教宗書信集 第 1 章 第 6/50 段

And when both I and the man of note, the vicar, urged on by the people, had gone forth to the forum of Vespasian, that we might persuade the multitude of both parties to tranquillity, suddenly armed slaves with weapons and stones — some even with iron — attacked the people of the party of Eulalius, who had assembled unarmed to learn what had been commanded concerning the bishop of Spoleto; and those who had come prepared against the unprepared so wounded them that they believed even I and the man of note, the vicar, were to be assailed, while in their seditious fury they admitted absolutely no reason. Had not the divine power been at hand to deliver us, and had we not, going out through a more secluded quarter, avoided the cast of stones and the assault of the conspiring multitude, we could by no means have escaped.

The greater part of these are agreed to have been slaves, of whom several who were recognized and seized must be examined. Hence, as it was my duty, I have hastened to report to Your Excellency, so that Your Greatness may decree a definite end to the matter once the facts of what was done are known. For when both holy Eulalius had made his entry, and on the third day the bishop of Spoletum had followed, and no instructions from Your Virtues had reached me which I might follow, an uproar of the whole populace arose, which raged against itself and against the peril of the judges; and unless by a swift reply, before the venerable day of Easter, you command what ought to be done, the peoples threaten that they will fight one another, since each side reckons itself about to be shut out from the Lateran basilica.

Therefore, lest anything adverse befall (which may the felicity of Your Sublimity avert), I beg that by a clear command you may see fit to exclude the perilous obstinacy of this frenzied contention. Given on the tenth day before the Kalends of April. (30.) LETTER OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS COUNT CONSTANTIUS TO SYMMACHUS, PREFECT OF THE CITY. That we may be able to learn each matter for certain, and that the instigators of the factions may not lie hidden from a faithful messenger and inspector, we have dispatched our chancellor Vitulus, that he may with swift haste convey the words and judgment of our most invincible lord the prince to Your Eminence and to the people; and this we advise, that whatever is contained in the sacred authorities be violated by no rashness, and that whatever has been commanded be carried into effect with swift diligence.

lest the august clemency, which is now acknowledged to have deferred the matter, being moved by the vigor of its majesty, delay not to amend it. (31.) COPY OF THE SACRED LETTER TO SYMMACHUS, PREFECT OF THE CITY. Since, to heal the error of the first disturbance, our clemency, desirous of restoring peace, had devised this kind of counsel: that, until an absolute sentence might proceed concerning the confirmation of the urban priesthood, each of those two men, on account of whom the tumult had earlier grown, being separated from residence in the most sacred city, should hang upon the expectation of the coming judgment for the span within which it was to be contained, this being clearly expressed to either party — we cannot with equanimity dissemble that a public war, well-nigh, has been declared, by which the commands of our clemency were to be trodden underfoot;

and that the head of stirring up this had proved to be Eulalius, who overstepped the commands and, according to the order of the instructions, would not suffer himself to be absent even for a little while, most dear father Symmachus. Wherefore let Your Sublimity know that we have determined this: that both the salutary superior order of the command and the moderate ordinance of the synod ought to be preserved; which we judge cannot be done otherwise, unless Eulalius be by all means pressed to depart from the city with all speed, so that he may not, by his presence, furnish incitements to an unruly populace, nor become a cause of death to the innocent. And of this he ought to have no doubt.

If he persist in this obstinacy of presumption, not only is the sentence already pronounced upon his standing, but a sentence must also be pronounced concerning the peril of his life (for guilt which, when foretold, is not guarded against, deserves no pardon), and he shall have from this no excuse, in that he alleges he is being held back by the people against his will. But if any from the number of the clergy shall judge that communion is to be given to Eulalius while judgment is pending, let him know that he is to be condemned by an equal sentence; and as for laymen, who after the interdict of our mildness shall think Eulalius's communion is to be sought — those of more honorable rank shall suffer the penalty of proscription. But slaves shall undergo capital punishment, nor shall the masters be exempted from this peril.

