Letter 231

231. To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium.

I find few occasions for writing to your Reverence, and this grieves me not a little. For it is as if, even when it were possible to see you often and to enjoy your company, I did so only rarely. But I cannot write, for want of those who travel from here to you; since otherwise nothing would prevent my letters from being, as it were, a daybook of my life, announcing to your love the things that befall me day by day. For it brings me relief to share my affairs with you, and I know that you are anxious about nothing so much as about us. But now Elpidius, hastening to his own master to clear himself of the slanders falsely contrived against him by certain enemies, asked us for this letter. Through him we also greet your Reverence, and we commend the man to you, both because in justice he is worthy of your protection and for our sake; for even if we have nothing else to testify on his behalf, yet because he counted it a great thing to become the bearer of our letters, keep him among your own people, and remember us, and pray for the church.

Know, too, that our most God-beloved brother is in exile, unable to bear the harassments of the shameless. And Doara is storm-tossed, the fleshy monster throwing everything there into confusion. As for us, our enemies are brewing their plots at the imperial court, as those who know report; but the hand of the Lord is so far with us. Only pray that we be not utterly forsaken. For indeed the brother lives at ease; and Doara has taken back its old muleteer, though it has nothing more; and the Lord will scatter the counsels of our enemies. The release, however, from all our troubles, both present and expected, would be to behold you. So if it ever becomes possible for you, while we are still above the earth, count us worthy to see you.

The book on the Holy Spirit has been written and finished by us, as you yourself know; but the brothers with me prevented me from sending it written on papyrus, saying that they had instructions from your nobility to have it written in a small volume. So that we might not seem to do anything contrary to your command, we have held it back for now, but we will send it a little later, only if we light upon some suitable bearer. May you be granted to me, and to the Church of God, in good health and good cheer, praying to the Lord for us, through the loving-kindness of the Holy One.