Letter 218

218. To Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium.

The business for which brother Aelianus came he settled by himself, needing no help from us; but to us he gave a double favor, both by bringing letters of your Godliness and by furnishing us an occasion for writing to you. We greet, then, through him your true and inimitable love; and we beseech you to pray for us, who now, if ever, stand in need of the help that comes from your prayers. For my body, broken by the journey to Pontus, is held by sickness past bearing. And there is this too which I have long wished to make known to your good sense (not that, hindered by some prior cause, I forgot it); but now I remind you of it, that you would deign to send an earnest man into Lycia, to inspect who they are that hold the right faith. For perhaps they ought not to be overlooked, if what one of the devout men who came to us from there recounted is true: that, being altogether estranged from the Asian way of thinking, they consent to enroll us as their fellows in communion. And if anyone is going to go there, let him seek out at Corydalla Alexander, a bishop from among the monks; and at Limyra Diotimus; and at Myra the presbyters Tatianus and Polemo and Macarius; at Patara the bishop Eudemus; at Telmessus the bishop Hilarius; at Phellus the bishop Lollianus.

These, and yet more, someone made known to us as sound concerning the faith; and I had much thanks to God, if any at all in the Asian region are outside the harm of the heretics. If, then, it be possible, let us for the present inspect them without letters; and being persuaded, we will thereafter send a letter, and be earnest to summon one of them to a meeting with us. And may all things be in season concerning the church of Iconium, most beloved to you. We greet, through you, all the honored clergy and those who are with your Godliness.