Thomas, deacon, as above. Thomas, presbyter, as above. Sergius, deacon, as above. Isaac, presbyter, as above. Sergius, presbyter, as above. Thomas, deacon, as above. John, presbyter, as above. Philip, deacon, as above. Jacob, presbyter, as above. Zenobius, presbyter, as above. Maras, deacon, as above. Isaac, presbyter, as above. Ananias, presbyter, as above. Sergius, presbyter, as above. Symeon, presbyter, as above. Thomas, presbyter, as above. John, presbyter, as above. Symeon, presbyter, as above. Thomas, presbyter, as above. John, presbyter, as above. Symeon, presbyter, as above. Davidthos, deacon, as above. Thomas, deacon, as above. John, deacon, as above. Lemneos, presbyter, as above.
Daniel, archimandrite, as above. Symeon, archimandrite, as above. Abramius, presbyter, as above. David, presbyter, as above. Dorotheus, presbyter, as above. Antoninus, presbyter, as above. Thomas, presbyter, as above. Barsumas, presbyter, as above. Sergius, presbyter, as above. Eusebius, presbyter, as above. Symeonius, presbyter, as above. Marcellus, presbyter, as above. Priscus, presbyter, as above. Maras, presbyter, as above. Sergius, presbyter, as above. Jacob, presbyter, as above. Thomas, presbyter, as above. Again Thomas, presbyter, as above. Thomas, presbyter, as above. Saulinus, presbyter, as above. Thomas, presbyter, as above. John, presbyter, as above. Uarasaldas, presbyter, as above. John, deacon, as above.
Marcellus, deacon, as above. Symeonius, presbyter, as above. Gennadius, presbyter, as above. Thomas, presbyter, as above. Symeonius, presbyter, as above. Habramius, presbyter, as above. Symeonius, presbyter, as above. Jacob, presbyter, as above. John, presbyter, as above. Isidorus, archimandrite, as above. Julian, presbyter, as above. John and Romanus, presbyters, and Thomas, presbyter, as above. Antoninus, deacon, and Abraham, presbyter, as above. Maras, deacon, and Abraham, presbyter, as above. Zenobius and Stephen, presbyters, as above. Symeonius and Demetrius, presbyters, as above. Thomas and Domnus, presbyters, as above. Symeonius and Elias, presbyters, as above. Habramius and Pelagius, presbyters, as above.
Romanus and Abraham, presbyters, as above. Symeonius, presbyter, and Carufas, deacon, as above. Symeonius and John, presbyters, as above. Symeonius and Julian, presbyters, as above. Eutychianus and John, deacons, as above. Thomas and another Thomas, presbyters, as above. Romanus, deacon, and John, presbyter, as above. Eusebius, archimandrite, and Eustasius, presbyter, as above. Jacob and Eusebius, presbyters, as above. Sergius and Maras, presbyters, as above. John and Julian, presbyters, as above. Paul and Isaac, presbyters, as above. Thomas and Dasianus, presbyters, as above. John and Daniel, presbyters, as above. Zeuenas, presbyter, and Azizos, deacon and archimandrite, as above.
Antoninus, deacon and archimandrite, and Cyril, presbyter, as above. Job, presbyter, and Stephen, deacon and archimandrite, as above. Bassus, deacon, and Basil, presbyter, as above. Symeonius and John, presbyters, as above. Jacob, presbyter, and Julian, deacon and archimandrite, as above. Symeonius and Alpheus, presbyters, as above. John, presbyter, and Peter, deacon, as above. Daniel, deacon, and Nonnus, deacon and archimandrite, as above. Alexander and Epiphanius, presbyters, as above. Zoilus and Habramius, presbyters, as above. Julian, presbyter, and John, deacon and archimandrite, as above. Carufas and Symeonius, presbyters, as above. Timothy, deacon, and Peter, presbyter, as above.
Macedonius, deacon and archimandrite, as above. Domnus, archimandrite, as above. John, archimandrite, as above. Symeonius, deacon and archimandrite, as above. Menas, deacon and archimandrite, and Barabsabas, presbyter, as above. Sergius, presbyter, and Theodore, archimandrite, as above. Benjamin, archimandrite, and Isaac, presbyter, as above. Daniel, presbyter and archimandrite, and Abraham, archimandrite, as above. Symeonius, archimandrite, as above. (140.) HORMISDA TO THE PRESBYTERS, DEACONS, AND ARCHIMANDRITES OF SECOND SYRIA.
