ST. BASIL:

LETTERS AND SELECT WORKS

__________________

Volume VIII

Preface

Prolegomena

St. Basil

The Book of Saint Basil on the Spirit

Introduction to the Hexaemeron

The Hexaemeron

Homily I.-In the Beginning God Made the Heaven and the Earth

Homily II.-"The Earth Was Invisible and Unfinished."

Homily III.-On the Firmament

Homily IV.-Upon the Gathering Together of the Waters

Homily V.-The Germination of the Earth

Homily VI.-The Creation of Luminous Bodies

Homily VII.-The Creation of Moving Creatures

Homily VIII.-The Creation of Fowl and Water Animals

Homily IX.-The Creation of Terrestrial Animals

Letters

Letter I

Letter II

Letter III

Letter IV

Letter V

Letter VI

Letter VII

Letter VIII

Letter IX

Letter X

Letter XI

Letter XII

Letter XIII

Letter XIV

Letter XV

Letter XVI

Letter XVII

Letter XVIII

Letter XIX

Letter XX

Letter XXI

Letter XXII

Letter XXIII

Letter XXIV

Letter XXV

Letter XXVI

Letter XXVII

Letter XXVIII

Letter XXIX

Letter XXX

Letter XXXI

Letter XXXII

Letter XXXIII

Letter XXXIV

Letter XXXV

Letter XXXVI

Letter XXXVII

Letter XXXVIII

Letter XXXIX

Letter XL

Letter XLI

Letter XLII

Letter XLIII

Letter XLIV

Letter XLV

Letter XLVI

Letter XLVII

Letter XLVIII

Letter XLIX

Letter L

Letter LI

Letter LII

Letter LIII

Letter LIV

Letter LV

Letter LVI

Letter LVII

Letter LVIII

Letter LIX

Letter LX

Letter LXI

Letter LXII

Letter LXIII

Letter LXIV

Letter LXV

Letter LXVI

Letter LXVII

Letter LXVIII

Letter LXIX

Letter LXX

Letter LXXI

Letter LXXII

Letter LXXIII

Letter LXXIV

Letter LXXV

Letter LXXVI

Letter LXXVII

Letter LXXVIII

Letter LXXIX

Letter LXXX

Letter LXXXI

Letter LXXXII

Letter LXXXIII

Letter LXXXIV

Letter LXXXV

Letter LXXXVI

Letter LXXXVII

Letter LXXXVIII

Letter LXXXIX

Letter XC

Letter XCI

Letter XCII

Letter XCIII

Letter XCIV

Letter XCV

Letter XCVI

Letter XCVII

Letter XCVIII

Letter XCIX

Letter C

Letter CI

Letter CII

Letter CIII

Letter CIV

Letter CV

Letter CVI

Letter CVII

Letter CVIII

Letter CIX

Letter CX

Letter CXI

Letter CXII

Letter CXIII

Letter CXIV

Letter CXV

Letter CXVI

Letter CXVII

Letter CXVIII

Letter CXIX

Letter CXX

Letter CXXI

Letter CXXII

Letter CXXIII

Letter CXXIV

Letter CXXV

Letter CXXVI

Letter CXXVII

Letter CXXVIII

Letter CXXIX

Letter CXXX

Letter CXXXI

Letter CXXXII

Letter CXXXIII

Letter CXXXIV

Letter CXXXV

Letter CXXXVI

Letter CXXXVII

Letter CXXXVIII

Letter CXXXIX

Letter CXL

Letter CXLI

Letter CXLII

Letter CXLIII

Letter CXLIV

Letter CXLV

Letter CXLVI

Letter CXLVII

Letter CXLVIII

Letter CXLIX

Letter CL

Letter CLI

Letter CLII

Letter CLIII

Letter CLIV

Letter CLV

Letter CLVI

Letter CLVII

Letter CLVIII

Letter CLIX

Letter CLX

Letter CLXI

Letter CLXII

Letter CLXIII

Letter CLXIV

Letter CLXV

Letter CLXVI

Letter CLXVII

Letter CLXVIII

Letter CLXIX

Letter CLXX

Letter CLXXI

Letter CLXXII

Letter CLXXIII

Letter CLXXIV

Letter CLXXV

Letter CLXXVI

Letter CLXXVII

Letter CLXXVIII

Letter CLXXIX

Letter CLXXX

Letter CLXXXI

Letter CLXXXII

Letter CLXXXIII

Letter CLXXXIV

Letter CLXXXV

Letter CLXXXVI

Letter CLXXXVII

Letter CLXXXVIII

Letter CLXXXIX

Letter CXC

Letter CXCI

Letter CXCII

Letter CXCIII

Letter CXCIV

Letter CXCV

Letter CXCVI

Letter CXCVII

Letter CXCVIII

Letter CXCIX

Letter CC

Letter CCI

Letter CCII

Letter CCIII

Letter CCIV

Letter CCV

Letter CCVI

Letter CCVII

Letter CCVIII

Letter CCIX

Letter CCX

Letter CCXI

