Now what our resolution was, we have appended in the writing of our humble selves. And this was the first matter to be treated, concerning our life and benefit: that, since He who is One died and rose again for the many, the time itself should be observed by all with so devout a mind that no divisions or dissensions might arise in so great an act of devotion. We resolve, therefore, that the Lord's Passover be observed throughout the whole world on one and the same day. Concerning those also who have been ordained ministers in any places whatsoever, that they remain in those same places. For it concerns those who cast away their arms in time of peace: it was resolved that they abstain from communion. Concerning charioteers of the circus who are faithful, it was resolved that, so long as they drive, they be separated from communion;
Concerning theatrical performers, it was resolved that, so long as they so act, they be separated from communion. It concerns those who are placed in sickness and wish to believe: it was resolved that hands be laid upon them. Concerning governors, however, who are faithful and rise to a governorship, it was thus resolved that, when they have been promoted, they receive ecclesiastical letters of communion, yet on this condition: that, in whatever places they hold office, care for them be taken by the bishops of that same place; and if they begin to act against discipline, then at last they be excluded from communion. And concerning those likewise who wish to engage in public affairs, the same applies.
But concerning Africa, in that they follow their own peculiar law of rebaptizing, it was resolved that, if any heretic comes to the Church, they question him on the Creed; and if they perceive that he was baptized in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, only a hand be laid upon him; but if, being questioned on the Creed, he does not confess this Trinity, then he is rightly baptized, and so forth. Then, growing weary, he ordered all to return to their seats. Amen. V. Letter of Constantine to the Catholic bishops. Constantine Augustus to the Catholic bishops, his dearest brethren, greeting!
The eternal and devout, incomprehensible mercy of our God by no means permits the human condition to wander long in darkness, nor does it suffer the hateful wills of certain men to prevail to such a degree, but, once more opening with His most splendid lights the path of salvation, He grants them to be turned to the rule of righteousness. For I have come to know this by many examples, and I measure these very things from my own self. For there were first in me things that seemed to lack righteousness, nor did I think that any supernal power saw what I carried within the secret places of my breast. Indeed these things, as I have said, what fortune did they deserve to obtain? Surely one overflowing with all evils. But Almighty God, seated upon the watchtower of heaven, bestowed what I did not deserve:
Truly now the things which His heavenly benevolence has granted to me, His servant, can neither be told nor numbered. Most holy bishops of Christ the Savior, dearest brethren! I rejoice therefore, indeed I especially rejoice, that at last, a most just adjudication having been held, you have recalled to better hope and fortune those whom the malice of the devil seemed, by its wretched persuasion, to have turned away from the most splendid light of the Catholic law. O truly victorious providence of Christ the Savior, that it took thought even for these who, already falling away from the truth and in a manner taking up arms against it, had joined themselves to the heathen;
because, if even now with sincere faith they should be willing to render obedience to the most holy law, they will be able to understand how greatly it has been provided for them by the nod of God. And this indeed, most holy brethren, I hoped might be reproved even in those in whom the greatest hardness of soul is innate. But right adjudication availed nothing with them, nor did propitious divinity enter into their minds; for truly, not undeservedly has the clemency of Christ withdrawn far from those in whom it shines forth by manifest light that they are of such a kind that we discern them to be hateful even to the heavenly provision.
What so great madness persists in them, since with incredible arrogance they persuade themselves of things which it is not lawful either to speak or to hear, falling away from the right judgment that was given — by which judgment they have found out, through heavenly provision, that they demand my judgment! What force of malice persists in the breasts of these men. How often have they already, by their most shameless petitions to me myself, been overwhelmed with a fitting reply! Surely, if they had been willing to set this before their eyes, they would by no means have interposed this very thing. They demand my judgment — I, who myself await the judgment of Christ. For I declare, as the truth itself holds, that the judgment of priests ought to be so regarded as if the Lord Himself were seated and judging.
For it is not lawful for them to think or to judge anything other than what they have been taught by the teaching of Christ. What then do these malicious men think — agents, as I have truly said, of the devil? They seek out worldly things, forsaking the heavenly. O the rabid boldness of fury! As is wont to be done in the lawsuits of the heathen, they have lodged an appeal. Indeed the heathen, sometimes fleeing lesser tribunals where justice can be quickly grasped, are accustomed rather to betake themselves to greater tribunals, by interposing higher authority, and to resort to an appeal. What of these detractors of the law, who, refusing the heavenly tribunal, have thought that mine must be petitioned? Is this to think rightly of Christ the Savior?
