Basil of Caesarea Against Valens and the Prefect Modestus

Valens, one might almost say, robbed every church of its shepherd, and then set out for Caesarea in Cappadocia, which was at that time the see of the great Basil, a light of the world. He had sent the prefect ahead of him with orders either to persuade Basil to accept the communion of Eudoxius or, if he refused, to punish him with exile. Valens already knew of the bishop’s high reputation, and so at first he was unwilling to attack him. He was afraid that the bishop would meet and resist his assault boldly, and so set the rest an example of courage. This cunning scheme was as useless as a spider’s web. For the stories told of old were quite enough for the rest of the bishops, and they kept the wall of the faith unshaken, like towers set around the circle of its ramparts. [a]

When the prefect arrived at Caesarea, he sent for the great Basil. He treated him with respect and spoke to him in moderate and courteous words. He urged him to give way to the demands of the times, and not to abandon so many churches for the sake of a small, fine point of doctrine. He also promised him the emperor’s friendship, and pointed out that through it he could bring great benefits to many people. “This kind of talk,” said the divine man, “is fit for little boys, for they and their like easily swallow such bait. But those who have been brought up on the divine words will not allow even one syllable of the divine creeds to be given up. For their sake they are ready, if need be, to embrace every kind of death. I hold the emperor’s friendship to be of great value if it goes together with true religion. Otherwise I count it a deadly thing.”

At this the prefect grew angry and declared that Basil was out of his mind. “May this madness be mine forever,” said the divine man. The bishop was then ordered to withdraw, to think over what course to take, and to announce the next day what he had decided. Threats were added to argument as well. The famous bishop’s reply is reported to have been this: “For my part, I will come to you tomorrow the same man I am today. Do not you change either, but carry out your threats.” After these discussions the prefect went to the emperor and reported the conversation. He pointed out the bishop’s virtue and the fearless courage of his character. The emperor said nothing and went in. In his palace he saw that blows from heaven had fallen, for his son lay sick at the very gates of death, and his wife was beset by many ailments. Then he recognized the cause of these sorrows, and begged the divine man, whom he had threatened with punishment, to come to his house. His officers carried out the imperial command, and the great Basil came to the palace. [c]

Basil saw that the emperor’s son was on the point of death. He promised that the boy would be restored to life if he received holy baptism at the hands of the godly, and with this pledge he went away. But the emperor, like the foolish Herod, remembered his oath, and ordered some of the Arian faction who were there to baptize the boy, and the boy died at once. Then Valens repented. He saw how much danger there had been in keeping his oath. He came to the divine temple, received the teaching of the great Basil, and offered the customary gifts at the altar. The bishop also told him to come inside the divine curtains, where he sat and spoke with him at length about the divine decrees, and listened to him in turn. [d]

There was present a certain man named Demosthenes, the superintendent of the imperial kitchen. While rudely scolding the man who taught the whole world, he made a blunder in his grammar. Basil smiled and said: “Here we see an uneducated Demosthenes.” When Demosthenes lost his temper and began to make threats, Basil went on: “Your business is to see to the seasoning of soups. You cannot understand theology, because your ears are stopped up.” So he spoke, and the emperor was so delighted that he gave Basil some fine lands he owned there for the poor in Basil’s care. For they were in grievous bodily affliction and especially needed care and healing. [f]

In this way the great Basil escaped the emperor’s first attack. But when Valens came a second time, counselors who deceived him got in the way of his better judgment. He forgot what had happened the first time, and ordered Basil to go over to the opposing faction. When he could not persuade him, he commanded the decree of exile to be carried out. But when he tried to put his signature to it, he could not form even a single letter of a word, for the pen broke. The same thing happened with the second pen and the third. He still struggled to sign that wicked edict, but his hand shook. He trembled, his soul was filled with fear, and he tore the paper apart with both hands. So the Ruler of the world gave proof that it was he himself who had allowed the others to undergo these sufferings, but had made Basil stronger than the snares laid against him. Through everything that happened to Basil he showed his own almighty power, and at the same time made known everywhere the courage of good men. So Valens was disappointed in his attack.