Festal Letters — Letter 64

One of the Easter letters the Pope of Alexandria sent each year to the churches of Egypt, announcing the date of the Fast and of Pascha.

Source: Translated by Archibald Robertson. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series , Vol. 4. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. ( Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1892. ) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/2806064.htm>.

Opening

To Diodorus (fragment).

To Diodorus (fragment).

To my lord, son, and most beloved fellow-minister Diodorus, bishop of Tyre, Athanasius sends greetings in the Lord.

To my lord, son, and most beloved fellow-minister Diodorus [ bishop of Tyre], Athanasius greeting in the Lord.

I thank my Lord, who is establishing his teaching everywhere, and especially through his own sons, as you have clearly proven yourself to be. For even before your Reverence wrote, we already knew what great grace has been accomplished in Tyre through your perseverance. We rejoice with you that through you Tyre has also learned the right word of piety. I took an opportunity to write to you, longed-for and beloved, but I am surprised that you have not replied to my letter. Do not hesitate to write back at once, knowing that you refresh me as a son does his father, and you make me exceedingly glad as a herald of truth. Do not enter into any controversy with the heretics, but overcome their argumentativeness with silence and their ill-will with courtesy. For in this way your speech will be 'with grace, seasoned with salt Colossians 4:6,' while they will be judged by the conscience of all.

I thank my Lord, Who is everywhere establishing His doctrine, and chiefly so by means of His own sons, such as actual fact shows you to be. For before your Reverence wrote, we knew how great grace has been brought to pass in Tyre by means of your perseverance. And we rejoice with you that by your means Tyre also has learned the right word of piety. And I indeed took an opportunity of writing to you, longed-for and beloved: but I marvel at your not having replied to my letter. Be not then slow to write at once, knowing that you give me refreshment, as a son to his father, and make me exceeding glad, as a herald of truth. And enter upon no controversy with the heretics, but overcome their argumentativeness with silence, their ill-will with courtesy. For thus your speech shall be 'with grace, seasoned with salt Colossians 4:6,' while they [will be judged] by the conscience of all.


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