Church of Neocaesarea

The church of Neocaesarea in Pontus appears 6 times in this collection as a recipient of Basil of Caesarea's letters. Basil had a complicated relationship with this church — it had been founded by Gregory Thaumaturgus, a hero of Basil's family, but its clergy were suspicious of Basil's theological innovations, particularly his emphasis on the distinct personhood of the Holy Spirit. Basil's letters to Neocaesarea are pastoral and apologetic, trying to reassure a conservative community that his theology was faithful to their shared tradition. They reveal the local resistance that even the most powerful bishops could face when pushing theological development.
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Letters sent
33
Letters received
33
Total letters
2
Correspondents

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All letters (33)

From Basil of Caesareac. 359

1. What has befallen you strongly moved me to visit you, with the double object of joining with you, who are near and dear to me, in paying all respect to the blessed dead, and of being more closely associated with you in your trouble by seeing your sorrow with my own eyes, and so being able to take counsel with you as to what is to be done. But...

basil caesarea #28
From Basil of Caesareac. 359

My amazement at the most distressing news of the calamity which has befallen you for a long time kept me silent. I felt like a man whose ears are stunned by a loud clap of thunder. Then I somehow recovered a little from my state of speechlessness.

basil caesarea #29
From Basil of Caesareac. 361

Following an ancient custom, which has obtained for many years, and at the same time showing you love in God, which is the fruit of the Spirit, I now, my pious friends, address this letter to you. I feel with you at once in your grief at the event which has befallen you, and in your anxiety at the matter which you have in hand. Concerning all th...

basil caesarea #62
From Basil of Caesareac. 365

1. Oh that I had wings like a dove for then would I fly away to you, and satisfy my longing to meet you. But now it is not only wings that I want, but a whole body, for mine has suffered from long sickness, and now is quite worn away with continuous affliction.

basil caesarea #140
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

Brothers and sisters, I am distressed to learn that the peace I hoped for in your church has been shattered again.

ambrose milan #27
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

Ambrose, Bishop, to the faithful at Milan.

ambrose milan #35
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

Ambrose, Bishop, to the faithful of Milan.

ambrose milan #36
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

Tobit was a righteous man living in exile, and his story teaches us what righteousness looks like under pressure.

ambrose milan #37
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

David is Scripture's great case study in the coexistence of greatness and sin.

ambrose milan #38
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

I have given you many sermons, brothers and sisters, and in most of them I have tried to teach, to instruct, to...

ambrose milan #42
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

Ambrose, continuing his discourse on the death of his brother Satyrus.

ambrose milan #43
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

Consider the widow of Zarephath.

ambrose milan #50
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

There are those who say the Church has no power to forgive sins committed after baptism.

ambrose milan #52
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

The pagans call death the supreme evil.

ambrose milan #53
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the...

ambrose milan #55
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

The Emperor Julian [Julian "the Apostate," 361-363, who attempted to reverse the Christianization of the empire]...

ambrose milan #58
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

Ambrose, Bishop, to the faithful of Milan — on the death of the Emperor Valentinian.

ambrose milan #60
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

The Emperor Gratian is dead, murdered by the treachery of men who owed him loyalty [Gratian was betrayed by his own...

ambrose milan #65
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

"Do not fret because of evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong.

ambrose milan #70
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

You live in a city that sits at the crossroads of the empire, and every idea — good and bad — passes through Milan.

ambrose milan #72
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth" (Song of Songs 1:2).

ambrose milan #75
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

At Pentecost we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit, and I want you to understand what that gift means for your...

ambrose milan #76
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

Ambrose, Bishop, to the faithful — on the death of the Emperor Theodosius.

ambrose milan #81
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

Helena, mother of Constantine, went to Jerusalem and found the cross [according to the tradition that Ambrose helped...

ambrose milan #82
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

"The earth belongs to the Lord, and everything in it" (Psalm 24:1).

ambrose milan #84
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

I return to the subject of penance because the Novatianists return to their attacks.

ambrose milan #86
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

I have preached on Psalm 119 for many weeks now, and it is time to draw the threads together.

ambrose milan #88
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

Ambrose, Bishop, to the faithful of Milan.

ambrose milan #91
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

Ambrose, Bishop, to the faithful of Milan.

ambrose milan #50021
From Ambrose of Milanc. 385

The mystery of the Trinity is the foundation of everything we believe, and I want to set it out as clearly as I can.

ambrose milan #50063
From Ambrose of Milanc. 397

Limenius, Bishop of Vercellæ, having died, the see remained long vacant owing to domestic factions. St. Ambrose, therefore, as Exarch, writes to the Christians at Vercellæ, and commences by reference to the speedy and unanimous election of Eusebius, a former Bishop, and reminds them of the presence of Christ as a reason for concord.

ambrose milan #63