Letter 109: I shrink from troubling your good nature, on account of the greatness of your influence, for fear of seeming to make an unwarrantable use of your friendship; however, the necessity of the case prevents my holding my peace. Our sister, who is a relative of mine, and now in the sorrowful position of a widow, has to look after the affairs of her or...

To Count Helladius [a provincial official with judicial and financial authority], I hate to bother you — I know how busy you are, and I don't want to abuse our friendship. But I can't stay silent about this. A relative of mine, recently widowed, is trying to manage her young son's affairs alone. When I saw how crushed she was by the burden, I couldn't just stand by. I'm writing to ask for your help. Here's the situation: she sent a representative to settle a debt, and she came to me personally to confirm that she'd agreed to pay back the full principal in exchange for having the interest forgiven. That was the deal. But now the people managing her late husband's estate are demanding she pay the interest on top of the principal. They're going back on the agreement. You know that the Lord takes the care of widows and orphans as His own concern. Please do what you can here — God Himself will repay your kindness. I believe that once our excellent prefect [the senior Roman provincial governor] hears that the principal has been paid, he'll show compassion for this household. They've been knocked to their knees and can't keep absorbing these blows. Forgive me for imposing on you. But please use the influence Christ has given you — you're a good man, and this is exactly the kind of thing your position equips you to do.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To the Count Helladius. I shrink from troubling your good nature, on account of the greatness of your influence, for fear of seeming to make an unwarrantable use of your friendship; however, the necessity of the case prevents my holding my peace. Our sister, who is a relative of mine, and now in the sorrowful position of a widow, has to look after the affairs of her orphan boy. On seeing her above measure oppressed by intolerable responsibilities, I felt great compassion for her, and, feeling deeply on the subject, I have hastened to invoke your aid, in order that you may, if possible, deign to support the messenger whom she has sent, to the end that when she has paid what she promised in person in my presence, she may be freed from any further pressure. She had agreed that she should be relieved from the interest on payment of the capital. Now, however, those who are looking after the affairs of her heirs are trying to exact the payment of the interest as well as that of the capital. The Lord, you know, makes the care of widows and orphans His own, and so do you strive to use your best endeavours in this matter, in the hope of the recompense which God Himself will give you. I cannot help thinking that, when our admirable and kindly prefect has heard of the discharge of the capital, he will feel for this afflicted and unhappy house now stricken to the knee, and no longer able to cope with the injuries inflicted upon it. Pardon, then, the necessity which compels me to intrude upon you; and give your help in this matter, in proportion to the power which Christ has given you, good and true man as you are, and using your talents for the best.

[Πρός: Ἑλλαδίῳ Κόμητι] Πάνυ παραιτούμενος δι’ ὄχλου εἶναι τῇ χρηστότητί σου διὰ τὸ μέγεθος τῆς περὶ ὑμᾶς ἀρχῆς, ἵνα μὴ δόξω ἀμέτρως ἐμφορεῖσθαι τῆς φιλίας ὑμῶν, ὅμως ὑπὸ τῶν ἀναγκῶν ἡσυχάζειν οὐκ ἐπιτρέπομαι. τὴν γοῦν ἀδελφὴν τήνδε, καὶ πρὸς γένος ἡμῖν οὖσαν καὶ διὰ χηρείαν καταπονουμένην καὶ παιδὸς ὀρφανοῦ πράγματος φροντίζουσαν, ἐπεὶ εἶδον λοιπὸν ὑπὲρ δύναμιν ἀφορήτοις ἀνάγκαις συνεχομένην, κατελεήσας καὶ παθὼν τὴν ψυχὴν ἔσπευσα παρακαλέσαι σε, ἵνα, εἴ τις δύναμις, τῷ ἀποσταλέντι παρʼ αὐτῆς ἀνθρώπῳ καταξιώσῃς συμπρᾶξαι, πρὸς τὸ ὅπερ αὕτη παριοῦσα ὑπέσχετο ὑφʼ ἡμῶν, ἤδη τοῦτο αὐτὴν ἀποδοῦσαν τῆς εἰς τὸ πλέον ἐπηρείας ἀπαλλαγῆναι. ὑπέσχετο γὰρ τὸ κεφάλαιον δοῦσα συγχωρεῖσθαι τοὺς τόκους. Νῦν τοίνυν οἱ φροντίζοντες αὐτῆς τῶν κληρονόμων μετὰ τὸ κεφάλαιον καὶ τὴν τῶν τόκων εἴσπραξιν ἐπιχειροῦσι ποιήσασθαι. ὡς οὖν εἰδὼς ὅτι Κύριός ἐστιν ὁ τὰ τῶν χηρῶν καὶ ὀρφανῶν ἰδιοποιούμενος, οὕτω σπούδασον χρήσασθαι ἑαυτὸν τῇ σπουδῇ τῇ ὑπὲρ τοῦ πράγματος ἐπʼ ἐλπίδι τῆς παρʼ αὐτοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν μισθαποδοσίας. οἶμαι γὰρ καὶ τὴν ἡμερότητα τοῦ θαυμασιωτάτου ἐπάρχου μαθοῦσαν ὅτι τὸ κεφάλαιον ἐκτέτισται, συμπαθήσειν τῷ ἐλεεινῷ λοιπὸν καὶ ἀθλίῳ οἴκῳ εἰς γόνυ κλιθέντι καὶ οὐκέτι ἀρκοῦντι ταῖς ἔξωθεν αὐτῷ ἐπαγομέναις ἐπηρείαις. παρακαλῶ οὖν, καὶ τῇ ἀνάγκῃ σύγγνωθι δι’ ἣν ὤχλησά σοι, καὶ τῷ πράγματι σύμπραξον κατὰ τὴν δύναμιν, ἣν ἔδωκέ σοι ὁ Χριστὸς χρηστῷ καὶ ἀγαθῷ τὸν τρόπον ὄντι, καὶ εἰς ἀγαθὸν οἷς ἔλαβες κεχρημένῳ.