Letter 259: Source. Translated by Blomfield Jackson. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol.

From your affection for me, you should be able to guess my affection for you. I have always wanted to be a messenger of peace, and when I fail in that purpose, it grieves me. How could it not? I cannot be angry with anyone over this, because I know that the blessing of peace was withdrawn from us long ago. If the responsibility for division lies with others, may the Lord grant that those who cause it may stop. I cannot even ask you to visit me often -- I know that men who have committed themselves to a life of manual labor and who provide for their own needs with their own hands cannot be away from home for long. But wherever you are, remember me, and pray for me -- that no source of unrest may lodge in my heart, and that I may be at peace with myself and with God.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To the monks Palladius and Innocent. From your affection for me you ought to be able to conjecture my affection for you. I have always desired to be a herald of peace, and, when I fail in my object, I am grieved. How could it be otherwise? I cannot feel angry with any one for this reason, because I know that the blessing of peace has long ago been withdrawn from us. If the responsibility for division lies with others, may the Lord grant that those who cause dissension may cease to do so. I cannot even ask that your visits to me may be frequent. You have therefore no reason to excuse yourselves on this score. I am well aware that men who have embraced the life of labour, and always provide with their own hands the necessities of life, cannot be long away from home; but, wherever you are, remember me, and pray for me that no cause of disturbance may dwell in my heart, and that I may be at peace with myself and with God.

[Πρός: Παλλαδίῳ καὶ Ἰννοκεντίῳ μονάζουσιν] Ἐγὼ πόσον μὲν ὑμᾶς ἀγαπῶ, εἰκάζειν ὀφείλετε ἐξ ὧν ἡμᾶς αὐτοὶ ἀγαπᾶτε. καὶ εἰρήνης μὲν ἐπεθύμησα ἀεὶ γενέσθαι βραβευτής, ἀποτυγχάνων δὲ λυποῦμαι μέν· πῶς γὰρ οὔ; οὐ μὴν ἐχθραίνειν δύναμαί τισι τούτου γε ἕνεκεν, εἰδὼς ὅτι πάλαι ἀφʼ ἡμῶν ἤρθη τὸ τῆς εἰρήνης καλόν. εἰ δὲ παρʼ ἄλλοις ἡ αἰτία τῆς διαστάσεως, παράσχοι ὁ Κύριος παύσασθαι τοὺς τὰς διχοστασίας ποιοῦντας. οὐ μέντοι οὐδὲ ἐπιζητῶ συνεχῆ ὑμῶν τὴν ἐπιδημίαν· ὥστε τούτου ἕνεκεν μηδὲ ἀπολογεῖσθαί μοι. οἶδα γὰρ ὅτι ἄνδρες τὸν πεπονημένον προελόμενοι βίον, καὶ ἀεὶ διὰ τῶν χειρῶν ἑαυτοῖς τὰ ἀναγκαῖα συμποριζόμενοι, πολὺν ἀποδημεῖν χρόνον τῶν ἰδίων οὐ δύνανται. ἀλλʼ ὅπουπερ ἂν ἦτε, μέμνησθε ἡμῶν. καὶ προσεύχεσθε ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, ἵνα αὐτοὶ γοῦν πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς εἰρήνην ἔχωμεν καὶ πρὸς τὸν Θεόν, μηδεμιᾶς τοῖς λογισμοῖς ἡμῶν ταραχῆς ἐνοικούσης.