And as for the leading men of the districts, unless they subdue and bridle the spirit of the disordered populace, let them know that they shall be seized and subjected to the last judgment. But the bishop of Spoletum, as had lately been determined, shall on the holy days of Easter fulfill the order of the festal solemnity. To him alone we decree that the Lateran church shall lie open for the celebration of the mysteries, the rest who shall presume to attempt this being driven off. Assuredly, if the aforesaid priest of the city of Spoletum... in his place we admonish that one is to be received who will complete the order of the holy mysteries. And throughout all the title-churches and places which are frequented by crowded assembly, these things which we have decreed shall be published,

so that it may be plain to all both that we have been unwilling for any turbulent thing to be perpetrated, and that we have thus far waited for the disturbances to be composed. Let Your Sublimity know for certain that the chief registrar and the rest of the office which attends upon your acts, shall not only be afflicted with the losses of a most grievous fine, but shall also be allotted capital punishment, unless he shall have hastened to lend strenuous effort to bring the decrees of our clemency to effect. Given on the seventh day before the Kalends of April, at Ravenna. (32.) COPY OF THE REPORT OF SYMMACHUS, PREFECT OF THE CITY, TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS COUNT CONSTANTIUS, PATRICIAN. To the lord ever illustrious and in all things magnificent, and deservedly sublime and most eminent patron Constantius, Symmachus.

As soon as the sacred commands of our lord, the most invincible prince, were delivered, forthwith, as had been agreed, the due service was rendered. But Eulalius, with that same obstinacy with which he entered the city without sacred command, being constrained even to depart, refused with equal stubbornness through all the authorities. For at the evening hours, through the urban office, that which the invincible emperor had commanded was made known to him on that very day on which it was delivered, my lord ever most illustrious and most sacred, magnificent and deservedly sublime and most eminent patron. When he had read it, he charged that he would treat the matter more carefully, yet, though urgently admonished, he took no care to go out.

But on another day, being again admonished through the whole staff even in the nocturnal hours, having gathered a multitude, he thought with rash daring that the Lateran basilica should be invaded. But after consultation had been held with the nobles, it was enjoined upon all the appointed offices that he should be driven off. For the honorable vicar too had resolved to go to that same basilica, but at first, through excessive terror, he could not approach. And I myself, both with the corporati dispatched and with the whole office, could not go there, lest anyone envious should stir up against me the odium of religion. Yet, with your Excellency preserved, when many of the corporati and the leading men of the districts had burst in, who serve the imperial commands,

Eulalius, put to flight from that church, was expelled from the city, and with attendants assigned to him, was directed thither where he had been ordered to reside. Order was also given that the religious man, holy bishop Achilleus, with the quiet that had been commanded, when Eulalius had been cast out, should, without uproar of the people, in reverence for the holy days, celebrate. For to guard the Lateran basilica I posted attendants, lest it be handed over to any other. Of Eulalius's party also several clerics were seized, the authors of the sedition; concerning whom I await what may be commanded. And since in the meantime I judged that I ought generally to report to Your Virtues what has been done, whatever shall have been done in the following days,

for the quiet of the city which Your Felicity governs, I shall report one by one, according to the truth and order of the matters, by better tidings. (33.) COPY OF THE SACRED LETTER TO SYMMACHUS, PREFECT OF THE CITY. Our Serenity has acted with especial moderation, that presumption might not be able to find a place. For therefore was the inquiry deferred to the judgment of the venerable priests, so that whatever religion, whatever truth demanded, this a tranquil disputation might decree without any disturbance. But the text of the report has shown that by Eulalius's usurpation, against the sentence of the venerable synod, many things were unlawfully committed: he who, by his presence furnishing to the people the occasion of frenzy, wished the whole to perish, whatever our moderation preserves.

