Letters — Letter 44 — To Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata

(Eusebius had responded to the appeal mentioned above and traveled to Caesarea. The elder Gregory, though in very poor health, decided to attend the Synod in person so that Basil's election could be secured through their combined efforts. Gregory the younger sent the following letter with his father to explain to his friend why he had not come as well. The date is approximately September of the year 379.)

(Eusebius, having in response to the appeal referred to above, betaken himself to Cæsarea, the Elder Gregory, though in very feeble health, resolved to attend the Synod in person, that Basil's Election might be secured by their joint exertions, Gregory the Younger sent the following letter by his father to explain to his friend the reason why he had not come too. The date is about September of the year 379.)

Where should I begin to praise you, and what title should I use to give you the recognition you deserve? Should I call you the pillar and ground of the church, or a light in the world, using the apostle's own words, or a crown of glory to what remains of Christendom, or a gift of God, or the defender of your country, or the standard of faith, or the ambassador of truth, or all of these at once, and even more? I will prove these abundant praises by what we have seen. What rain ever came so timely to a parched land, or what water flowing from the rock to those in the wilderness? What such Bread of Angels did anyone ever eat? When did Jesus the common Lord ever appear so timely to His drowning disciples, calming the sea and saving those about to perish, as you have appeared to us in our exhaustion and distress, when we were in immediate danger of shipwreck? I need not mention other matters—with what courage and joy you filled the souls of the orthodox, and how many you rescued from despair.

Whence shall I begin your praises, and by what name shall I give you your right appellation? The pillar and ground of the church, or a light in the world, using the very words of the apostle, or a crown of glory to the remaining portion of christendom; or a gift of God, or the bulwark of your country, or the standard of faith, or the ambassador of truth, or all these at once, and more than all? And these excessive praises I will prove by what we shall see. What rain ever came so seasonably to a thirsty land, what water flowing out of the rock to those in the wilderness? What such Bread of Angels did ever man eat? When did Jesus the common Lord ever so seasonably present Himself to His drowning disciples, and tame the sea, and save the perishing, as you have shown yourself to us in our weariness and distress, and in our immediate danger as it were of shipwreck? I need not speak of other points, with what courage and joy you filled the souls of the orthodox, and how many you delivered from despair.

But our mother church—I mean Caesarea—is now truly removing her widow's garments at the sight of you and putting on once more her joyful clothing. She will be even more radiant when she receives a pastor worthy of herself, of her former bishops, and of your hands. You yourself can see the state of our circumstances, what a miracle your zeal has accomplished, along with your labor and your godly frankness of speech. Old age is renewed, sickness is overcome, those who were bedridden are leaping up, and the weak are clothed with strength. From all this I conclude that our situation too will turn out as we hope. You also have my father with you, representing both himself and me, so that he may bring his entire life and his venerable old age to a glorious conclusion through this present struggle on behalf of the church. And I am fully confident that I will receive him back, strengthened by your prayers and with his youth renewed, for one must trustingly commit everything in faith to them. But if he should end his life in this struggle, it would be no tragedy to reach such an end in such a cause. Forgive me, I ask you, if I yield a little to the tongues of wicked people and delay briefly before coming to embrace you and completing in person what I now omit of the praises owed to you.

But our mother church, Cæsarea I mean, is now really putting off the garments of her widowhood at the sight of you, and putting on again her robe of cheerfulness, and will be yet more resplendent when she receives a pastor worthy of herself and of her former Bishops and of your hands. For you yourself see what is the state of our affairs, and what a miracle your zeal has wrought, and your toil, and your godly plainness of speech. Age is renewed, disease is conquered, they leap who were in their beds, and the weak are girded with power. By all this I guess that our matters too will turn out as we desire. You have my father, moreover, representing both himself and me, to put a glorious close to his whole life and to his venerable age by this present struggle on behalf of the Church. And I shall receive him back, I am well assured, strengthened by your prayers, and with youth renewed, for one must confidently commit all in faith to them. But if he should end his life in this anxiety, it would be no calamity to attain to such an end in such a cause. Pardon me, I beg of you, if I give way a little to the tongues of evil men, and delay a little to come and embrace you, and to complete in person what I now pass over of the praises due to you.