Letter 17: It is delightful to listen to you, and delightful to read you; and I think you give me the greater pleasure by your writings. All thanks to our good God Who has not suffered the truth to suffer in consequence of its betrayal by the chief powers in the State, but by your means has made the defense of the doctrine of true religion full and satisfa...

It's a pleasure to listen to you, and a pleasure to read you — though I think your writing gives me the greater joy. All thanks to our good God, who hasn't allowed the truth to be destroyed just because the most powerful people in the state betrayed it. Through you, He's made the defense of true religion complete and convincing. False teachers are like hemlock and monkshood and other poisons: they bloom for a short time, then wither away. But the reward the Lord will give you for everything you've said in defense of His name — that will bloom forever. I pray God grants you every happiness in your home, and that His blessing reaches your sons. I was delighted to meet and embrace those fine boys of yours — they're the spitting image of their excellent father. Everything I could wish for them is what you yourself would wish.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To Origenes. It is delightful to listen to you, and delightful to read you; and I think you give me the greater pleasure by your writings. All thanks to our good God Who has not suffered the truth to suffer in consequence of its betrayal by the chief powers in the State, but by your means has made the defense of the doctrine of true religion full and satisfactory. Like hemlock, monkshood, and other poisonous herbs, after they have bloomed for a little while, they will quickly wither away. But the reward which the Lord will give you in requital of all that you have said in defense of His name blooms afresh forever. Wherefore I pray God grant you all happiness in your home, and make His blessing descend to your sons. I was delighted to see and embrace those noble boys, express images of your excellent goodness, and my prayers for them ask all that their father can ask.

[Πρός: Ὠριγένει] Καὶ ἀκουόμενος εὐφραίνεις, καὶ ἀναγινωσκόμενος δι’ ὧν γράφεις ἐνεργεστέρας ἡμῖν παρέχεις εὐφροσύνας. καὶ χάρις πολλὴ τῷ ἀγαθῷ Θεῷ, τῷ μηδὲν ἐλαττωθῆναι ποιήσαντι τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἐν τῇ προδοσίᾳ τῶν δῆθεν ὑπερκρατούντων, ἀλλὰ δι’ ὑμῶν τὴν συνηγορίαν τοῦ λόγου τῆς εὐσεβείας ἀναπληρώσαντι. ἐκεῖνοι μὲν οὖν, ὡς τὸ κώνειον ἢ τὸ ἀκόνιτον, καὶ εἴ τις ἄλλη ἀνδροφόνος βοτάνη, πρὸς ὀλίγον ἀνθήσαντες ταχὺ ἀποξηρανθήσονται. ὑμῖν δὲ ἀνθηρὸν καὶ ἀεὶ νέον ὁ Κύριος τὸν μισθὸν τῶν ὑπὲρ τοῦ ὀνόματος αὐτοῦ λαληθέντων παρέξει. Ἀνθʼ ὧν καὶ παράσχοι ὑμῖν ὁ Κύριος πᾶσαν εὐθηνίαν οἴκου, καὶ εἰς παῖδας παίδων τὴν εὐλογίαν διαβιβάσαι. τὰ δὲ εὐγενέστατα παιδία, τοὺς ἐναργεῖς τῆς σῆς χρηστότητος χαρακτῆρας, εἶδον ἡδέως καὶ περιεπτυξάμην, καὶ εὔχομαι αὐτοῖς ὅσα ἂν αὐτὸς ὁ πατὴρ εὔξῃ.