I expected you all to hurry at once to the refuge prepared for youin my humble self; and I hoped that the Lord would give me refreshment in the midst ofmy continual troubles in embracing you, and in receiving on this inactive body of mine thenoble sweat which you are dropping for the truth’s sake, and so having some share in theprizes laid up for you by the Judge of truth. But this did not enter into your minds, and youdid not even expect any relief at my hands. I was therefore at least anxious to find frequentopportunities of writing to you, to the end that like those who cheer on combatants in thearena, I might myself by letter give you some encouragement in your good fight. For tworeasons, however, I have not found this easy. In the first place, I did not know where youwere residing. And, secondly, but few of our people travel in your direction. Now the Lordhas brought us the very well beloved and reverend brother Sanctissimus, the presbyter. Byhim I am able to salute you, and I beseech you to pray for me, rejoicing and exulting thatyour reward is great in heaven, 3127 and that you have freedom with the Lord to cease notday and night calling on Him to put an end to this storm of the Churches; to grant theshepherds to their flocks, and that the Church may return to her proper dignity. I am persuadedthat if a voice be found to move our good God, He will not make His mercy afar off,but will now “with the temptation make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 3128Salute all the brethren in Christ in any name.2943123 Placed in 376.3124 Maran (Vit. Bas. xxxvi. 5) remarks that the Acacius heading this list is probably the Acacius who in 375had invited Basil in the name of the Church of Berœa, and was afterwards famous alike for his episcopate atBerœa and his hostility to St. Chrysostom. cf. Letter ccxx. p. 260.3125 Is. lviii. 4.3126 2 Cor. v. 1.3127 Matt. v. 12.3128 1 Cor. x. 13.807