Letter CCXII

Letter CCXIII

Letter CCXIV

Letter CCXV

Letter CCXVI

Letter CCXVII

Letter CCXVIII

Letter CCXIX

Letter CCXX

Letter CCXXI

Letter CCXXII

Letter CCXXIII

Letter CCXXIV

Letter CCXXV

Letter CCXXVI

Letter CCXXVII

Letter CCXXVIII

Letter CCXXIX

Letter CCXXX

Letter CCXXXI

Letter CCXXXII

Letter CCXXXIII

Letter CCXXXIV

Letter CCXXXV

Letter CCXXXVI

Letter CCXXXVII

Letter CCXXXVIII

Letter CCXXXIX

Letter CCXL

Letter CCXLI

Letter CCXLII

Letter CCXLIII

Letter CCXLIV

Letter CCXLV

Letter CCXLVI

Letter CCXLVII

Letter CCXLVIII

Letter CCXLIX

Letter CCL

Letter CCLI

Letter CCLIL

Letter CCLIII

Letter CCLIV

Letter CCLV

Letter CCLVI

Letter CCLVII

Letter CCLVIII

Letter CCLIX

Letter CCLX

Letter CCLXI

Letter CCLXII

Letter CCLXIII

Letter CCLXIV

Letter CCLXV

Letter CCLXVI

Letter CCLXVII

Letter CCLXVIII

Letter CCLXIX

Letter CCLXX

Letter CCLXXI

Letter CCLXXII

Letter CCLXXIII

Letter CCLXXIV

Letter CCLXXV

Letter CCLXXVI

Letter CCLXXVII

Letter CCLXXVIII

Letter CCLXXIX

Letter CCLXXX

Letter CCLXXXI

Letter CCLXXXII

Letter CCLXXXIII

Letter CCLXXXIV

Letter CCLXXXV

Letter CCLXXXVI

Letter CCLXXXVII

Letter CCLXXXVIII

Letter CCLXXXIX

Letter CCXC

Letter CCXCI

Letter CCXCII

Letter CCXCIII

Letter CCXCIV

Letter CCXCV

Letter CCXCVI

Letter CCXCVII

Letter CCXCVIII

Letter CCXCIX

Letter CCC

Letter CCCI

Letter CCCII

Letter CCCIII

Letter CCCIV

Letter CCCV

Letter CCCVI

Letter CCCVII

Letter CCCVIII

Letter CCCIX

Letter CCCX

Letter CCCXI

Letter CCCXII

Letter CCCXIII

Letter CCCXIV

Letter CCCXV

Letters CCCXVI., CCCXVII., CCCXVIII., CCCXIX

Letter CCCXX

Letter CCCXXI

Letter CCCXXII

Letter CCCXXIII

Letter CCCXXIV

Letter CCCXXV

Letter CCCXXVI

Letter CCCXXVII

Letter CCCXXVII

Letter CCCXXIX

Letters CCCXXX., CCCXXXI., CCCXXXII., CCCXXXIII

Letter CCCXXXIV

Letter CCCXXXV

Letter CCCXXXVI

Letter CCCXXXVII

Letter CCCXXXVIII

Letter CCCXXXIX

Letter CCCXL

Letter CCCXLI

Letter CCCXLII

Letter CCCXLIII

Letter CCCXLIV

Letter CCCXLV

Letter CCCXLVI

Letter CCCXLVII

Letter CCCXLVIII

Letter CCCXLIX

Letter CCCL

Letter CCCLI

Letter CCCLII

Letter CCCLIII

Letter CCCLIV

Letter CCCLV

Letter CCCLVI

Letter CCCLVII

Letter CCCLVIII

Letter CCCLIX

Letter CCCLX

Letter CCCLXVI

Preface

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This translation of a portion of the works of St. Basil was originally begun under the editorial supervision of Dr. Wace. It was first announced that the translation would comprise the De Spiritu Sancto and Select Letters, but it was ultimately arranged with Dr. Wace that a volume of the series should be devoted to St. Basil, containing, as well as the De Spiritu Sancto , the whole of the Letters, and the Hexaemeron. The De Spiritu Sancto has already appeared in an English form, as have portions of the Letters, but I am not aware of an English translation of the Hexaemeron, or of all the Letters. The De Spiritu Sancto was presumably selected for publication as being at once the most famous, as it is among the most valuable, of the extant works of this Father. The Letters comprise short theological treatises and contain passages of historical and varied biographical interest, as well as valuable specimens of spiritual and consolatory exhortation. The Hexaemeron was added as being the most noted and popular of St. Basil's compositions in older days, and as illustrating his exegetic method and skill, and his power as an extempore preacher.