Having read the letters of your love, in which the madness of the enemies of God is laid open and the obstinate fury of the unbelievers is set forth with grief — who, while with a revived spirit they hate the Lord, impiously persecute his members: as regards the recognition of your constancy, I blessed God, who preserves the faith of his soldiers amid adversities. But again, considering the shaking of the churches and the vexations and toils of the servants of God, I cried aloud with the help of the prophet's groans: arise, O Lord; judge thy cause, be mindful of thy reproaches, of those which are from the foolish one all the day long! — gladly adding also the words that follow: forget not the voice of them that seek thee; the pride of those who hate thee ascendeth up ever to thee.
For as we ought to guard the stability of the faith, so it is not fitting to distrust the equity of the divine judgement. This labour of the church is not new, brethren; and yet, while it is humbled, it is raised up, and through those very things by which it is thought to be worn away, it is enriched by its losses. (And the same in Greek:) Considering the burdens and toils of the servants of God, I cried out with the prophet: arise, O Lord; judge thy cause; be mindful of thy reproaches, of those from the foolish one all the day long — gladly adding likewise what follows: forget not the voice of them that seek thee; the pride of those who hate thee ascendeth ever up to thee. And as we ought to guard the firmness of the faith...
(Greek continued:) ...so it is not unfitting to distrust concerning the righteousness of God. This labour of the church is not new, brethren; yet in the very being humbled it is exalted, and through those things by which it seems to grow poor, it is enriched. (Latin:) It is known by experience to the faithful of God, that through the deaths of their bodies they gain the lives of their souls: they lose indeed the fleeting things, but they purchase the eternal; and while persecution makes a way for the testing, the testing becomes the cause of merit. The foolish, and those who rage under blindness, know not that those whom they believe they can withdraw from the fellowship of men, they lead to the kingdoms of God. Hence in the very perils there are joys and an eager desire of sufferings:
for he awaits the contests of his own, who is the rewarder of great gifts. For how would one not be broken by evils, unless adversity were consoled by the rewards? That is the hope which does not allow one to fail in despair; for it excludes the bitterness of tribulations by the sweet savour of the virtues. For who would count present things great, who knows how to estimate the things to come? Who would refuse the losses of this life, if he considers the things that are to be received? Persist, most dear to me, and keeping unshaken faith with fixed virtue of soul, lay claim to the praise of perseverance, in which is salvation and the palm of good works. Great are the things to which we, though unworthy, are called: let not weakness delay, for he who calls is a faithful rewarder and a strong helper.
Let us not be deceived by the hope of prosperity or of soft things, nor let us set before ourselves what is easy: our Lord promised us nothing delightful, nothing flattering; he promised rewards, not leisure. Praise does not agree with ease also. What place will there be for recompense, if there is no care for virtue? Narrow is the gate, but the kingdoms are spread wide; the entrance is for few, but for the proven. Are these not the first words to those whom he taught: they shall persecute you and shall scourge you in the synagogues? Through patience, as it is written, let us possess our souls, lest through impatience we grieve for them as lost.
First the Lord ascended the cross, the very master of patience, to instruct by his own example those whom he was about to aid. (The same in Greek:) It is known by experience to the faithful of God, that through the death of their bodies they gain the life of their souls; they cast off the fleeting things but trade for the eternal; and while persecution makes a way for the testing, it becomes to the testing a cause of merit. The foolish, and those held under blindness, know not that those whom they think they can separate from the conversation of men, these they lead to the kingdom of God. Hence in the very perils are joys and a zeal for suffering; for he awaits the contests of his own, who is the rewarder of great gifts. For who would not stumble amid evils, unless adversity were consoled by the prizes?
(Greek continued:) That is the hope which does not, in hopelessness, allow us to grow faint; for it shuts out the bitterness of tribulations by the sweet taste of the virtues. Who would think present things great, considering the things to come? Who would deny death, if he should consider the recompense of the things to come? Stand fast, my beloved, and guarding unshaken faith with firm reasoning, reap the praise of perseverance, in which is salvation and the prize of good works. Great are the things to which we, the unworthy, are called; let not weakness delay, for he who calls is a faithful rewarder and a strong helper.
