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E00772: Basil of Caesarea, in his Letter 252 of 376, invites the bishops of the Pontic Diocese (central and northern Asia Minor) to visit Kaisareia/Caesarea (central Asia Minor) for the festival of its martyrs *Eupsychios (S00470) and *Damas (S00471), according to an old custom, in order to help him with preaching on the day. Written in Greek at Kaisareia of Cappadocia.
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posted on 2015-10-13, 00:00 authored by erizosBasil of Caesarea, Letters (CPG 2900), Letter 252
ΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΙΣ ΤΗΣ ΠΟΝΤΙΚΗΣ ΔΙΟΙΚΗΣΕΩΣ
Μαρτύρων τιμαὶ πᾶσι μὲν περισπούδαστοι τοῖς ἐπὶ Κύριον ἠλπικόσιν, ἐξαιρέτως δὲ ὑμῖν τοῖς ἀρετῆς ἀντιποιουμένοις οἳ διὰ τῆς πρὸς τοὺς εὐδοκίμους τῶν ὁμοδούλων διαθέσεως τὴν πρὸς τὸν κοινὸν Δεσπότην εὔνοιαν ἐπιδείκνυσθε, ἄλλως δὲ καὶ διὰ τὸ συγγενές τι ἔχειν τὸν ἐν ἀκριβείᾳ βίον πρὸς τοὺς διὰ καρτερίας τελειωθέντας. Ἐπεὶ οὖν ἐπισημότατοι μαρτύρων Εὐψύχιος καὶ Δάμας καὶ ὁ περὶ αὐτοὺς χορὸς ὧν ἡ μνήμη δι’ ἔτους παρὰ τῆς πόλεως ἡμῶν καὶ τῆς περιοικίδος δὲ πάσης τελεῖται, ὑπομιμνήσκει ὑμᾶς τὸν ἴδιον ἑαυτῆς κόσμον ἡ Ἐκκλησία διὰ τῆς ἡμετέρας φωνῆς παρακαλοῦσα τὴν ἀρχαίαν ἀπολαβεῖν τῆς ἐπισκέψεως ὑμῶν συνήθειαν. Ὡς οὖν ἐργασίας μεγάλης προκειμένης ὑμῖν ἐν λαῷ ἐπιζητοῦντι τὴν παρ’ ὑμῶν οἰκοδομὴν καὶ μισθῶν ἐν τῇ τιμῇ τῶν μαρτύρων ἀποκειμένων, δέξασθε ἡμῶν τὴν παράκλησιν καὶ ἐπινεύσατε πρὸς τὴν χάριν μικρῷ πόνῳ μεγάλην ἡμῖν εὐεργεσίαν παρεχόμενοι.
‘To the Bishops of the Pontic Diocese
The veneration of martyrs must be eagerly sought after by all who hope in the Lord, and especially by you who lay claim to virtue, and who display your loyalty to our common Master, by your disposition towards the distinguished among your fellow-servants. And otherwise also because life under discipline has something akin to those who have been consummated through perseverance. Since, then, Eupsychios and Damas and the chorus of their followers are most celebrated martyrs, whose memory is celebrated yearly by our city and all the surrounding country, our Church reminds you of its own special dignity, requesting through our voice to enjoy the ancient custom of your visit. Therefore, since a great task lies before you among the people who are seeking edification from you, and a reward is in store for you by the veneration of the martyrs, accept our summons and give your assent to the favour we ask, thus rendering us a great kindness for little trouble.’
Text: Courtonne vol. 3, p. 93.
Translation: Deferrari vol. 2, 18-21 (modified).
ΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΙΣ ΤΗΣ ΠΟΝΤΙΚΗΣ ΔΙΟΙΚΗΣΕΩΣ
Μαρτύρων τιμαὶ πᾶσι μὲν περισπούδαστοι τοῖς ἐπὶ Κύριον ἠλπικόσιν, ἐξαιρέτως δὲ ὑμῖν τοῖς ἀρετῆς ἀντιποιουμένοις οἳ διὰ τῆς πρὸς τοὺς εὐδοκίμους τῶν ὁμοδούλων διαθέσεως τὴν πρὸς τὸν κοινὸν Δεσπότην εὔνοιαν ἐπιδείκνυσθε, ἄλλως δὲ καὶ διὰ τὸ συγγενές τι ἔχειν τὸν ἐν ἀκριβείᾳ βίον πρὸς τοὺς διὰ καρτερίας τελειωθέντας. Ἐπεὶ οὖν ἐπισημότατοι μαρτύρων Εὐψύχιος καὶ Δάμας καὶ ὁ περὶ αὐτοὺς χορὸς ὧν ἡ μνήμη δι’ ἔτους παρὰ τῆς πόλεως ἡμῶν καὶ τῆς περιοικίδος δὲ πάσης τελεῖται, ὑπομιμνήσκει ὑμᾶς τὸν ἴδιον ἑαυτῆς κόσμον ἡ Ἐκκλησία διὰ τῆς ἡμετέρας φωνῆς παρακαλοῦσα τὴν ἀρχαίαν ἀπολαβεῖν τῆς ἐπισκέψεως ὑμῶν συνήθειαν. Ὡς οὖν ἐργασίας μεγάλης προκειμένης ὑμῖν ἐν λαῷ ἐπιζητοῦντι τὴν παρ’ ὑμῶν οἰκοδομὴν καὶ μισθῶν ἐν τῇ τιμῇ τῶν μαρτύρων ἀποκειμένων, δέξασθε ἡμῶν τὴν παράκλησιν καὶ ἐπινεύσατε πρὸς τὴν χάριν μικρῷ πόνῳ μεγάλην ἡμῖν εὐεργεσίαν παρεχόμενοι.
‘To the Bishops of the Pontic Diocese
The veneration of martyrs must be eagerly sought after by all who hope in the Lord, and especially by you who lay claim to virtue, and who display your loyalty to our common Master, by your disposition towards the distinguished among your fellow-servants. And otherwise also because life under discipline has something akin to those who have been consummated through perseverance. Since, then, Eupsychios and Damas and the chorus of their followers are most celebrated martyrs, whose memory is celebrated yearly by our city and all the surrounding country, our Church reminds you of its own special dignity, requesting through our voice to enjoy the ancient custom of your visit. Therefore, since a great task lies before you among the people who are seeking edification from you, and a reward is in store for you by the veneration of the martyrs, accept our summons and give your assent to the favour we ask, thus rendering us a great kindness for little trouble.’
Text: Courtonne vol. 3, p. 93.
Translation: Deferrari vol. 2, 18-21 (modified).
History
Evidence ID
E00772Saint Name
Eupsychios, martyr in Kaisareia/Caesarea of Cappadocia : S00470 Damas, martyr in Kaisareia/Caesarea of Cappadocia : S00471Saint Name in Source
Εὐψύχιος ΔάμαςRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - LettersLanguage
GreekEvidence not before
376Evidence not after
376Activity not before
376Activity not after
376Place of Evidence - Region
Asia MinorPlace of Evidence - City, village, etc
Kaisareia/Caesarea in CappadociaPlace of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Kaisareia/Caesarea in Cappadocia Nicomedia Νικομήδεια Nikomēdeia Izmit Πραίνετος Prainetos NicomediaMajor author/Major anonymous work
Basil of CaesareaCult activities - Liturgical Activity
- Service for the Saint
Cult activities - Festivals
- Saint’s feast
Cult activities - Activities Accompanying Cult
- Meetings and gatherings of the clergy