This, the first of Basil’s six extant letters to Athanasius, is placed by the Ben. Ed. in 371.  It has no certain indication of date.  Athanasius, in the few years of comparative calm which preceded his death in May, 373, had excommunicated a vicious governor in Libya, a native of Cappadocia, and announced his act to Basil.  The intercourse opened by this official communication led to a more important correspondence.