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| To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium.
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Letter
CCXXXI.2940
To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium.
I find few opportunities
of writing to your reverence, and this causes me no little
trouble. It is just the same as if, when it was in my power to
see you and enjoy your society very often, I did so but seldom.
But it is impossible for me to write to you because so few travel hence
to you, otherwise there is no reason why my letter should not be a kind
of journal of my life, to tell you, my dear friend, everything that
happens to me day by day. It is a comfort to me to tell you my
affairs, and I know that you care for nothing more than for what
concerns me. Now, however, Elpidius2941
| 2941 It is doubtful
whether this Elpidius is to be identified with any other of the same
name mentioned in the letters. | is
going home to his own master, to refute the calumnies falsely got up
against him by certain enemies, and he has asked me for a letter.
I therefore salute your reverence by him and commend to you a man who
deserves your protection, at once for the sake of justice and for my
own sake. Although I could say nothing else in his favour, yet,
because he has made it of very great importance to be the bearer of my
letter, reckon him among our friends, and remember me and pray for the
Church.
You must know that my very God-beloved brother is
in exile, for he could not endure the annoyance caused him by shameless
persons.2942
| 2942 On the
withdrawal of Gregory of Nyssa, cf. note, p.
267. |
Doara2943
| 2943 Doara
was one of the bishoprics in Cappadocia Secunda under Tyana; now
Hadji Bektash. Ramsay, Hist. Geog. Asia Minor, p.
287. | is in a state of
agitation, for the fat sea monster2944
| 2944
i.e.Demosthenes. Such language may seem
inconsistent with the tone of Letter ccxxv., but that, it
will be remembered, was an official and formal document, while the
present letter is addressed to an intimate friend. |
is throwing everything into confusion. My enemies, as I am
informed by those who know, are plotting against me at court.
But hitherto the hand of the Lord has been over me. Only pray
that I be not abandoned in the end. My brother is taking
things quietly. Doara has received the old muleteer.2945
| 2945 Possibly
another hit at Demosthenes. The name might be thought to fit
Anthimus, but with him Basil had made peace. cf. Letter
ccx. | She can do no more. The Lord
will scatter the counsels of my enemies. The one cure for all
my troubles present and to come is to set eyes on you. If you
possibly can, while I am still alive, do come to see me. The
book on the Spirit has been written by me, and is finished, as you
know. My brethren here have prevented me from sending it to
you written on paper, and have told me that they had your
excellency’s orders to engross it on parchment.2946
| 2946
ἐν
σωματί&
251·, i.e. in a volume, not on leaves of
papyrus, but in book form, as e.g. the Cod.
Alexandrinus in the B.M. | Not, then, to appear to do anything
against your injunctions, I have delayed now, but I will send it a
little later, if only I find any suitable person to convey it.
May you be granted to me and to God’s Church by the kindness
of the Holy One, in all health and happiness, and praying for me to
the Lord.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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