Behold, now they are traitors; behold, without any sharper investigation, they have by themselves betrayed their own crimes. What humanity is to be perceived in those who have leapt out monstrously against God Himself? Indeed, dearest brethren, although these things seem to have been detected in them, nevertheless you who follow the way of the Lord and Savior, exercise patience, an option being still given to them as to what they think should be chosen. And if you see them persist in these same things, straightway set out together with those whom the Lord has judged worthy of His worship, and return to your own seats, and remember me, that our Savior may always have mercy upon me.
For the rest, I have dispatched my men to bring these same unspeakable deceivers of religion at once to my court, that there they may dwell, there foresee for themselves a death worse than death. I have also given suitable letters to him who oversees the vicarial prefecture throughout Africa, that, however many he finds like to this madness, he send them straightway to my court, lest under so great a brightness of our God those things any longer be done by them which could provoke the greatest wrath of the heavenly providence. May Almighty God grant you safe, according to my prayers and yours, throughout the ages, dearest brethren. VI. Letter of Constantine to the bishops of the party of Donatus. Constantine Augustus to the bishops.
A few days ago indeed, according to your petition, it had pleased me that you should return to Africa, so that there the whole case, which seems to belong to us against Caecilian, might be examined by my friends whom I had chosen, and might receive its due conclusion.
But after I had long pondered the matter and not without reason turned it over in my mind, this seemed to me especially fitting — since I know that certain of your number are turbulent enough and with obstinate mind by no means regard right judgment and the reasoning of unimpaired truth, and that through this it might perhaps come about that, if it be examined there, the case might not reach its end as is fitting and as the reasoning of truth demands, and that something of the sort might happen through your excessive obstinacy which would displease the heavenly Deity and greatly hinder my reputation, which I always desire to remain inviolate — it pleased me, as I have said, that Caecilian should rather come hither according to the prior arrangement, who I believe will soon be present according to my letters.
Moreover I promise you this: that if, in his presence, you yourselves prove anything of even one single crime or misdeed of his, it shall be regarded by me as if all the things you charge against him were proven to be true. May Almighty God grant perpetual security. VII. Letter of Constantine to Celsus, vicar of Africa. To Celsus, vicar of Africa. That Menalius perseveres in that madness which he had long since taken on, and that the rest, who, departing from the truth of God, have given themselves over to a most depraved error, the recent writings of your gravity also attested, in which you recounted that, cleaving to our command, you were restrained regarding the matter of their sedition and that tumult which they were preparing, dearest brother.
Whence — since from this it became plain that they themselves had plotted wicked things, in that, when I had determined to inquire most fully between them and Caecilian concerning the various allegations, they labored to withdraw themselves from my presence by undertaking flight — by this very most shameful deed they confessed that they were hastening to return to those things which they had done before and now persist in doing. But since it is established that by no means does each man wholly profit from his own crimes, even if their punishment be deferred for a little while, I have thought it must be enjoined upon your gravity that for the time being you let these same men alone and recognize that we must overlook them. But when this letter has been read, make it plain both to Caecilian and to these same men, that when, by the favor of the divine mercy, I shall have come to Africa;
I shall most fully demonstrate to all, both to Caecilian and to those who seem to act against him, by a clear judgment that has been read out, what and what kind of veneration is to be rendered to the supreme Deity, and what manner of worship appears to please Him; and, a diligent examination having also been applied, I shall most fully discover those things which now some, by enticements of the mind and by ignorance, think to conceal, and shall bring them forth into the light; and those very persons who stir up and do matters of this sort, so that the supreme God is not worshiped with that veneration which is fitting, I shall destroy and scatter.
