§5. To
Amphilochius the Younger.
Ep. IX.
(Constantine and Constantius had granted exemption
from the military tax to all clerics. This privilege was,
however, abolished by Julian, and was restored by Valentinian and
Valens: but the collectors of revenue often tried to levy it on
them in spite of the exemption. The collector at Nazianzus tried
to do this in the case of a Deacon named Euthalius, in whose behalf
Gregory wrote the following letter to Amphilochius, who was at the time
one of the principal magistrates of the province. The date of the
letter is given as a.d. 372, the year of
Gregory’s Ordination to the Priesthood. For further
particulars about this Amphilochius, see introd. to letters II. and
III. to Cæsarius Epp. 22, 23.)
Support a wellbuilt chamber with columns of gold,
as Pindar4748
says, and make
yourself from the beginning known to us on the right side in our
present
anxiety, that you may build yourself a notable
palace, and shew
yourself in it with a good
fame. But how will you do this?
By honouring
God and the things of
God, than Whom there can be nothing
greater in your
eyes.
But how, and by what act can you honour Him? By this one act, by
protecting the
servants of
God and
ministers of the
altar. One of
these is our fellow
deacon Euthalius, on whom, I know not how, the
officers of the Prefecture are trying to impose a payment of
gold after
his promotion to the higher rank.
Pray do not allow this.
Reach a
hand to this
deacon and to the whole clergy, and above all to
me, for whom you care; for otherwise he would have to endure a grievous
wrong, alone of men deprived of the kindness of the time and the
privilege granted by the Emperor to the Clergy, and would even be
insulted and fined, possibly on account of my weakness. It would
be well for you to prevent this even if others are not well
disposed.
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