Letter 184: Orphanhood is, I know, very dismal, and entails a great deal of work, because it deprives us of those who are set over us. Whence I conclude that you do not write to me, because you are depressed at what has happened to you, and at the same time are now very much occupied in visiting the folds of Christ, because they are attacked on every side b...

I know, my friend, that orphanhood is a dismal thing and brings a great deal of work, since it deprives us of those set over us. That, I conclude, is why you have not been writing -- you are weighed down by what has happened, and at the same time consumed with the work of visiting Christ's flocks, which are under attack from every side. But every grief finds comfort in the company of sympathetic friends. So I beg you: write to me as often as you can. You will refresh yourself by speaking to me, and you will comfort me by letting me hear from you. I will try to do the same for you, as often as my own work allows. Pray for us yourself, and ask all the brothers to earnestly petition the Lord to grant us one day a release from the present distress.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To Eustathius, bishop of Himmeria. Orphanhood is, I know, very dismal, and entails a great deal of work, because it deprives us of those who are set over us. Whence I conclude that you do not write to me, because you are depressed at what has happened to you, and at the same time are now very much occupied in visiting the folds of Christ, because they are attacked on every side by foes. But every grief finds consolation in communication with sympathising friends. Do then, I beg you, as often as you can, write to me. You will both refresh yourself by speaking to me, and you will comfort me by letting me hear from you. I shall endeavour to do the same to you, as often as my work lets me. Pray yourself, and entreat all the brotherhood earnestly to importune the Lord, to grant us one day release from the present distress.

[Πρός: Εὐσταθίῳ, ἐπισκόπῳ Ἱμμερίας] Οἶδα ὅτι στυγνοποιὸν πρᾶγμα ἡ ὀρφανία καὶ πολυάσχολον, διὰ τὸ ἐρημίαν ἐπάγειν τῶν προεστώτων. ὅθεν λογίζομαι καὶ τὴν σὴν εὐλάβειαν ἐπιστυγνάζουσαν τοῖς συμβεβηκόσι μὴ ἐπιστέλλειν ἡμῖν, καὶ ὁμοῦ ἐν πλείονι εἶναι νῦν ἀσχολίᾳ, περιτρέχειν τὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ποίμνια διὰ τὴν πανταχόθεν τῶν ἐχθρῶν ἐπανάστασιν. ἀλλʼ ἐπειδὴ πάσης λύπης παρηγορία ἡ πρὸς τοὺς ὁμοψύχους ἐστὶν ὁμιλία, καταξίου ὁσάκις ἂν δυνατόν σοι ἐπιστέλλειν ἡμῖν, καὶ αὐτός τε ἀναπαύεσθαι ἐν τῷ φθέγγεσθαι πρὸς ἡμᾶς, καὶ ἡμᾶς παρηγορεῖν ἐν τῷ μεταδιδόναι ἡμῖν τῶν σεαυτοῦ ῥημάτων. τοῦτο δὲ καὶ ἡμεῖς σπουδάσομεν ποιῆσαι ὁσάκις ἂν ἡμῖν ἐνδιδῷ τὰ πράγματα. εὔχου δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν ἀδελφότητα παρακάλεσον σπουδαίως δυσωπεῖν τὸν Κύριον, ἵνα δείξῃ ποτὲ ἡμῖν λύσιν τῆς περιεχούσης ἡμᾶς κατηφείας.