Letter 50: Whom, indeed, could it better befit to encourage the timid, and rouse the slumbering, than you, my godly lord, who have shown your general excellence in this, too, that you have consented to come down among us, your lowly inferiors, like a true disciple of Him Who said, I am among you, not as a fellow , but as he that serves. Luke 22:27 For you ...

To Bishop Innocentius. Who else could it be more fitting to address at a time when the very structure of the Church is shaking? For you have long been a pillar of the faith in your region, and the report of your steadfastness has reached us here like a breath of fresh air in a suffocating room. I write to ask for two things: your prayers, and your continued willingness to make your voice heard. The Eastern churches [in the early 370s, the Eastern Roman Empire was under the Arian Emperor Valens, who was actively exiling Nicene bishops and appointing Arians in their place] are in serious trouble. What we need from the West is not armies or arguments — it is the plain, visible solidarity of bishops who hold the same faith we hold. If the Western churches speak clearly and together, it matters. If they stay silent, our isolation becomes complete. I know you have your own burdens. Every bishop does. But this is a moment that calls for something beyond the ordinary. Write to me if you are able, and know that the prayers of a grateful colleague go with you.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To Bishop Innocentius. Whom, indeed, could it better befit to encourage the timid, and rouse the slumbering, than you, my godly lord, who have shown your general excellence in this, too, that you have consented to come down among us, your lowly inferiors, like a true disciple of Him Who said, I am among you, not as a fellow , but as he that serves. Luke 22:27 For you have condescended to minister to us your spiritual gladness, to refresh our souls by your honoured letter, and, as it were, to fling the arms of your greatness round the infancy of children. We, therefore, implore your good soul to pray, that we may be worthy to receive aid from the great, such as yourself, and to have a mouth and wisdom wherewith to chime in with the strain of all, who like you are led by the Holy Spirit. Of Him I hear that you are a friend and true worshipper, and I am deeply thankful for your strong and unshaken love to God. I pray that my lot may be found with the true worshippers, among whom we are sure your excellency is to be ranked, as well as that great and true bishop who has filled all the world with his wonderful work.

[Πρός: Ἰννοκεντίῳ ἐπισκόπῳ] Καὶ τίνι ἄλλῳ ἔπρεπε καὶ δειλοῖς θάρσος ἐμποιεῖν καὶ καθεύδοντας διυπνίζειν ἢ τῇ σῇ τοῦ ἡμετέρου Δεσπότου θεοσεβείᾳ, ὃς τὴν ἐν πᾶσι σεαυτοῦ τελειότητα καὶ ἐν τούτῳ ἐγνώρισας, τῷ καταδέξασθαι καὶ ἡμῖν τοῖς ταπεινοῖς συγκαταβῆναι, ὡς ἀληθινὸς μαθητὴς τοῦ εἰπόντος ὅτι Ἐκεῖ εἰμὶ ἐν μέσῳ ὑμῶν, οὐχ ὡς ὁ ἀνακείμενος, ἀλλʼ Ὡς ὁ διακονῶν; κατηξίωσας γὰρ καὶ αὐτὸς διακονῆσαι ἡμῖν τὴν σὴν πνευματικὴν εὐφροσύνην, καὶ τοῖς τιμίοις ἑαυτοῦ γράμμασιν ἀναλαβεῖν ἡμῶν τὰς ψυχάς, καὶ ὥσπερ παίδων νηπιότητα τῷ ἑαυτοῦ μεγέθει προσαγκαλίσασθαι. Εὔχου οὖν (δεόμεθά σου τῆς ἀγαθῆς ψυχῆς) ἀξίους ἡμᾶς εἶναι καὶ ὑποδέχεσθαι τὰς παρὰ τῶν μεγάλων ὑμῶν ὠφελείας, καὶ λαμβάνειν στόμα καὶ σοφίαν εἰς τὸ τολμᾷν ἀντιφθέγγεσθαι ὑμῖν, τοῖς ὑπὸ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος ἀγομένοις, οὗ φίλον σε εἶναι καὶ δοξαστῆρα ἀληθινὸν ἀκούοντες, μεγάλην ἐπὶ τῇ στεῤῥᾷ σου καὶ ἀκλινεῖ περὶ τὸν Θεὸν ἀγάπῃ τὴν χάριν ὁμολογοῦμεν· εὐχόμενοι μετὰ τῶν ἀληθινῶν προσκυνητῶν εὑρεθῆναι ἡμῶν τὸ μέρος, ἐν οἷς πεπείσμεθα εἶναι καὶ τὴν σὴν τελειότητα, καὶ τοῦ μεγάλου καὶ ἀληθινοῦ ἐπισκόπου τοῦ πᾶσαν τὴν οἰκουμένην τοῦ ἰδίου πληρώσαντος θαύματος, τοῦ Κυρίου δεόμεθα.