For although, by our ordinance and the sentence of the bishops, of whom the greater multitude had gathered in the synod, and by the consent likewise of the parties and by their profession, it had been determined that this should be done — namely, that whoever should have entered the city to incite the people should know himself to be specially condemned — forgetful of himself, he proved by the present deed what beginning he seemed to have had. Since therefore it is agreed that this man, after so many offenses, has rightly been driven from the city, to which the judgment both of our clemency and of the bishops seems to have determined that he ought not to have access:

the venerable man, bishop Boniface, to whose moderation we have rightly judged that our authority ought to be joined, most dear and most beloved father Symmachus — let Your Sublimity know that we have determined he ought to enter the city, so that under his governance the reverence of the religious law may be fulfilled with wonted moderation. Given on the third day before the Nones of April, received on the sixth before the Ides of April. (34.) COPY OF THE REPORT OF SYMMACHUS, PREFECT OF THE CITY, CONCERNING THE ENTRY OF POPE BONIFACE, TO THE PRINCE ABOVE-WRITTEN. Whatsoever things are confirmed with God as their author, are deservedly set forth by the divine judgment of Your Piety.

For lately, when the sacred authority of Your Clemency had gone forth to me your servant, by which, all ambiguity being removed, Your Majesty strengthened the priesthood of the venerable man, bishop Boniface, the things commanded proved so welcome to all, that both the most ample order and the Roman people approved them, O lords and emperors Honorius and Theodosius, pious, fortunate, renowned triumphators, ever Augusti. For when the heavenly decrees had been recited by me to the peoples and, by edicts placed everywhere according to custom, published, so great was the favor and joy of the whole city that all, with fitting congratulation, testified that both religion had been restored to them and the security of quiet bestowed.

And so, after an interval of two days, the aforementioned venerable bishop entered the city with all the populace running to meet him, just as Your Serenity had established: the services of my office too were by no means lacking. Nor does any dissension of the peoples now remain, since all have acquiesced in the divine judgment and in the will of Your Majesty. Therefore, with partisan zeal ceasing, all have begun to feel one and the same thing, which, admonished by the command of God, you have established; and by the acclamations which are subjoined the Roman people has attested the causes of its joy, and does not cease to give thanks to Your Serenity day by day — whose provision, as it protects the peace of the world, so has it restored quiet to the city and concord to the people. (35.) COPY OF THE SACRED LETTER TO THE PROCONSUL OF AFRICA.

THE VICTOR HONORIUS, RENOWNED TRIUMPHATOR, EVER AUGUSTUS, TO LARGUS, PROCONSUL. Among all our cares, those things which we judge to pertain to the priesthood trouble us no less. For when the controversy was being handled concerning the confirmation of the bishop of the Eternal City, and those bishops who were assembled together reckoned themselves too few for pronouncing sentence on so great a matter, it had seemed good, as the sacred documents ran, that more bishops should come from the African or Gallican provinces — with this reasoning, namely, that in the meantime nothing should be presumed against that which our sentence had ordained or which the sentence of the synod seemed to have established. But, all these things being scorned, Eulalius by sole usurpation thought the delay should be seized upon.

He, as was fitting, is agreed to have been expelled by our authority, and holy bishop Boniface strengthened. And since the matter is concluded, our clemency judged it incongruous if the bishops should suffer the injury of a voyage or a journey. Wherefore let Your Excellency know that the synod has been dissolved. Admonish therefore each of the priests, the sacred addresses being first sent, by your authority, that they may know this ordinance is to be observed, which enjoins that each should be free for prayers in his own church, as is fitting, seeing that the cause seems now to have been terminated by the best judgment. Given on the seventh day before the Ides of April. (36.) LETTER OF LARGUS, PROCONSUL, TO AURELIUS, BISHOP OF CARTHAGE. To the lord, honorable father, bishop Aurelius, Largus.

Concerning the merit of the priest, whom God proved fit for his own, the contest has ceased. The princely clemency has therefore confirmed the holy and venerable man Boniface, bishop of the city of Rome, at whose election it lately commanded Your Holiness to be summoned, as the sacred addresses, uttered with veneration, attest. It behooves you, therefore, speedily to visit your peoples and churches — you for whom the necessity of a voyage has been taken away. AND IN ANOTHER HAND: May divine favor keep you safe for many years, my lord father, deservedly honorable. (37.) LETTER OF THE EMPEROR HONORIUS TO BONIFACE, BISHOP OF ROME, BY WHICH HE ESTABLISHES THAT IF TWO BISHOPS BE AGAIN ORDAINED, BOTH SHOULD BE EXPELLED FROM THE CITY.