(Greek:) Let us not be deceived by the hope of desirable things, nor let us prefer the pleasant nor the easy. Our judge did not promise us delightful things, nor did he promise flattering prizes; he promised rewards, not idleness. Praise and slothfulness do not go together. What place will there be for recompense, if there is no care for virtue? Narrow is the gate, but wide the kingdoms; the entrance is for few, but for the proven. Are these not the first words to those whom he taught: they shall persecute you, and in the synagogues shall scourge you? Through patience, as it is written, let us possess our own souls, lest through impatience we grieve, having lost them.
Our Lord, the very master of patience, ascended the cross to instruct by his own example those whom he was about to aid with his help. He himself holds the balance among the virtues and the labours, standing against the poisons of the raging, that according to the wraths of persecution he himself may grant the crowns of the eternal empire. Recall with what praise the ancient history follows up the steadfast ends of the Maccabees; with what honour of death Judas and that phalanx of faithful brethren is recounted; on how many lips the people consumed upon the mountain is celebrated as constant. And all these virtues, wrought for the guarding of the law — the appearance and shadow of things to come — merited such great examples: we in the fathers have seen, have handled, have proved whom we should follow. What should not be yielded to the cause? What should be denied to the truth? What is not owed to the redeemer?
Gladly do we share these teachings with you; for the most wise Solomon says: blessed is he who preaches the word in the ear of the obedient. It is indeed a joy to address the willing, and to exhort to the right way those who do not resist. For we hold as pledge of your faith your constancy under written profession, by which, separated from the contagion of the transgressors, you have recourse to the doctrines and mandates of the apostolic see: late indeed have you entered the way of truth, but blessed be God, who does not forget unto the end, who chastens and heals, and does not continually suffer the sheep of his flock to be torn by the rapacity of the lurking wolves — who, through the temperance of his strictness, neglects neither the correction of his own nor their salvation. But why... The first...
(Greek:) Our Lord, and the master of his own patience, ascended the cross; he went up in his own example to instruct those whom he was about to help. He himself holds among the virtues and the labours the balance, standing against the deadly poisons of the raging, that according to the wrath of persecution he himself may grant the crowns of the eternal kingdom. With what praise does the ancient history follow up the steadfast ends of the Maccabees; with what honour of death is Judas proclaimed, and that phalanx of faithful brethren; on what lips is the people that was consumed upon the mountain celebrated.
(Greek:) And all these powers, being for the guarding of the law likenesses and shadows of things to come, were deemed worthy of so many examples; but we in the fathers have seen, have handled, have proved, whom we shall follow. What does not befit the subject? What is discordant with the truth? What is not owed to the redeemer, according to our heart's desire? We share in these teachings; for the most wise Solomon says: blessed is he who preaches a word in the ear of the obedient. It is joy indeed to converse with the willing, and to urge to the right way those who do not resist. For we hold as a pledge of the faith...
(Greek:) ...your constancy confessed by your letters, by which, separated from the corruption of the transgressors, you return to the doctrines and commands of the apostolic see, having entered, though late, upon the way of truth. But blessed be God, who does not forget unto the end, who chastens both now and then, and does not endure that the sheep of the united flock be torn apart by the rapacity of the plotting wolves — who, through his tempered severity, disregards neither the safety of his own nor their salvation. (Latin:) But is it a wonder if, when the sheep had left that one and true shepherd, the crafty, bloody, and rapacious one troubled them, now scattered, with his snares?
Those who forsake their own protection expose themselves to the perils by which they may be torn. Therefore now at least stand fast with solid steps in the way of the fathers, to which you have returned. The mercy of God will be able to ascribe to your reward the correction of others also, if by you they are led to what is right. But wholly tear yourselves away from the mire in which the immersed heretics are held; and shaking off the uncleanness of the clinging dust, condemn with religious detestation, in general, all who turn aside from the apostolic doctrines. There is no communion of darkness with light, nor do those who walk by the straight paths join their footsteps with the error of them that go astray.
The bond of faith must be held fast, and the contagion from a perfidious society must be avoided; because, according to the apostle, just as he who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit, so he who cleaves to a harlot becomes one body. The virtues love their own colleges; and impiety plunges into the deep those who cleave to it along with itself. Before our eyes, in our mouth, in our very hands are the doctrines of the fathers, which we command to be guarded: daily the venerable councils bind us to their preservation. It is prolix to unravel all things one by one: the Council of Chalcedon, in which the reverence of all is contained, but also the venerable Leo's institutes, brought forth from the very heart of the apostles, it behoves us both to know and to guard.