And since it is quite clear that no one can attain the blessednesses of a martyr by that kind of conduct which appears alien to and incongruous with the truth of religion, those whom I shall recognize to be acting against right and against religion itself, and shall find guilty as violators of the veneration that is due, I shall, without any hesitation, cause to pay the deserved penalties of their madness and rash obstinacy; let them therefore know for certain what they ought to hold for the fullest faith, salvation also being invoked as witness, that I shall most diligently inquire, both concerning the people and concerning the clerics who are foremost, and shall judge that which is manifest to be most true and most religious, demonstrating also to these same men who and what kind of worship is to be rendered to the Deity.
For I believe that I can by no means otherwise escape the greatest guilt than by deeming that what is done wickedly must by no means be overlooked. What ought rather to be done by me, according to my purpose and the very office of a prince, than that, errors having been dispelled and all rashnesses cut away, I should accomplish presenting to Almighty God the true religion, and a worship that is universal, concordant, simple, and deserved? VIII. Letter of the praetorian prefects, Petronius and the others, to Celsus. Petronius Annianus and Julianus to Domitius Celsus, vicar of Africa. Whereas the bishops Lucianus, Capito, Fidentius, and Nasutius, and the presbyter Mammarius,
who, according to the heavenly command of our lord Constantine Maximus, ever-invincible Augustus, had come to the Gauls together with others of his law's men, his Dignity has commanded to return to their own homes; we have granted them, brother, the use of the public post together with a fitting provision of rations as far as the port of Arles, according to the order of the most clement prince's eternity, by which from there they may sail to Africa — which it befits your diligence to learn by our letter. We wish you, brother, most happy and in good health. Hilarius the chief official presented this on the fourth day before the Kalends of May at Trier. IX. Letter of Constantine to the Catholic Church. Constantine Augustus to all the bishops throughout Africa and to the people of the Catholic Church.
You know full well that, as far as faith required, as much as prudence availed, and as far as purity could, I have made the attempt through every office of humanity and moderation, that, according to the teachings of our law, that peace of the most holy brotherhood, the grace of which the supreme God has infused into the breasts of His servants, might, established through complete concord, be maintained. But because the reasoning of our intention could not subdue that force of infused wickedness, clinging though it is obstinately to the minds of a few, while this iniquity still favored its own patronage, so that they would by no means allow it to be wrested from them — that wherein they rejoiced to have done wrong — we must look on, while all this remains settled among a few, that it be softened toward the people by the mercy of Almighty God.
For from thence we ought to hope for a remedy, when all good vows and deeds are referred to Him. But while the heavenly medicine proceeds, our counsels must thus far be governed: that we cultivate patience, and whatever their insolence, after the custom of their intemperance, attempts or does, we endure all of it by the virtue of tranquillity. Let nothing be repaid by way of reciprocal injury; for to usurp with one's own hands the vengeance which we ought to reserve to God is the mark of a fool, especially since our faith ought to be confident that whatever it suffers from the fury of such men will avail before God to the grace of martyrdom.
For what else is it, in this world, to conquer in the name of God, than to sustain with steadfast heart the disordered onslaughts of men who provoke the people of the peaceable law? And if your sincerity observes this, you will quickly see, by the grace of the supreme Deity, that as the practices or morals of those who offer themselves as standard-bearers of most wretched contention grow faint, all will know that they ought not, perishing by the persuasion of a few, to give themselves to everlasting death — whereby, by the grace of repentance, they might, their errors having been corrected, be restored to eternal life. Farewell with a common vow throughout the ages, God commanding it, dearest brethren! X. Letter of Constantine concerning the basilica taken from the Catholics.
Constantine, Victor, Maximus, and Triumphator, ever Augustus, to the bishops Zeuzius, Gallicus, Victorinus, Sperantius, Januarius, Felix, Crescentius, Pantius, Victor, Babbutius, Donatus. Since it is established that the will of the supreme God — who is the author and Father of this world, by whose benefit we draw life, gaze upon the heaven, and rejoice also in human society — is this: that the whole human race should agree in common and be bonded, as it were, by mutual embraces in a certain affection of fellowship, there is no doubt that heresy and schism have proceeded from the devil, who is the head of malice; and therefore, that whatever is done by heretics is done at the instigation of him who has possessed their feelings, minds, and thoughts, there is no doubt.