The edition used has been that of the Benedictine editors as issued by Migne, with the aid, in the case of the De Spiritu Sancto , of that published by Rev. C. F. H. Johnston.

The editorship of Dr. Wace terminated during the progress of the work, but I am indebted to him, and very gratefully acknowledge the obligation, for valuable counsel and suggestions. I also desire to record my thanks to the Rev. C. Hole, Lecturer in Ecclesiastical History at King's College, London, and to Mr. Reginald Geare, Head Master of the Grammar School, Bishop's Stortford, to the former for help in the revision of proof-sheets and important suggestions, and to the latter for aid in the translation of several of the Letters.

The works consulted in the process of translation and attempted illustration are sufficiently indicated in thenotes.

London, December, 1894.

Genealogical Tables

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE TO ACCOMPANY THE LIFE OF ST. BASIL

A.D.

329 or 330. St. Basil born.

335.

Council of Tyre.

336.

Death of Arius.

337.

Death of Constantine.

340.

Death of Constantine II.

341.

Dedication creed at Antioch.

343.

Julian and Gallus relegated to Macellum.

Basil probably sent from Annen to school at Cæsarea.

344.

Macrostich, and Council of Sardica.

346.

Basil goes to constantinople.

450.

Death of Constans.

351.

Basil goes to constantinople.

1st Creed of Sirmium.

353.

Death of Magnentius.

355.

Julian goes to Athens (latter part of year).

356.

Basil returns to Cæsarea.

357.

The 2d Creed of Sirmium, or Blasphemy, subscribed by Hosius and Liberius.

Basil baptized, and shortly afterwards ordained reader.

358.

Basil visits monastic establishments in Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and

Mesopotamia, and retires to the monastery on the Iris.

359.

The 3d Creed of Sirmium. Dated May 22. Councils of Seleucia and Ariminum.

360.

Acacian synod of Constantinople.

Basil, now ordained Deacon, Disputes with Aetius.

Dianius subscribes the Creed of Ariminum, and

Basil in consequence leaves Cæsarea.

He visits Gregory at Nazianzus.

361.

Death of Constantius and accession of Julian.

Basil writes the "Moralia."

362.

Basil returns to Cæsarea.

Dianius dies. Eusebius baptized, elected, and consecrated bishop.

Lucifer consecrates Paulinus at Antioch.

Julian at Cæsarea. Martyrdom of Eupsychius.

363.

Julian dies (June 27). Accession of Jovian.

364.

Jovian dies. Accession of Valentinian and Valens.

Basil ordained prieset by Eusebius.

Basil writes agains eunomius.

Semiarian council of Lampsacus.

365.

Revolt of Procopius.

Valens at Cæsarea.

366.

Semiarian deputation to Rome satisfy Liberius of their orthodoxy.

Death of Liberius. Damasus bp. of Rome.

Procopius defeated.

367.

Gratian Augustus.

Valens favours the Arians.

Council of Tyana.

368.

Semiarian Council in Caria. Famine in Cappadocia.

369.

Death of emmelia. Basil visits Samosata.

370.

Death of Eusebius of Cæsarea.

Election and consecration of Basil to the see of Cæsarea.

Basil makes visitation tour.

371.

Basil threatened by arian bishops and by modestus.

Valens, travelling slowly from Nicomedia to Cæsarea, arrives at the end of the year.

372.

Valens attends great service at Cæsarea on the Epiphany, Jan. 6.

Interviews between basil and valens.

Death of Galates.

Valens endows Ptochotrophium and quits Cæsarea.

Basil visits Eusebius at Samosata.

Claim of Anthimus to metropolitan dignity at Tyana.

Basil resists Anthimus.

Basil Forces Gregory of Nazianzus to be consecrated bishop of Sasima, and consecrated his brother Gregory to Nyssa. Consequent estrangement of Basil and Gregory of Nazianzus.

Basil in Armenia. Creed signed by Eustathius.

373.

St. Epiphanius writes the "Anacoratus."

Death of Athanasius.

Basil visited by Jovinus of Perrha, and by Sanctissimus of Antioch.

374.

Death of Auxentius and consecration of Ambrose at Milan.

Basil writes the "De Spiritu Sancto."

Eusebius of Samosata banished to Thrace.

Death of Gregory, bp. of Nazianzus, the elder.

375.

Death of Valentinian. Gratian and Valentinian II. Emperors.

Synod of Illyria, and Letter to the Orientals.

Semiarian Council of Cyzicus.

Demosthenes harasses the Catholics.

Gregory of Nyssa deposed.

376.

Synod of Iconium.

Open denunciation of Eustathius by Basil.

378.

Death of Valens, Aug. 9.

Eusebius of Samosata and Me