In these is the standard of the faith, in these the bulwarks of truth, in these Christ is recognized, in these the hope and cause of our redemption is preserved. This is that (in Greek:) way of the fathers to which you have returned; stand fast. For the mercy of God will be able to ascribe the correction of others likewise to your reward, if by you...
(Greek:) ...they be guided to what is right, to reckon it so; but tear yourselves wholly away from the mire in which the heretics, having been swallowed up, are held fast, and shaking off the uncleanness of the clinging dust, condemn generally, with pious repudiation, all those who turn aside from the apostolic doctrines. There is no communion of darkness with the light, nor do those who walk on the straight ways join their own footsteps with the wandering of those who turn aside. The bond of faith must be held fast, and the corruption from unfaithful communion must be shunned; because, according to the apostle, in the manner that he who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit, so he who cleaves to the harlot becomes one body.
(Greek:) The virtues love one another's fellowships and those who cleave to them; but impiety sinks into the deep those who cleave along with itself. Before our eyes, in our mouth, in our very hands are the doctrines of the fathers, which we command to be guarded; daily, for their guarding, the venerable councils gird us about. It is prolixity to make all things manifest one by one — the decrees of the Council of Chalcedon, in which the reverence of all is contained. But also the definitions brought forth by the most venerable Leo from the very heart of the apostles it behoves us both to know and to keep. In these is the sign of the faith, in these the bulwarks of truth, in these Christ...
(Greek:) ...is recognized; in these is the hope and the foundation of our redemption. (Latin:) which we read of in the apostle — the foundation, upon which he deceives himself, whoever shall attempt to build up wood, hay, and stubble, to be consumed by the fires. By these councils the poisons of Eutyches and Nestorius have been slain, who, while with mutually contrary disputation they strive against the salutary mystery of the Lord's dispensation, agree under a certain equality of sacrilege — unlike in their opinions, and concordant in impiety:
Of whom the one, unwilling that Mary the Virgin should be the mother of God, divides in our Lord the things that are united; the other, while he confounds the proper and certain attributes of the natures that come together, extinguishes the mystery of our redemption — the one touching upon the sect of Photinus, the other upon the madness of Manes, by an impious kinship. Against these, most beloved brethren, defend the remedies provided with that virtue of soul with which you see the heretics fighting in impiety unto their own overthrow. Let not the assertion of truth be sluggish. With what zeal ought salvation to be loved, when you see deadly perdition thus loved? Let it be a shame that the laws of truth should be asserted sluggishly, when errors are defended so obstinately.
The authors, indeed, of the evil inventions of which we have already spoken, the synodical decrees pursue with just condemnations; but we admonish you equally to shun their followers as well. These the Apostolic See has both found to be the equals of their originators and has joined to the condemned: Dioscorus and Timothy the parricide, Peter of Alexandria, Acacius of Constantinople with his followers, and Peter of Antioch too, like the one aforesaid in error as in name; and likewise the poisons brought into the synods after the manner of Eutyches and Nestorius, who, contending with reasoning set against the dominical economy of the saving mystery, wrangle under a purpose opposed to their own...
...they agree in an equal sacrilege, one in their opinions and akin in impiety; of whom the one, unwilling that the Virgin Mary should be the Mother of God, divides what in our Lord is united, while the other, in confounding the true properties of the natures that have come together, does away with the mystery of our redemption; another kindles anew the cult of Photinus, another the madness of Manes, joined together in impious kinship. Against these, beloved brothers, remedies have been devised; vindicate the truth by the power of reason, since, for their overthrow, you behold the heretics warring against piety; do not grow slack in...
...of doctrine. With what zeal ought the truth of salvation to be loved, when you see deadly ruin being cherished? Let us be ashamed to lodge slothfully within the laws of truth, while errors are persistently maintained. And the authors of the evil inventions of which we spoke before, the synodical decrees pursue with just condemnations; but we likewise remind you to shun their followers as well, whom the apostolic chair has both apprehended as near neighbours to...