THE VICTOR HONORIUS, RENOWNED TRIUMPHATOR, EVER AUGUSTUS, TO THE HOLY AND VENERABLE BONIFACE, POPE OF THE ETERNAL CITY. The writings of Your Beatitude we have received with the congratulation due to reverence, rendering the greatest thanks to almighty God, that we have learned Your Sanctity, after long infirmity, restored to the wished-for health; and therefore, at the return of the venerable men, we mark our joy by the attestation of the sacred documents, and we ask that by daily prayers Your Apostolate may deign to expend its zeal and vow for our salvation and empire. But know that this has sufficiently pleased Our Piety:

that Your Sanctity is solicitous concerning the disturbance of the churches or the people; which, that it may by no means be able to come to pass, our clemency has believed sufficiently provided for. Finally, with Your Beatitude proclaiming it, we wish this to reach the notice of all the clergy: that if perchance anything should befall your religion — which we do not wish — by the human lot, all may know that they must cease from ambitions; and if perchance two, against divine right, in the temerity of contending, should be ordained, none of them shall be at all a priest, but that man alone shall remain in the apostolic seat whom, by a new ordination, the divine judgment and the consent of the whole shall have chosen from the number of the clergy.

Wherefore this must be observed: that all keep a tranquil mind and peaceful spirits at the admonition of our Serenity, nor attempt anything by seditious conspiracies, since it is certain that the partisan zeal of neither side will profit. (38.) COPY OF THE SACRED LETTER OF HONORIUS AUGUSTUS, SENT TO THE PRINCE OF THE EAST, ARCADIUS. CONCERNING THE PERSON OF THE HOLY BISHOP JOHN OF CONSTANTINOPLE. Although concerning the female image, by a novel example carried about through the provinces and spread through the whole world, I have by other letters advised the report of the detractors, that the rumor of a rival, by penitence for such a deed and by desistance from the design, might grow old, and that the public tongue might have nothing to carp at in the morals of the times;

and although also concerning the ruin of perishing Illyricum I have with pious affection disclosed to you that it is a grief to us why you were unwilling that we should learn of these losses to the commonwealth, and that they were reported by other informants rather than by the letters of Your Piety: yet it is not lawful for us to dissemble even this before Your Serenity — that in divine matters, not without dread of public peril, most recently something has come to pass, which rumor, ever the herald of evils, has not kept silent, and which, as the nature of men bears, being always excited by new mishaps to detraction, given the occasion of carping, exercises its malice against the times with the zeal of a perverse loquacity.

For it has been reported that lately at Constantinople, on the most sacred and venerable day of Easter, when religion, to be celebrated with a more chastened rite under the presence of the princes, had gathered almost all the peoples of the neighboring cities into the same place, the catholic churches were suddenly shut, the priests thrust into custody — so that at that time above all, when by princely indulgence the sorrowful prisons of the guilty are unbarred, a cruel prison should shut in the ministers of the pious law and of peace; and that all the mysteries were disturbed after the manner of war, that not a few were slain in the very sanctuaries of the church, and that so great a violence raged about the altars that both venerable bishops were thrust into exile, and human blood — which is unspeakable to utter — bedewed the heavenly sacraments.

