Letter 127: Our merciful God, Who makes comfort match trouble, and consoles the lowly, lest they be drowned unawares in exceeding grief, has sent a consolation, equivalent to the troubles I have suffered in Nicopolis, in seasonably bringing me the God-beloved bishop Jobinus. He must tell you himself how very opportune his visit was. I shrink from a long let...
Basil of Caesarea→Eusebius, Archbishop of Thessalonica|c. 364 AD|Basil of Caesarea|Human translated
friendshipgrief death
Military conflict
To Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata [a city on the Euphrates in southeastern Turkey],
God is merciful. He matches comfort to trouble, and he doesn't let those who are struggling drown in grief. After everything I went through in Nicopolis [a city in Armenia Minor], he sent me a perfect consolation: the arrival of our dear Bishop Jobinus, right when I needed him most. He can tell you himself how perfectly timed his visit was.
I'll keep this short. And honestly, I'd rather stay quiet than seem to be calling out people who turned their backs on me but have now come around. Why embarrass them by bringing up their failure?
I hope you'll come visit me at home sometime. I'd love to see you and tell you everything in person. There's real comfort in talking through painful experiences face to face.
As for Bishop Jobinus — please commend him. He showed genuine affection for me, and more importantly, he stood firm on the canons [the formal rules of church governance and discipline] when it mattered. He was brave about it, too. Thank God for him — and thank God that your students, wherever they go, reflect the character you've taught them.
ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata.
Our merciful God, Who makes comfort match trouble, and consoles the lowly, lest they be drowned unawares in exceeding grief, has sent a consolation, equivalent to the troubles I have suffered in Nicopolis, in seasonably bringing me the God-beloved bishop Jobinus. He must tell you himself how very opportune his visit was. I shrink from a long letter, and will hold my peace. And I am the more inclined to silence, lest I seem as it were to put a mark on men, who have turned round and begun to show regard to me, by mentioning their fall.
God grant that you may come to see me in my own home, so that I may embrace your reverence and tell you everything in detail. For we often find some comfort in telling what is painful in actual experience. However, for all that the very godly bishop has done, fully as far as regards his affection for me, and preeminently and stoutly as regards the exact observance of the canons, commend him. Moreover, thank God that your pupils everywhere exhibit your reverence's character.
To Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata [a city on the Euphrates in southeastern Turkey],
God is merciful. He matches comfort to trouble, and he doesn't let those who are struggling drown in grief. After everything I went through in Nicopolis [a city in Armenia Minor], he sent me a perfect consolation: the arrival of our dear Bishop Jobinus, right when I needed him most. He can tell you himself how perfectly timed his visit was.
I'll keep this short. And honestly, I'd rather stay quiet than seem to be calling out people who turned their backs on me but have now come around. Why embarrass them by bringing up their failure?
I hope you'll come visit me at home sometime. I'd love to see you and tell you everything in person. There's real comfort in talking through painful experiences face to face.
As for Bishop Jobinus — please commend him. He showed genuine affection for me, and more importantly, he stood firm on the canons [the formal rules of church governance and discipline] when it mattered. He was brave about it, too. Thank God for him — and thank God that your students, wherever they go, reflect the character you've taught them.
Human translation - New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)