(In the year 374, Eusebius and other orthodox bishops of the East were banished by Valens, and their positions were filled with Arian intruders. Eusebius was ordered to go to Thrace, and his journey took him through Cappadocia, where he saw Basil. However, Gregory was too ill to leave his house and go to meet him, which caused him great sorrow. Instead, he sent the following letter.)
(In the year 374 Eusebius and other orthodox Bishops of the East were banished by Valens and their thrones filled with Arian intruders. Eusebius was ordered to retire to Thrace, and his journey lay through Cappadocia, where he saw Basil, but Gregory to his great grief was too unwell to leave his house and go to meet him. Instead he sent the following letter.)
When Your Reverence was passing through our region, I was so sick that I couldn't even look outside my house. I was distressed not so much because of the illness, though it brought the fear of the worst outcome, as by my inability to meet your holiness and goodness. My desire to see your venerable face was like what anyone would naturally feel who needed healing of spiritual wounds and expected to receive it from you. But though my sins prevented me from meeting you at that time, your goodness now makes it possible for me to find a remedy for my trouble. If you would be willing to remember me in your acceptable prayers, this will store up for me every blessing from God, both in this present life and in the age to come. For when such a man, such a fighter for the Faith of the Gospel, one who has endured such persecutions and won for himself such confidence before the all-righteous God through his patience in tribulation—when such a man consents to be my patron also in his prayers, this will gain for me, I am convinced, as much strength as I would have gained through one of the holy martyrs. Therefore let me ask you to remember your Gregory continually in all the matters in which I desire to be worthy of your remembrance.
When Your Reverence was passing through our country I was so ill as not to be able even to look out of my house. And I was grieved not so much on account of the illness, though it brought about the fear of the worst, as by the inability to meet your holiness and goodness. My longing to see your venerable face was like that which a man would naturally feel who needed healing of spiritual wounds, and expected to receive it from you. But though at that time the effect of my sins was that I missed the meeting with you, it is now by your goodness possible for me to find a remedy for my trouble, for if you will deign to remember me in your acceptable prayers, this will be to me a store of every blessing from God, both in this my life and in the age to come. For that such a man, such a combatant for the Faith of the Gospel, one who has endured such persecutions, and won for himself such confidence before the all-righteous God by his patience in tribulation — that such a man should deign to be my patron also in his prayers will gain for me, I am persuaded, as much strength as I should have gained through one of the holy martyrs. Therefore let me entreat you to remember your Gregory without ceasing in all the matters in which I desire to be worthy of your remembrance.