...their teachers, and joined them to the condemned: Dioscorus and Timothy the parricide, and Peter of Alexandria, Acacius of Constantinople with his own followers, likewise Peter of Antioch, like the one aforesaid in error and in name, but also Severus of the same place and no less of the same venom, Xenaias of Hierapolis, Cyrus of Edessa, Peter of Apamea — men to be condemned now not for their own perdition only but for that of others also, who, while they entangle themselves unceasingly in the filth of their opinions, have by their teaching defiled others as well with what they themselves have ill-attained. With the wholesomeness of a general charge I admonish you:
Whatever is brought forth against the rules of the Fathers out of any commentaries whatsoever, cast it away. Let no one move you with unfitting precepts or novel institutions; for if they are worldly men, they cannot hold the churches, since it befits them rather to learn than to teach. For it is unlawful to bring strange libations to the holy altars, because God has prescribed fixed bounds for religious observances even at the very beginnings of His worship. Between the Levites and His people He divided the office; one is the power of laymen, another the ministries of the priests. He provoked the Lord rather than appeased Him, who, as a profaner of holy things, brought strange fire into the divine sanctuaries.
Who is there that could arrogate to himself, in offices that belong to another, the authority to command, when it is beyond doubt that he who offered the honour that was due was punished for the mere presumption of the office? For Uzziah reverence and administration would have abided, had he, warned by the example of so great a strictness, tempered his conduct better by fearing rather than by usurping sacred things. Whatever is brought forth against the rules of the Fathers by any records whatsoever, cast it away. Let no one disturb you with wearisome commands or newer decrees; for if they are worldly, they cannot hold the churches, since it befits them to be taught rather than to teach. For it is unlawful to offer strange libations at the venerable altars, since by pious injunctions He has fixed clear bounds...
God, in like manner, prescribed among them, at the very outset, the bounds of His own honour. Between the Levites and His own people He divided the ministry; one is the power of men, another the services of the priests. He provoked the Lord rather than propitiated Him who, as a profaner, brought strange fire into the divine sanctuaries and introduced it amid the holy things. Who is he that, in ordinances belonging to another, could take upon himself the authority to command? For it is not doubtful that one who offered the honour that was owed was punished for the mere undertaking of the ministry. In the temple Uzziah remained in reverence and in service; if, admonished by the example of so great a...
...of rebuke, had he feared the sacred ordinances rather than cut them asunder, he would have reigned the better. But had he tempered his ways for the better with religious institutions by fearing rather than by presuming — yet, while the obstinate profaner does not desist even when the keepers of the temple forbid him, he was, amid the very altars, smitten with the loathsomeness of leprosy and lost the offices of the kingship, in that he usurped the ministries of the priest. Let them know, therefore, that those things are not acceptable to God which are seized from His commandments by presumptuous men, since He kept back one man, by his punishment, for a showing-forth of a sentence of living disgrace, while a swift flame consumed others. But if there are things conceived under any colour of religion, they can have no strength, seeing that they strive against authorities so great. Paul the apostle cries aloud:
'Even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach a gospel to you otherwise than that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema.' Nor is it enough to have said this once; he repeats the wholesome charge: 'as we have said before, so now I say again: if anyone shall have preached to you a gospel beside that which you have received, let him be anathema.' Let him, therefore, keep the sentence passed for the preservation of the faith, whoever follows the apostolic discipline. And indeed care has not been lacking to us, for by the office of a twofold legation we have brought forward whatever was humble in the entreaties, whatever was reasonable in the pleadings, whatever was wholesome in the mandates. But is the way of justice therefore to be neglected, because faithlessness loves its own errors with obstinacy? The fallen are not to be joined with those who are falling:
Let those perish without contagion to us who turn not away from their impieties even when their error has been chastised. Given on the fourth day before the Ides of February, after the consulship of the most distinguished Agapitus. — Whatever things have been received under some show of religion can have no strength, being overthrown by authorities so great. Paul the apostle cries out: 'Even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you beyond what we have preached to you, let him be anathema.' Nor, having said this once, was he content, but he took up again the sound commandment: 'as we said before, so now I say again, if anyone preach to you beyond what you have received, let him be anathema.' Whoever, therefore, follows the apostolic teaching keeps the sentence brought forth for the guarding of the faith.
And to us, indeed, care was not lacking; for by the ministry of the twofold embassy we brought forward whatever was humble in the entreaties, whatever was reasonable in the pleadings of justice, whatever was wholesome in the mandates. But is the way of justice on that account to be neglected, since faithlessness loves its own errors out of madness? One cannot be joined to the stumbling of those who fall; let them perish without harm to us who, not turning aside from their own impieties, depart not even when their error is scourged. AND IN ANOTHER HAND: May God keep you in health, beloved children. Given on the fourth day before the Ides of February, in the consulship of the most illustrious Agapitus.