Letter 167

167. To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata

Both by writing and by remembering you gladden me, and, what is greater than this, by blessing me in your letters. As for us, if we were worthy of your sufferings and of your contest for Christ, we should have been counted worthy, by coming as far as you, to embrace your Godliness and to take a pattern of endurance in suffering. But since we happen to be unworthy of this, held fast as we are by many afflictions and occupations, we do what is second best: we address your Perfection, and ask that you not grow weary of remembering us. For it is not only a benefit to us to be counted worthy of your letters, but also a boast before the many and an ornament, that there is some account of us with a man so great in virtue and of so great a closeness to God, that he can make others, too, close to Him, both by word and by example.