At these things suddenly discovered, I confess we were disturbed. For who, in so bloody a crime, would not fear the offense of almighty God, or by what reasoning would he reckon himself to be outside the utmost peril of the Roman world and of all mortals, when the very author of our empire, and the governor of the commonwealth which he entrusted to us — almighty God — was believed to be angered by deeds altogether dire and execrable, O holy lords, brother and grandson of Augustus, venerable ones — since, if anything concerning the cause of religion were to be transacted among the prelates, it ought to have been an episcopal judgment? For to them pertains the interpretation of divine matters, to us the obedience of religion. But be it so — that the princely care presumed something more to itself concerning mystical and catholic questions:

was the indignation, once stirred, bound to proceed even to the exile of priests, even to the slaughter of men — so that where chaste prayers, where sincere vows, where unblemished sacrifices are offered, there the sword, which is not easily to be drawn even against the throat of the guilty, should unsheathe itself? By the very facts, at last, it is taught what the divine majesty has felt concerning these things. This indeed was the first sign of the present commotion, and would that it were the only one! For human trepidation, conscious to itself of so great a deed perpetrated, makes us dread something graver (which may almighty God avert) after the trials of terrible vengeance: I hear that the most sacred church, adorned by the wealth of so many emperors, noble with precious ornaments, with so great [devotion] of suppliant princes...

...blazed up, and that that unique light of the city of Constantinople, fallen into ashes, smoked with God not forbidding it (for he seems to execrate the defiled mysteries, and to have turned away his eyes from that place which blood had already stained, lest anyone might be able to beseech the heavenly piety beneath bloodstained altars); that the divine buildings too, noble with no lesser splendor, from the stirring up of the raging conflagration, the flame spreading itself more widely, were consumed; and that the ornaments which, wrought by our forefathers, adorned the public countenance, were burned up as by a kind of funeral of the city...

These things, although harassed by frequent injuries I ought to have kept silent, nor to admonish so faithfully a most closely joined brother and partners of the realm, yet, setting the tie of blood before the goad of a silent grief, I exhort and urge that these things, if it can be done, be corrected with morals amended for the future, and that the divine wrath, stirred up (as far as the matter reveals), be appeased by the assiduity of vows. Receive from me the highest token of simplicity: therefore I thought this should be intimated to Your Clemency, lest the very silence should make me suspect before anyone as of a hidden self-congratulation, and lest anyone should believe that I lend consent to such deeds, and that I, who have often warned lest they happen, should not grieve after they have been committed.

For who could be devoid of grief, who remembers himself a Christian, that so great a disturbance of religion has suddenly been brought in, that the whole state of the catholic faith must needs be tossed about? There was a cause among the bishops which ought to be settled by counsel conferred and deliberated; legates were sent from both sides to the priests of the Eternal City and of Italy; a sentence was awaited, from the authority of all, to shape the rule of discipline (it ought surely to have remained intact, nor should anything have been altered while the deliberated definition proceeded): when meanwhile a certain wondrous precipice of haste blazed forth, so that, the letters of the priests not being awaited, who had been consulted by the mutual legation of the parties,

the prelates, the matters not examined, were thrust into exile, being handed over to punishment before they had experienced the sentence of episcopal judgment. In fine, how premature that condemnation was, the outcome proved; for those whose authority was awaited, peaceable communion being granted to bishop John, judged that concord should be ratified, and thought that no one should be repelled from fellowship before judgment.

What now remains, other than that schisms, dissociated in diverse directions, should tear apart the catholic faith; other than that heresies, ever hostile to communion, should be born from so great a variety of things done — so that it ought now scarcely to be imputed to the people, if perchance they depart into discordant parties through the diversity of sects, when from the public authority the material of discords has been sent ahead, and a certain enlivened tinder for nourishing sedition? Lest this should break out afresh into some great destruction of the human race, vows must be made, that a patient God, toward human lapses, may prosper and favor a matter ill managed. For, as far as in us lies, we can fear what has been done:

as far as regards the piety of an ever-appeasable God, there will not be an impunity granted to merit, but a granting of pardon. (39.) LETTER OF MAXIMUS THE TYRANT TO VALENTINIAN AUGUSTUS THE YOUNGER. AGAINST THE ARIANS AND MANICHAEANS. Were not the faith of our clemency toward Your Serenity single and sincere, and the grace of full concord, I am confident that these things too, which are now said to be done in the regions of Your Tranquillity, might be to the advantage of my interests: the disturbance and convulsion of the catholic law. For what could be so much to be wished by anyone, if he were an enemy, as that you should devise something against the churches of God — that is, against God himself — and that, where the error is inexcusable, there you should wish to sin?

