(Written to Saint Basil shortly after his ordination as priest, probably toward the end of A.D. 362.)
(Written to S. Basil shortly after his Ordination as Priest, probably toward the end of a.d. 362.)
I approve of the beginning of your letter—but is there anything of yours that I do not approve? And you are proven to have written just like me, for I too was forced into the rank of the priesthood, since I was never eager for it. We are to one another, if any men ever were, trustworthy witnesses of our love for a humble and lowly philosophy. But perhaps it would have been better if this had not happened—or I do not know what to say, as long as I remain ignorant of the purpose of the Holy Spirit. But since it has happened, we must bear it, at least that seems clear to me, especially when we consider the times, which are bringing upon us so many heretical tongues, and we must not put to shame either the hopes of those who have entrusted us with this responsibility, or our own lives.
I approve the beginning of your letter; but what is there of yours that I do not approve? And you are convicted of having written just like me; for I, too, was forced into the rank of the Priesthood, for indeed I never was eager for it. We are to one another, if ever any men were, trustworthy witnesses of our love for a humble and lowly philosophy. But perhaps it would have been better that this had not happened, or I know not what to say, as long as I am in ignorance of the purpose of the Holy Ghost. But since it has come about, we must bear it, at least so it seems clear to me; and especially when we take the times into consideration, which are bringing in upon us so many heretical tongues, and must not put to shame either the hopes of those who have trusted us thus, or our own lives.