I am a little shepherd who leads a tiny flock, and I am among the least of the servants of the Spirit. But grace is not limited or restricted by location. Therefore, let freedom of speech be given even to someone small—especially when the subject is so important and concerns everyone—even to discuss matters with elderly men who may speak with greater wisdom than most people. You are discussing no ordinary or minor matter, but one by which the common good will necessarily be helped or harmed depending on the decision you reach. For our subject is the Church, for which Christ died, and the leader who is to present it and guide it to God. For the light of the body is the eye, as we have heard—not only the physical eye that sees and is seen, but also the one that observes and is observed spiritually. But the light of the Church is the Bishop, as is clear to you even without my writing it. So just as the straight or crooked movement of the body depends on whether the eye is clear or dim, the Church must necessarily share in the danger or safety that results from the conduct of its leader. You must therefore consider the whole Church as the Body of Christ, but especially your own church, which was from the beginning and is now the mother of nearly all the churches. The entire Christian world looks to it, like a circle drawn around a center, not only because of its orthodoxy proclaimed long ago to everyone, but also because of the grace of unity so clearly given to it by God. You have also called us to your discussion of this matter, and you are acting rightly and according to church law. But we are burdened by age and illness, and if by the strength given us by the Holy Spirit we could be present (nothing is impossible for those who believe), this would be best for the common good and most pleasing to us, so that we might contribute something to you and ourselves receive part of the blessing. But if I am prevented from coming by weakness, I will at least give whatever can be given by someone who is absent.
I am a little shepherd, and preside over a tiny flock, and I am among the least of the servants of the Spirit. But Grace is not narrow, or circumscribed by place. Wherefore let freedom of speech be given even to the small — especially when the subject matter is of such great importance, and one in which all are interested — even to deliberate with men of hoary hairs, who speak with perhaps greater wisdom than the ordinary run of men. You are deliberating on no ordinary or unimportant matter, but on one by which the common interest must necessarily be promoted or injured according to the decision at which you arrive. For our subject matter is the Church, for which Christ died, and the guide who is to present it and lead it to God. For the light of the body is the eye, Matthew 6:22 as we have heard; not only the bodily eye which sees and is seen, but that which contemplates and is contemplated spiritually. But the light of the Church is the Bishop, as is evident to you even without our writing it. As then the straightness or crookedness of the course of the body depends upon the clearness or dulness of the eye, so must the Church necessarily share the peril or safety incurred by the conduct of its Chief. You must then take thought for the whole Church as the Body of Christ, but more especially for your own, which was from the beginning and is now the Mother of almost all the Churches, to which all the Commonwealth looks, like a circle described round a centre, not only because of its orthodoxy proclaimed of old to all, but also because of the grace of unanimity so evidently bestowed upon it by God. You then have summoned us also to your discussion of this matter, and so are acting rightly and canonically. But we are oppressed by age and infirmity, and if we by the strength given us by the Holy Ghost could be present (nothing is incredible to them that believe), this would be best for the common welfare and most pleasant to ourselves, that we might confer something on you, and ourselves have a part of the blessing; but if I should be kept away through weakness, I will give at any rate whatever can be given by one who is absent.
I believe there are others among you worthy of this leadership position, both because your city is so large and because it has been governed in the past so well and by such outstanding men. But there is one man among you whom I cannot rank below anyone else: our son beloved by God, Basil the Priest (I say this with God as my witness). He is a man of pure life and teaching, and he alone, or nearly alone, is qualified in both respects to stand against the challenges of our present age and the excessive wordiness of the heretics. I am writing this to members of the priestly and monastic orders, and also to the civic leaders and councillors, and to all the people. If you approve of this and my choice prevails—being so just and right, and given with God's help—I am and will be with you in spirit. In fact, I have already committed myself to this work and am confident in the Spirit. But if you disagree with me and decide on someone else, and if this matter is to be settled through political factions and family connections, and if mob rule is once again going to corrupt the honesty of your decision, then do what you want—I will stay home.
I believe that there are others among you worthy of the Primacy, both because of the greatness of your city, and because it has been governed in times past so excellently and by such great men; but there is one man among you to whom I cannot prefer any, our son well beloved of God, Basil the Priest (I speak before God as my witness); a man of pure life and word, and alone, or almost alone, of all qualified in both respects to stand against the present times, and the prevailing wordiness of the heretics. I write this to men of the priestly and monastic Orders, and also to the dignitaries and councillors, and to the whole people. If you should approve it, and my vote should prevail, being so just and right, and given with God's aid, I am and will be with you in spirit; or rather I have already set my hand to the work and am bold in the Spirit. But if you should not agree with me, but determine something else, and if the matter is to be settled by cliques and relationships, and if the hand of the mob is again to disturb the sincerity of your vote, do what pleases you — I shall stay at home.