Letter 180: I have been much distressed on meeting a worthy man involved in very great trouble. Being human, how could I fail to sympathise with a man of high character afflicted beyond his deserts? On thinking in what way I could be useful to him, I did find one means of helping him out of his difficulties, and that is by making him known to your excellency.

From: Basil, Bishop of Caesarea To: Sophronius, the Master, on behalf of Eunathius Date: ~367 AD Context: Basil intercedes with the same senior imperial official on behalf of another man in trouble -- Eunathius, a learned Christian gentleman. I have been greatly distressed at meeting a worthy man caught up in very serious trouble. How could I, being human, fail to sympathize with a man of high character suffering beyond what he deserves? Thinking about how I could be useful to him, I found one way to help him out of his difficulties: making him known to your excellency. It is now for you to extend to him the same good offices that, as I can personally testify, you have shown to many. You will learn the full details from the petition he has submitted to the emperors. I ask you to take this document into your hands, and I implore you to help him to the utmost of your power. You will be helping a Christian, a gentleman, and a man whose deep learning ought to command respect. If I add that by helping him you will be conferring a great kindness on me -- well, I know my affairs are small matters. But since you are always generous enough to treat them as important, your favor to me will be no small thing.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To the Master Sophronius, on behalf of Eunathius. I have been much distressed on meeting a worthy man involved in very great trouble. Being human, how could I fail to sympathise with a man of high character afflicted beyond his deserts? On thinking in what way I could be useful to him, I did find one means of helping him out of his difficulties, and that is by making him known to your excellency. It is now for you to extend also to him the same good offices which, as I can testify, you have shown to many. You will learn all the facts of the case from the petition presented by him to the emperors. This document I beg you to take into your hands, and implore you to help him to the utmost of your power. You will be helping a Christian, a gentleman, and one whose deep learning ought to win respect. If I add that in helping him you will confer a great kindness upon me, though, indeed, my interests are matters of small moment, yet, since you are always so good as to make them of importance, your boon to me will be no small one. About this page Source. Translated by Blomfield Jackson. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 8. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3202180.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.