Opening
ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA
ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA
To the bishops of Italy and Gaul concerning the state and disorder of the Churches.
To the bishops of Italy and Gaul concerning the condition and confusion of the Churches.
To his brothers truly beloved by God and very dear, and fellow ministers of like mind, the bishops of Gaul and Italy, Basil, bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia. Our Lord Jesus Christ, who has graciously called the universal Church of God His body, and has made us individually members one of another, has also granted to all of us to live in close association with one another, as suits the unity of the members. Therefore, although we live far away from one another, yet regarding our close connection, we are very near. Since, then, the head cannot say to the feet, I have no need of you, you will not, I am sure, bear to reject us; you will, on the contrary, sympathize with us in the troubles to which, because of our sins, we have been handed over, in the same measure as we rejoice together with you in your glory in the peace which the Lord has given you. Previously we have also on another occasion called upon your love to send us help and sympathy; but our punishment was not complete, and you were not permitted to rise up to help us. One chief goal of our desire is that through you the state of confusion in which we find ourselves should be made known to the emperor of your part of the world. If this is difficult, we beg you to send envoys to visit and comfort us in our affliction, so that you may have the evidence of eyewitnesses of those sufferings of the East which cannot be told by word of mouth, because language is inadequate to give a clear account of our condition.
1. To his brethren truly God-beloved and very dear, and fellow ministers of like mind, the bishops of Gaul and Italy, Basil, bishop of Cæsarea in Cappadocia. Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has deigned to style the universal Church of God His body, and has made us individually members one of another, has moreover granted to all of us to live in intimate association with one another, as befits the agreement of the members. Wherefore, although we dwell far away from one another, yet, as regards our close conjunction, we are very near. Since, then, the head cannot say to the feet, I have no need of you, 1 Corinthians 12:21 you will not, I am sure, endure to reject us; you will, on the contrary, sympathize with us in the troubles to which, for our sins, we have been given over, in proportion as we rejoice together with you in your glorying in the peace which the Lord has bestowed on you. Ere now we have also at another time invoked your charity to send us succour and sympathy; but our punishment was not full, and you were not suffered to rise up to succour us. One chief object of our desire is that through you the state of confusion in which we are situated should be made known to the emperor of your part of the world. If this is difficult, we beseech you to send envoys to visit and comfort us in our affliction, that you may have the evidence of eyewitnesses of those sufferings of the East which cannot be told by word of mouth, because language is inadequate to give a clear report of our condition.
Persecution has come upon us, most honourable brothers, and persecution in its most severe form. Shepherds are being persecuted so that their flocks may be scattered. The worst part is that those who are suffering cannot accept their hardships as proof of their witness, nor can the people honour these fighters as part of the army of martyrs, because the name of Christians is being used by the persecutors themselves. The one charge that now guarantees harsh punishment is carefully keeping the traditions of the Fathers. Because of this, the faithful are exiled from their homes and sent to live in distant regions. The unjust judges show no respect for grey hair, for genuine godliness, or for a life lived from youth to old age according to the Gospel. No criminal is condemned without evidence, but bishops have been convicted on false accusations alone and sentenced to punishments based on charges completely unsupported by proof. Some have not even known who accused them, nor been brought before any court, nor even been falsely accused at all. They have been seized violently late at night, exiled to distant places, and through the hardships of these remote wastelands, handed over to death. The rest is well known, though I do not mention it—the flight of priests, the flight of deacons, the plundering of all the clergy. Either the image must be worshipped, or we are handed over to the cruel burning of whips. The laity groan; tears fall without stopping in public and in private; everyone laments their sorrows together. No one's heart is so hard that they can lose a father and bear the loss calmly. There is a sound of mourning in the city—a sound in the fields, on the roads, in the deserts. One voice is heard from all who speak sad and pitiful words. Joy and spiritual gladness are taken away. Our feasts are turned into mourning. Our houses of prayer are shut. The altars of spiritual worship lie idle. Christians no longer gather together; teachers no longer lead. The teachings of salvation are no longer taught. We have no more solemn assemblies, no more evening hymns, no more of that blessed joy of souls that arises in the souls of all who believe in the Lord during communions and the sharing of spiritual gifts. We may well say, neither is there at this time prince, or prophet, or reader, or offering, or incense, or place to sacrifice before you, and to find mercy.
