講道與書信 第 155 章

Chapter I. — Having received the letter of our brother and fellow bishop Proterius, prelate of Alexandria, I have recognized without doubt that he is devoted to Catholic doctrine and that with an upright heart he opposes the heretics; so that we may rightly hope that he will be of profit to the Church over which he presides, both by the example of his conduct and by the instilling of the faith. But because he is stirred up by no small labour on account of the factions of the Eutychians, who are said to press upon any simple or unlearned persons my letter sent to Flavian of blessed memory, corrupted by a deceitful interpretation, in such a way that certain passages seem to agree with the Nestorian error:

in order that this malice may not be able to boast over the disturbance of the faithful, I lay this task upon your fraternity: that you deign, by a careful translation, to render the same letter of mine — which the concordant examples of our forefathers testify to be in agreement in all things with apostolic doctrine — from Latin into Greek, so that the most glorious and most faithful prince may transmit it under the impression of his own seal to the judges at Alexandria, as I have requested, to be recited to the Christian people in the Church, together with the preachings of the holy men who have presided over that same Church:

so that those who are said to waver in ignorance, once the truth has been ascertained, may no longer be dragged into error by perverse persuasions. But lest anything should escape your fraternity, the copies appended to this letter will show what things I have directed in writing to the most clement emperor and to the bishop of the city of Alexandria himself. Chapter II. — Concerning the coming Passover, as I have often already written, be watchful; and having more opportunely informed my most clement prince in person, see that he makes known to himself what has been written in reply, since the days press upon us that we may know which day we ought to assign in the Festal Letters, and so that the reckoning of all in this matter may be more clearly resolved. Given on the fourth day before the Ides of March, in the consulship of the most illustrious men Aetius and Studius. Chapter I.

— Indeed, hoping that every consolation and aid whatsoever, which the condition of a toilsome life hedged about with cares might demand, was placed in your blessedness, I had believed that the burden of all my anxiety would deservedly be lighter from that source; but now, more keenly than all other things, an anxiety has pressed upon me which the long and unaccustomed interruption of letters from your holiness has bred — especially since letters that had been written by you to others were shown to me, letters that produced a greater increase of grief in me who so frequently desired to enjoy your words: that I might fulfil, by obeying you, those things which in every way seemed pleasing to your most perfect judgments. For far be it from me that I should oppose those things which had been enjoined upon me by letter.

Yet because the most pious and most Christian prince, who by the good of his most prudent providence governs all human affairs as much as he everywhere excels in the philosophy of divine virtues — with which he never ceases to be zealous in emulation of piety — while he so guides the human race that by his zeal for religion he renders it more attentive to God, read to me the letters of your blessedness; I straightway fulfilled the things contained in them, as pleasing to you, for either the advantage of common peace, or that which was fitting, urged me to do it. Chapter II. — And indeed the most reverend Aetius, presbyter of our holy Church, has been restored to us in his former place and ecclesiastical honour: himself modestly giving whatever answer belongs to our bishop.

But Andreas, who had been honoured not by promotion from us but by the rank conferring the dignity of archdeacon, has been separated from the Church, together with those who had acted against Flavian, our father and bishop of holy memory; who also had formerly been of the party of the most treacherous Eutyches; although, by very many excuses and by their own subscriptions, which they had appended to the letters of your holiness, they now seemed to have given satisfaction for the past — up to the point, namely, until whatever should be pleasing to you concerning these men should be ordained. Chapter III. —.

Therefore, since your blessedness considers how pleasing to the Lord Christ himself — who is our peace — the joining of our charity will be, and how greatly the soul of the most faithful prince will exult, and how likewise all the people of God and the Church of Christ will remain free and far from all discord, may you deign to gladden us with your letters, by which we may be enabled to be perfected in that affection which we already know to be implanted and abundantly vigorous in your most prudent heart: so that, having eagerly received the letters of your holiness, we may both give thanks to the Lord our God, Christ, who has burst the bonds of every difficulty, and pay to him our solemn vows on behalf of your blessedness. Chapter IV.

— But concerning those things which were decreed for the sake of the See of Constantinople in the recent universal synod at Chalcedon, let your blessedness hold this for certain: that there is no fault in me, a man who from the very beginning of my life has always loved leisure and quiet, keeping myself in humility; but it was the most reverend clergy of the Church of Constantinople who had this zeal, and the most religious priests of those regions who were of one accord in this and were helpers to one another; although even so the whole force and confirmation of what was enacted was reserved to the authority of your blessedness.

Let your holiness therefore know this as well ascertained: that nothing has been done by me in this affair — I who have always believed that I ought to shun all the fickleness of boasting and all desire for coveting what belongs to others. All the brethren in Christ who are with your holiness, both I myself and mine most heartily greet. And the subscription in Greek letters.