But since to our Serenity the religion of God is greater than that we should reckon it desirable — either for it to be violated, or [desirable] to us by even the bitterest enemy — and since our care toward your most serene youth is so close, so assiduous, that things rightly done delight us more than your errors: therefore we have believed that Your Perpetuity should be admonished, that, the reason of the supreme deity being looked into, and the power of that majesty itself being considered, you may with a solicitous mind weigh what you ought to do.

For I hear (for rumor does not suffer to be hidden, especially what is enacted upon peoples) that by new edicts of Your Clemency violence has been inflicted upon the catholic churches, that priests are besieged in the basilicas, that a fine has been imposed, capital punishment added, and the most holy law overthrown under the name of some law or other. How grave this is, you will be able to perceive, if you will be willing to consider the greatness of God. I blush, if I should wish to bring forward any reasoning that Your Serenity may believe, and to plead God's cause. For what, if this alone were the case? For if you should change what has now through so many ages grown together and been confirmed, would you seem to be stirring up but a small discord?

By the very human laws, in this mortality our custom holds reverence, and in a matter now ancient and established it is a reproach to have done anything new. All Italy and Africa believe in this sacrament; in this faith glory Gaul, Aquitania, all Spain, venerable Rome herself, whose primacy consists also in this — that it acknowledged God as it wished to follow him. I myself will confess (which is not said without sorrow): Illyricum alone dissented. Would that there did not survive an example of what it had erred in! Would that that town of Mursa were remaining safe from the Arian law, and had not fallen to the judgment of a wretched error of former days, so that, because it had schooled the very authors, it might collapse by the especial vengeance of an angered deity!

Perilously, believe me, are divine things tempted. The deified Valentinian of venerable memory, father of Your Clemency, ruled faithfully in this faith. He wished to touch nothing which he saw well established. These men certainly were bishops already under that same emperor: what so great a change, that those who before were priests, are now judged sacrilegious? Consecrated by the same precepts, the same sacraments, they believe in the same faith by which they believed before. Or does Your venerable Serenity think that a religion once conceived in the minds of men — which God himself established — can be uprooted? How great discords will be stirred up from this? How great contention will arise? How frequent and pestilent seditions?

How great and how far-reaching-to-God will be the vows of the righteous, when among Christians — which is unspeakable to utter — a certain image of persecution is born? You will see in what part you interpret this assiduity of ours; assuredly by no greater kind [of proof] can you prove my care concerning Your Clemency, than if I exhort you to desist: for I think you may recognize that no enemy would counsel this. I desire that you understand these things to have been spoken by us affectionately. I hope that you will believe it.

Whence it is altogether equitable that you should not pluck up what is dedicated to the holy deity, but restore all Italy and venerable Rome and the rest of the provinces to their own churches, to their own priests, nor thrust yourself in the midst — since it is more justly right that those who have departed from the catholic church by the Arian interpretation should change their error by the true religion, than that they should inflict their own depravity upon those who think rightly. (40.) THE VICTOR MAGNUS MAXIMUS, PERPETUAL TRIUMPHATOR, EVER AUGUSTUS, TO SIRICIUS, FATHER. We have received the letters of Your Holiness, which were most welcome to us, and which clearly befitted both the name of the priest and the dignity of the most splendid city.

But concerning the catholic faith, on which you were willing to consult our clemency, the greater and special judgment of the divinity that I experience toward me, the greater care of it do I confess myself to have — I who, namely, both ascended to the empire straightway from the very font of salvation, and to whom in all endeavors and successes God has ever been present as favorer, and whose protector and guardian may he deign to be today and, as I hope, perpetually, most dear father. As for the rest, concerning Agroecius, whom you mention to have ascended undeservedly to the grade of the presbyterate, what can I render more reverent to our catholic religion, than that concerning this very man, of what sort he may seem to be, the catholic priests should judge?