2. Persecution has come upon us, right honourable brethren, and persecution in the severest form. Shepherds are persecuted that their flocks may be scattered. And the worst of all is that those who are being treated ill cannot accept their sufferings in proof of their testimony, nor can the people reverence the athletes as in the army of martyrs, because the name of Christians is applied to the persecutors. The one charge which is now sure to secure severe punishment is the careful keeping of the traditions of the Fathers. For this the pious are exiled from their homes, and are sent away to dwell in distant regions. No reverence is shown by the judges of iniquity to the hoary head, to practical piety, to the life lived from boyhood to old age according to the Gospel. No malefactor is doomed without proof, but bishops have been convicted on calumny alone, and are consigned to penalties on charges wholly unsupported by evidence. Some have not even known who has accused them, nor been brought before any tribunal, nor even been falsely accused at all. They have been apprehended with violence late at night, have been exiled to distant places, and, through the hardships of these remote wastes, have been given over to death. The rest is notorious, though I make no mention of it — the flight of priests; the flight of deacons; the foraying of all the clergy. Either the image must be worshipped, or we are delivered to the wicked flame of whips. The laity groan; tears are falling without ceasing in public and in private; all are mutually lamenting their woes. No one's heart is so hard as to lose a father, and bear the bereavement meekly. There is a sound of them that mourn in the city — a sound in the fields, in the roads, in the deserts. But one voice is heard from all that utter sad and piteous words. Joy and spiritual gladness are taken away. Our feasts are turned into mourning. Amos 8:10 Our houses of prayer are shut. The altars of the spiritual service are lying idle. Christians no longer assemble together; teachers no longer preside. The doctrines of salvation are no longer taught. We have no more solemn assemblies, no more evening hymns, no more of that blessed joy of souls which arises in the souls of all that believe in the Lord at communions, and the imparting of spiritual boons. We may well say, Neither is there at this time prince, or prophet, or reader, or offering, or incense, or place to sacrifice before you, and to find mercy.
We are writing to those who already know these things, for there is no region of the world that is unaware of our troubles. Do not think we are using these words to inform you or to remind you who we are. We know you could no more forget us than a mother could forget the children she has borne. But all who are crushed under any heavy burden of suffering find some natural relief for their pain in expressing their distress aloud, and that is why we are doing what we do. We lighten the weight of our grief by telling you about our many misfortunes and by expressing the hope that you may perhaps be more moved to pray for us and may persuade the Lord to be reconciled to us. If these troubles affected only ourselves, we might have decided to remain silent and to rejoice in our sufferings for Christ's sake, since the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. But right now we are alarmed that the harm growing day by day, like a flame spreading through burning wood, may consume what is nearby and then catch distant areas too. The plague of heresy is spreading, and there is reason to fear that after it has devoured our churches, it may creep on even as far as the sound part of your region. Perhaps it is because lawlessness has increased among us that we have been first handed over to be devoured by the cruel teeth of the enemies of God. But the gospel of the kingdom began in our regions and then went out into all the world. So perhaps—and this is most probable—the common enemy of our souls is working to bring it about that the seeds of apostasy, originating in the same place, should be spread throughout the world. For the darkness of ungodliness seeks to overtake the very hearts upon which the light of the knowledge of Christ has shone.
3. We are writing to those who know these things, for there is not a region of the world which is ignorant of our calamities. Do not suppose that we are using these words as though to give information, or to recall ourselves to your recollection. We know that you could no more forget us than a mother forget the sons of her womb. Isaiah 49:15 But all who are crushed by any weight of agony find some natural alleviation for their pain in uttering groans of distress, and it is for this that we are doing as we do. We get rid of the load of our grief in telling you of our manifold misfortunes, and in expressing the hope that you may haply be the more moved to pray for us, and may prevail on the Lord to be reconciled to us. And if these afflictions had been confined to ourselves, we might even have determined to keep silence, and to rejoice in our sufferings for Christ's sake, since the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 But at the present time we are alarmed, lest the mischief growing day by day, like a flame spreading through some burning wood, when it has consumed what is close at hand, may catch distant objects too. The plague of heresy is spreading, and there is ground of apprehension lest, when it has devoured our Churches, it may afterwards creep on even so far as to the sound portion of your district. Peradventure it is because with us iniquity has abounded that we have been first delivered to be devoured by the cruel teeth of the enemies of God. But the gospel of the kingdom began in our regions, and then went forth over all the world. So, perhaps — and this is most probable — the common enemy of our souls, is striving to bring it about that the seeds of apostasy, originating in the same quarter, should be distributed throughout the world. For the darkness of impiety plots to come upon the very hearts whereon the light of the knowledge of Christ has shone.
