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