Letter 106: I have many reasons for thanking God for mercies vouchsafed to me in my journey, but I count no blessing greater than the knowledge of your excellency, which has been permitted me by our good Lord's mercy. I have learned to know one who proves that even in a soldier's life it is possible to preserve the perfection of love to God, and that we mu...

Though we have many reasons to give thanks to the Lord for the blessings we were granted during our sojourn, we judged the greatest good to be the acquaintance with your Honor, bestowed upon us by the good Master. For we came to know a man who demonstrates that even in the military life it is possible to preserve a perfect love for God, and that the Christian ought to be characterized not by the clothing he wears but by the disposition of his soul. Both then did we meet with you with all eagerness, and now, as often as we call you to mind, we enjoy the greatest gladness. "Be strong and courageous" [cf. Joshua 1:6], therefore, and strive always to nourish and multiply your love for God, so that the supply of good things from him may advance to ever greater measure for you. That you also remember us, we need no further proof, since we have the testimony of your deeds.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To a soldier. I have many reasons for thanking God for mercies vouchsafed to me in my journey, but I count no blessing greater than the knowledge of your excellency, which has been permitted me by our good Lord's mercy. I have learned to know one who proves that even in a soldier's life it is possible to preserve the perfection of love to God, and that we must mark a Christian not by the style of his dress, but by the disposition of his soul. It was a great delight to me to meet you; and now, whenever I remember you, I feel very glad. Play the man; be strong; strive to nourish and multiply love to God, that there may be given you by Him yet greater boons of blessing. I need no further proof that you remember me; I have evidence in what you have done.

[Πρός: Στρατιώτῃ] Ὑπὲρ πολλῶν ἔχοντες εὐχαριστεῖν τῷ Κυρίῳ, ὧν καὶ ἠξιώθημεν παρʼ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τῆς ἐπιδημίας ἡμῶν, μέγιστον ἀγαθὸν ἐκρίναμεν τὴν γνῶσιν τῆς σῆς τιμιότητος, τὴν παρὰ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ Δεσπότου παρασχεθεῖσαν ἡμῖν. ἔγνωμεν γὰρ ἄνδρα δεικνύντα, ὅτι καὶ ἐν τῷ στρατιωτικῷ βίῳ δυνατὸν τῆς πρὸς Θεὸν ἀγάπης τὸ τέλειον διασῶσαι, καὶ ὅτι οὐκ ἐν τῇ περιβολῇ τῆς ἐσθῆτος, ἀλλʼ ἐν τῇ διαθέσει τῆς ψυχῆς ὁ Χριστιανὸς ὀφείλει χαρακτηρίζεσθαι. Καὶ τότε οὖν μετὰ πάσης ἐπιθυμίας συνετύχομέν σοι, καὶ νῦν, ὁσάκις ἂν εἰς μνήμην ἔλθωμεν, μεγίστης ἀπολαύομεν εὐφροσύνης. ἀνδρίζου τοίνυν, καὶ ἴσχυε, καὶ τὴν πρὸς Θεὸν ἀγάπην τρέφειν καὶ πολυπλασιάζειν ἀεὶ σπούδαζε, ἵνα σοι καὶ ἡ τῶν ἀγαθῶν παρʼ αὐτοῦ χορηγία ἐπὶ μεῖζον προΐῃ. ὅτι δὲ καὶ ἡμῶν μέμνησαι, οὐδεμιᾶς ἑτέρας ἀποδείξεως προσδεόμεθα, τὴν ἐκ τῶν πραγμάτων ἔχοντες μαρτυρίαν.