The Greek Christian author Basil of Caesarea (c.330 – 379) was an extremely important theologian.
His defence of the deity of the Holy Spirit in the final stages of the Arian controversy played a critical role in the formulation of the orthodox Christian teaching about the Trinity. Basil has much to teach us, though, about other areas of the Christian life. Take, for instance, the vital area of Christian friendship.
Eusebius of Samosata
One of Basil’s closest friends was Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata (died 380), a city on the Euphrates River, some 300 miles distant from Caesarea in Cappadocia. Samosata has been described by historian Lewis Ayres as a ‘strategically important city’, for it was ‘close to the borders of the [Roman] Empire.’ Samosata contained Greek speakers like Eusebius, but also many Syriac- and Armenian-speaking Christians. Most of what we definitely know about Eusebius is from the letters of Basil. There is little doubt that the two men deeply enjoyed each other’s presence and Basil delighted in having such a mentor.
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