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Letter to the Mareotis from Sardica, A.D. 343-4.
Letter to the Mareotis from Sardica, a.d. 343-4.
Athanasius to the presbyters and deacons and the people of the Catholic Church in the Mareotis, beloved brothers whom I long to see, greetings in the Lord.
Athanasius to the presbyters and deacons and the people of the Catholic Church in the Mareotis, brethren beloved and longed for, greeting in the Lord.
The holy council has commended your devotion to Christ. Everyone has recognized your courage and steadfastness in all matters, in that you were not afraid of threats, and even though you had to endure insults and persecutions directed at your faith, you stood firm. When your letters were read aloud to everyone, they brought tears and won sympathy from all. Though you were not present, they loved you and considered your persecutions as if they were their own. The letter they sent to you proves their love for you. And although it would have been enough to address you together with the holy Church of Alexandria, the holy synod has written to you separately so that you may be strengthened not to lose heart because of your sufferings, but instead to give thanks to God, because your patient endurance will bear good fruit.
The holy council has praised your piety in Christ. They have all acknowledged your spirit and fortitude in all things, in that you did not fear threats, and though you had to bear insults and persecutions against your piety you held out. Your letters when read out to all produced tears and enlisted universal sympathy. They loved you though absent, and reckoned your persecutions as their own. Their letter to you is a proof of their affection: and although it would suffice to include you along with the holy Church of Alexandria, yet the holy synod has written separately to you in order that you may be encouraged not to give way on account of your sufferings, but to give thanks to God; because your patience shall have good fruit.
The true nature of the heretics was not clear before, but now it has been revealed and made plain to everyone. The holy synod has examined the false accusations these men fabricated against you, and has rejected them with disgust. They have deposed Theodore, Valens, and Ursacius in Alexandria and the Mareotis with everyone's agreement. The same notification has been sent to other churches as well. And because the cruelty and tyranny they exercised against the churches can no longer be tolerated, they have been removed from the episcopate and expelled from the communion of all. As for Gregory, they were unwilling even to mention him, because since the man has lacked even the title of bishop, they thought it unnecessary to name him. But for the sake of those who are being deceived by him, they have mentioned his name—not because he seemed worthy of mention, but so that those deceived by him might recognize his disgrace and be ashamed of the kind of man they have been in communion with. You will learn what has been written about them from the earlier document. And although not all the bishops came together to sign it, it was composed by all, and they signed on behalf of all. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the brothers greet you.
Formerly the character of the heretics was not evident. But now it is revealed and laid open to all. For the holy synod has taken cognisance of the calumnies these men have concocted against you, and has had them in abhorrence, and has deposed Theodore, Valens, Ursacius, in Alexandria and the Mareotis by consent of all. The same notice has been given to other Churches also. And since the cruelty and tyranny practised by them against the Churches can no longer be borne, they have been cast out from the episcopate and expelled from the communion of all. Moreover of Gregory they were unwilling even to make mention, for since the man has lacked the very name of bishop, they thought it superfluous to name him. But on account of those who are deceived by him they have mentioned his name; not because he seemed worthy of mention, but that those deceived by him might thereby recognise his infamy and blush at the kind of man with whom they have communicated. You will learn what has been written about them from the previous document: and though not all of the bishops came together to sign, yet it was drawn up by all, and they signed for all. Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the brethren salute you.
I, Protogenes, bishop, pray that you may be kept safe in the Lord, beloved and deeply missed.
I, Protogenes, bishop, desire that you may be preserved in the Lord, beloved and longed for.
I, Athenodorus, bishop, desire that you may be kept safe in the Lord, most beloved brothers. Julian, Ammonius, Aprianus, Marcellus, Gerontius, Porphyrius, Zosimus, Asclepius, Appian, Eulogius, Eugenius, Liodorus (26), Martyrius, Eucarpus, Lucius, Caloes. Maximus: through letters from the Gauls I desire that you may be kept safe in the Lord, beloved. We, Arcidamus and Philoxenus, presbyters, and Leo a deacon, from Rome, desire that you may be kept safe. I, Gaudentius, bishop of Naissus, desire that you may be kept safe in the Lord. Also Florentius of Meria in Pannonia, Ammianus (9), of Castellum in Pannonia, Januarius of Beneventum, Prætextatus of Narcidonum in Pannonia, Hyperneris (48) of Hypata in Thessaly, Castus of Cæsaraugusta, Severus of Calcisus in Thessaly, Julian of Therae Heptapolis, Lucius of Verona, Eugenius (35) of Hecleal Cycbinae, Zosimus (92) of Lychni Sunosion in Apulia, Hermogenes of Syceon, Thryphos of Magara, Paregorius of Caspi, Caloes (21) of Castromartis, Ireneus of Syconis, Macedonius of Lypianum, Martyrius of Naupacti, Palladius of Dius, Broseus (87) of Lugdunum in Gaul, Ursacius of Brixia, Amantius of Viminacium, by the presbyter Maximus, Alexander of Gypara in Achaia, Eutychius of Mothona, Aprianus of Petavio in Pannonia, Antigonus of Pallene in Macedonia, Dometius of Acaria Constantias, Olympius of Enorodope, Zosimus of Oreomarga, Protasius of Milan, Mark of Siscia on the Save, Eucarpus of Opûs in Achaia, Vitalis of Vertara in Africa, Helianus of Tyrtana, Symphorus of Herapythae in Crete, Mosinius (64) of Heracla, Eucissus of Chisamus, Cydonius of Cydonia.
I, Athenodorus*, bishop, desire that you may be preserved in the Lord, most beloved brethren. [Other signatures] Julian, Ammonius, Aprianus, Marcellus, Gerontius*, Porphyrius*, Zosimus, Asclepius, Appian, Eulogius, Eugenius, Liodorus (26), Martyrius, Eucarpus, Lucius*, Caloes. Maximus: by letters from the Gauls I desire that you may be preserved in the Lord, beloved. We, Arcidamus and Philoxenus, presbyters, and Leo a deacon, from Rome, desire that you may be preserved. I, Gaudentius, bishop of Naissus, desire that you may be preserved in the Lord. [Also] Florentius of Meria in Pannonia, Ammianus (9), of Castellum in Pannonia, Januarius of Beneventum, Prætextatus of Narcidonum in Pannonia, Hyperneris (48) of Hypata in Thessaly, Castus of Cæsaraugusta, Severus of Calcisus in Thessaly, Julian of Therae Heptapolis, Lucius of Verona, Eugenius (35) of Hecleal Cycbinae, Zosimus (92) of Lychni Sunosion in Apulia, Hermogenes of Syceon, Thryphos of Magara, Paregorius* of Caspi, Caloes (21) of Castromartis, Ireneus of Syconis, Macedonius of Lypianum, Martyrius of Naupacti, Palladius of Dius, Broseus (87) of Lu[g]dunum in Gaul, Ursacius of Brixia, Amantius of Viminacium, by the presbyter Maximus, Alexander of Gypara in Achaia, Eutychius of Mothona, Aprianus of Petavio in Pannonia, Antigonus of Pallene in Macedonia, Dometius* of Acaria Constantias, Olympius of Enorodope, Zosimus of Oreomarga, Protasius of Milan, Mark of Siscia on the Save, Eucarpus of Opûs in Achaia, Vitalis* of Vertara in Africa, Helianus of Tyrtana, Symphorus of Herapythae in Crete, Mosinius (64) of Heracla, Eucissus of Chisamus, Cydonius of Cydonia.