Consider then, as true disciples of the Lord, that our sufferings are yours. We are not being attacked for the sake of riches, or glory, or any temporal advantages. We stand in the arena to fight for our common heritage, for the treasure of the sound faith that we received from our Fathers. Grieve with us, all of you who love the brethren, at the silencing of our men of true religion, and at the bold and blasphemous words of all who speak unrighteousness against God. The pillars and foundation of the truth have been scattered. We, whose insignificance has allowed us to be overlooked, are now deprived of our right to speak freely. Join the struggle for the people's sake. Do not think only of yourselves as securely anchored in a safe harbor, where the grace of God shelters you from the tempest of wicked winds. Reach out a helping hand to the churches that are being battered by the storm, so that if they are abandoned, they will not suffer complete shipwreck of the faith. Mourn with us that the Only-begotten is being blasphemed and there is no one to contradict it. The Holy Spirit is being despised, and he who is able to refute the error has been sent into exile. Polytheism has prevailed. Our opponents acknowledge a great God and a small God. Son is no longer a name of nature, but is regarded as some kind of honorary title. The Holy Spirit is not viewed as completing the Holy Trinity, nor as participating in the divine and blessed nature, but as somehow one of the created beings, attached to Father and Son merely at random and as occasion may require. Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, and I will weep many days for the people who are being driven to destruction by these vile doctrines. The ears of the simple are being led astray and have now grown accustomed to heretical impiety. The children of the Church are being raised in the doctrines of wickedness. What are they to do? Our opponents control the baptisms; they attend the dying on their way; they visit the sick; they comfort the sorrowful; they help the distressed; they give aid of various kinds; they administer the mysteries. All these things, as long as they are performed by our opponents, serve as bonds tying the people to their views. The result will be that in a little while, even if some freedom is granted to us, there is little hope that those who have been long under the influence of error will be brought back to recognition of the truth.
4. Reckon then, as true disciples of the Lord, that our sufferings are yours. We are not being attacked for the sake of riches, or glory, or any temporal advantages. We stand in the arena to fight for our common heritage, for the treasure of the sound faith, derived from our Fathers. Grieve with us, all you who love the brethren, at the shutting of the mouths of our men of true religion, and at the opening of the bold and blasphemous lips of all that utter unrighteousness against God. The pillars and foundation of the truth are scattered abroad. We, whose insignificance has allowed of our being overlooked, are deprived of our right of free speech. Join the struggle, for the people's sake. Do not think only of your being yourselves moored in a safe haven, where the grace of God gives you shelter from the tempest of the winds of wickedness. Reach out a helping hand to the Churches that are being buffeted by the storm, lest, if they be abandoned, they suffer complete shipwreck of the faith. Lament for us, in that the Only-begotten is being blasphemed, and there is none to offer contradiction. The Holy Ghost is being set at nought and he who is able to confute the error has been sent into exile. Polytheism has prevailed. Our opponents own a great God and a small God. Son is no longer a name of nature, but is looked upon as a title of some kind of honour. The Holy Ghost is regarded not as complemental of the Holy Trinity, nor as participating in the divine and blessed Nature, but as in some sort one of the number of created beings, and attached to Father and Son, at mere haphazard and as occasion may require. Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, Jeremiah 9:1 and I will weep many days for the people who are being driven to destruction by these vile doctrines. The ears of the simple are being led astray, and have now got used to heretical impiety. The nurslings of the Church are being brought up in the doctrines of iniquity. What are they to do? Our opponents have the command of baptisms; they speed the dying on their way; they visit the sick; they console the sorrowful; they aid the distressed; they give succour of various kinds; they communicate the mysteries. All these things, as long as the performance of them is in their hands, are so many ties to bind the people to their views. The result will be that in a little time, even if some liberty be conceded to us, there is small hope that they who have been long under the influence of error will be recalled to recognition of the truth.
Under these circumstances, it would have been good for many of us to travel to you and individually report our own situation. You can take as proof of how desperate our circumstances are the fact that we are not even free to travel. If anyone leaves his church even for a very short time, he will leave his people at the mercy of those who are plotting to destroy them. By God's mercy, instead of many messengers, we have sent one: our very reverend and beloved brother, the presbyter Dorotheus. He is fully able to explain in person whatever has been left out of our letter, because he has carefully followed everything that has happened and is zealous for the right faith. Welcome him in peace, and quickly send him back to us with good news of your readiness to help the brotherhood.
5. Under these circumstances it would have been well for many of us to have travelled to your reverences, and to have individually reported each his own position. You may now take as a proof of the sore straits in which we are placed the fact that we are not even free to travel abroad. For if any one leaves his Church, even for a very brief space, he will leave his people at the mercy of those who are plotting their ruin. By God's mercy instead of many we have sent one, our very reverend and beloved brother the presbyter Dorotheus. He is fully able to supply by his personal report whatever has been omitted in our letter, for he has carefully followed all that has occurred, and is jealous of the right faith. Receive him in peace, and speedily send him back to us, bringing us good news of your readiness to succour the brotherhood.