Letter 306: I am aware that your excellency is favourably receiving my letters, and I understand why. You love all that is good; you are ready in doing kindnesses. So whenever I give you the opportunity of showing your magnanimity, you are eager for my letters, because you know that they furnish an occasion for good deeds.

I know that Your Excellency receives my letters favorably, and I understand why. You love what is good, and you are always ready to do kindnesses. So whenever I give you the opportunity to demonstrate your generosity, you welcome my letters, knowing they furnish an occasion for good deeds. Here, once again, is an occasion for you to display all the marks of fairness, and at the same time to exhibit your virtues publicly. Certain persons have come from Alexandria to fulfill a duty that is owed by all to the dead. They ask Your Excellency to authorize the transport of the remains of a relative who died at Sebasteia while the troops were stationed there. They further request that, as far as possible, they be given assistance for traveling at public expense, so that through your generosity they may find some comfort and help for their long journey. News of this kindness will travel all the way to Alexandria and carry the report of Your Excellency's remarkable benevolence. You understand this without my needing to say it. I will simply add my gratitude for this one more favor to the gratitude I already feel for everything else you have done for me.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To the Governor of Sebasteia. I am aware that your excellency is favourably receiving my letters, and I understand why. You love all that is good; you are ready in doing kindnesses. So whenever I give you the opportunity of showing your magnanimity, you are eager for my letters, because you know that they furnish an occasion for good deeds. Now, once more, behold an occasion for your showing all the signs of rectitude, and at the same time for the public exhibition of your virtues! Certain persons have come from Alexandria for the discharge of a necessary duty which is due from all men to the dead. They ask your excellency to give orders that it may be permitted them to have conveyed away, under official sanction, the corpse of a relative who departed this life at Sebasteia, while the troops were quartered there. They further beg that, as far as possible, aid may be given them for travelling at the public expense, so that, of your bounty, they may find some help and solace in their long journey. The tidings of this will travel as far as to great Alexandria, and will convey there the report of your excellency's astonishing kindness. This you well understand without my mentioning it. I shall add gratitude for this one more favour to that which I feel for all which you have done me. 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/3202306.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.