Letter 98

98. To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata.

Though I was much minded to come to Nicopolis, after receiving the letter from your holiness containing a refusal of the visit, I was relaxed from my eagerness and at the same time put in mind of all my infirmity. There came also into my thought the perfunctoriness of those who had invited me — that, having made their invitation to us a thing of mere passing form through the most reverend brother Hellenius, the surveyor of Nazianzus, they did not deign to send a second man to remind us about the same matters or to guide us. Since, then, we are suspect to them because of our sins, we were afraid lest somehow we should cloud the brightness of their festival by our presence. For with your nobility of soul we do not shrink even from stripping for the great trials; but without you we are not equal even to looking in the face the chance afflictions. Since, therefore, our interview with them was to be for ecclesiastical matters, we let the time of the festival pass by, and deferred the meeting to a time of quiet and undisturbed life; and we have resolved, on reaching Nicopolis, to discuss with the most God-loving bishop Meletius the things necessary for the churches, if he should decline the road to Samosata; but if not, we will run thither together with him, provided this be made plain to us by both — both by him himself, writing back to us about these things (for we have written), and by your godliness.

We were also to meet with the bishops from the second Cappadocia; who, since they were named to another province, supposed that all at once they had become of another race and another tribe toward us — men who have been as ignorant of us as those who have never had any experience of us at all, nor ever come to words with us. There was expected also another meeting with the most reverend bishop Eustathius, which indeed took place. For because he is loudly accused by many of falsifying something in the faith, we came to words with him, and found him, with God's help, following in good will toward all correctness. The letters of the bishops, through the fault of those very men who ought to have forwarded our communications, were not delivered to your honour; but they also escaped me, thrust from my memory by the press of cares.

As for the brother Gregory, I too would have wished him to administer a church commensurate with his nature. But that would be the whole world under the sun, gathered into one. Since, however, this is impossible, let him be a bishop who is not made dignified by his place, but who makes the place dignified of himself. For it is the mark of a truly great man not only to suffice for great things, but also to make small things great by his own power.

But what must be done with Palmatius, who, after so many entreaties of the brethren, still serves Maximus toward the persecutions? Yet not even now do they hesitate to write; for they are not permitted to come, both by bodily weakness and by household occupations.

Know, however, most God-loving father, that our affairs have great need of your presence, and that you must once more set your honoured old age in motion, in order to set firm Cappadocia, which is by now being tossed about and is near to falling.