The
Benedictine title runs, Basilius gratias agit Episcopo
cuidam, and a Ben. note points out that the common addition of
“of Rome” to the title must be an error, because
Damasus, not Innocent, was Bishop of Rome at the time.
Combefis supposed that the letter was written to Innocent, then a
presbyter, and that the allusion at the end of the letter is to
Damasus; the Ben. note says absurde. Innocent did
not become Bishop of Rome till 402, three years after Basil’s
death. Whatever was the see of the recipient of this letter,
it was one of importance. cf. Letter
lxxxi.