For when he has reduced such men into his own power, he domineers over them in every way. But what good can he accomplish who is insane, faithless, irreligious, profane, contrary to God, an enemy of the holy Church — who, departing from God the holy, true, just, supreme, and Lord of all (who established us and brought us forth into this light, who gave the spirit to the life we draw, and who made us to be what He willed us to be, and accomplished all things by His own will) — runs down by a downward error to the part of the devil? But because a soul once possessed by evil must of necessity press on with the works of its teacher and accomplish those things which seem contrary to equity and justice, therefore those who are possessed by the devil comply with his falsehood and wickedness.
Nor is it a wonder that the wicked depart from the good; for thus rightly is it noted in the proverb: like are gathered together with like. Those who are infected with the evil of an impious mind must of necessity be at variance with our society. For a wicked man, as the Scripture says, out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things, but a good man out of the good brings forth good.
But because, as has been said, heretics and schismatics, who forsaking the good and following the evil accomplish those things which displease God, are proven to cleave to the devil who is their father, your gravity has acted most rightly and wisely, and according to the holy precept of the faith, by restraining yourselves from their perverse contentions and by yielding to them that which they strive to usurp as undue and alien to themselves, lest — as their perversity is malicious and faithless — they should break out even into seditions, and amid tumults stir up those like to themselves, and thus something should arise which it would not be fitting to quell. For their wicked design ever seeks to accomplish the works of the devil.
And therefore, when by patience they are overcome by the priests of God along with their own father himself, those who are worshipers of the supreme God procure for themselves glory, but those others procure damnation and fitting punishments. For from this there arises a greater and more just judgment of the supreme God, in that He bears them with an even mind and condemns them by patience, enduring against these all the things which proceeded from them; for God has promised that He will be the avenger of all. And therefore, when vengeance is left to God, the punishment exacted from the enemies is the sharper.
And this I have learned that you, the servants and priests of God, have now gladly done, and I rejoiced greatly that concerning the impious and the wicked, the sacrilegious and the profane, the faithless and the irreligious, and those ungrateful to God and enemies of the Church, you ask for no vengeance, and rather petition that these same men may attain to pardon. This is truly and inwardly to know God; this is to persist in His precepts; this is to believe happily; this is to think truly; this is to know that a greater vengeance is provoked against the adversaries of the Church when these same men are spared in this world.
Having therefore received the letter of your wisdom and gravity, I have learned that the heretics or schismatics thought, with their usual wickedness, that they should seize that basilica of the Catholic Church which I had ordered to be built in the city of Constantina, and that, frequently admonished both by us and by our judges at our command also to restore what was not their own, they refused; yet you, imitators of the patience of the supreme God, with calm mind leaving to their malice those things which are your own, and rather asking from us in turn another place, namely one belonging to the fisc.
This petition I have gladly embraced after the manner of my custom, and at once gave suitable letters to the procurator, that he should cause the house of our domains, with all its right, to pass over into the ownership of the Catholic Church, which I have donated with prompt liberality and ordered to be straightway handed over to us. In which place, nevertheless, I have ordered a basilica to be erected at the expense of the fisc, and have commanded a letter to be written also to the consular of Numidia, that he himself should aid your holiness in all things in the construction of that same church. The lectors also of the Catholic Church and the subdeacons, and the rest besides, who at the instigation of the aforesaid men were summoned, in keeping with certain practices, to public charges or to the decurionate, I have ruled, according to the statute of my law, are to be called up to no public charge;
but also those who were led on at the instigation of the heretics, we have commanded to be at once released from burdensome duties. For the rest, I have also commanded that my law given concerning the Catholic clergy be kept; all of which, that they might be made plain to your patience, have been set down in writing by the testimony of these letters. And would indeed that the heretics or schismatics might at some time provide for their own salvation, and, their darkness wiped away, open their eyes to the vision of the true light, and withdraw from the devil, and flee, even though late, to God, who is one and true, who is the judge of all! But because it is established that they remain in their malice and are unwilling to die in their crimes, our admonition and our constant preceding exhortation suffices for them.
For if they had been willing to obey our commands, they would have been freed from all evil. Yet let us, brethren, follow what is our own, press on in the commandments, keep the divine precepts by good deeds. Vindicating our life from errors, by the favor of God's mercy let us direct it along the straight path. Given on the Nones of February at Serdica.