Letter 27: When by God's grace, and the aid of your prayers, I had seemed to be somewhat recovering from my sickness, and had got my strength again, then came winter, keeping me a prisoner at home, and compelling me to remain where I was. True, its severity was much less than usual, but this was quite enough to keep me not merely from travelling while it l...
Basil of Caesarea→Eusebius, Archbishop of Thessalonica|c. 358 AD|basil caesarea
famine plagueillnessslavery captivity
Persecution or exile; Travel & mobility; Slavery or captivity
To Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata
When, by God's grace and the help of your prayers, I seemed to be recovering somewhat from my illness and regaining my strength, winter arrived, keeping me a prisoner at home and forcing me to stay put. True, the cold was milder than usual, but it was quite enough to keep me not only from traveling during its worst, but even from venturing to put my head outside the door.
Still, it is no small thing for me to be able to communicate with your reverence at least by letter, and to rest easy in the hope of your reply. Should the season allow it, and should I be granted further length of life, and should the food shortage not prevent me from making the journey, then perhaps -- with the help of your prayers -- I may be able to fulfill my earnest wish: to find you at your own fireside, and with ample leisure to take my fill of your vast stores of wisdom.
ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA
To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata.
When by God's grace, and the aid of your prayers, I had seemed to be somewhat recovering from my sickness, and had got my strength again, then came winter, keeping me a prisoner at home, and compelling me to remain where I was. True, its severity was much less than usual, but this was quite enough to keep me not merely from travelling while it lasted, but even from so much as venturing to put my head out of doors. But to me it is no slight thing to be permitted, if only by letter, to communicate with your reverence, and to rest tranquil in the hope of your reply. However, should the season permit, and further length of life be allowed me, and should the dearth not prevent me from undertaking the journey, perhaps through the aid of your prayers I may be able to fulfil my earnest wish, may find you at your own fireside, and, with abundant leisure, may take my fill of your vast treasures of wisdom.
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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/3202027.htm>.
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To Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata
When, by God's grace and the help of your prayers, I seemed to be recovering somewhat from my illness and regaining my strength, winter arrived, keeping me a prisoner at home and forcing me to stay put. True, the cold was milder than usual, but it was quite enough to keep me not only from traveling during its worst, but even from venturing to put my head outside the door.
Still, it is no small thing for me to be able to communicate with your reverence at least by letter, and to rest easy in the hope of your reply. Should the season allow it, and should I be granted further length of life, and should the food shortage not prevent me from making the journey, then perhaps -- with the help of your prayers -- I may be able to fulfill my earnest wish: to find you at your own fireside, and with ample leisure to take my fill of your vast stores of wisdom.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.