Letters of the Blessed Theodoret, Bishop of…

 Letters of the Blessed Theodoret,

 When men love warmly, I doubt whether in the case of the children of those whom they love, they can be impartial judges. Justice is carried away by af

 Comparisons of this kind are forbidden by the divine Apostle. In his Epistle to the Romans he writes “Therefore judge nothing before the time until th

 The Creator of our souls and bodies has given His bounty to both, and at one and the same time has overwhelmed us with good things that both heart and

 The God who made us gives us care and sorrow after our sin. But He has furnished us with divine occasions of consolation by appointing divine feasts.

 Our loving Lord has allowed us, with the zeal of folks who love the Christ, to celebrate the divine feast of salvation and enjoy the fruit of the spir

 Had I heard of the death of your dignity’s most honourable husband I should have written long ago, and now my object in writing is not to lull your gr

 It is needless for me to bring once more to bear upon your grief the spells of the spirit. The mere mention of the sufferings that wrought our salvati

 Your piety is annoyed and distressed at the sentence passed on me unjustly and without a trial. I am comforted that you are so feeling. Had I been jus

 Legislators have made laws in aid of the oppressed, and advocates have practised the orator’s arts to help them that stand in need of fair defence. Yo

 The Creator and Guide of the Universe has made you a luminary of the world, and changed the deep moonless night into clear noon. Just as by the haven’

 Job, that famous tower of adamant and noble champion of goodness, was not shaken even by blows of continuous troubles of every sort and kind, but stoo

 I had heard of the island of Lesbos, and its cities Mitylene, Methymna, and the rest but I was ignorant of the fruit of the vine cultivated in it. No

 Had I only considered the character of the loss which you have sustained, I should have wanted consolation myself, not only because I count that what

 I know that in my words of consolation I am somewhat late, but it is not without reason that I have delayed to send them, for I have thought it worth

 There is nothing good, it seems, in prospect for us, so, far from calming down, the tempest troubling the Church seems to rise higher every day. The c

 Had I only considered the greatness of your sorrow, I should have put off writing a little while, that I might make time my ally in my attempt to cure

 Whenever I cast my eyes on the divine law which calls those who are joined together in marriage “one flesh,” I am at a loss how to comfort the limb th

 I have found the right eloquent orator Athanasius to be just what your letter described him. His tongue is adorned by his speech, and his speech by hi

 Natural disposition appears in us before resolution of character, and, in this sense, takes the lead but disposition is overcome by resolution, as is

 The disseminators of this great news, with the idea that it would be very distasteful to me, fancied that they might in this way annoy me. But I by Go

 It is said that what is faulty in men’s ways may be brought to order and improved by words. But I think that characters made beautiful by nature, them

 In distributing wealth and poverty among men the Creator and Governor of all gives no unjust judgment, but gives the poverty of the poor to the rich a

 Your piety, nursling of God’s love, longs, I am sure, for my society. But I am all the more eager for yours in proportion as I know that from it more

 When the only begotten God had been made Man, and had wrought out our salvation, they who in those days saw Him from whom these bounties flowed kept n

 The fountains of the Lord’s kindness are ever gushing forth with good things for them that believe but some further good is conveyed by the celebrati

 No one who has won the divine adoption weeps for orphanhood, for what guardian care can be more powerful than that of our Father which is on high, bec

 They who have made the vigour of their manhood bright by virtuous industry hasten happily towards old age, gladdened by the recollection of their form

 The sufferings of the Carthaginians would demand, and, in their greatness, perhaps out-task, the power of the tragic language of an Æschylus or a Soph

 XXX. To Aerius the Sophist .

 The most admirable and honourable Celestinianus is a native of the famous Carthage, and of an illustrious family in that city. Now he has been exiled

 If the God of all had forthwith inflicted punishment on all that err he would utterly have destroyed all men. But He spares He is a merciful Judge a

 To narrate the sufferings of the most honourable and dignified Celestinianus would require tragic eloquence. Tragic writers set forth fully the ills o

 All kinds of goodness are praiseworthy, but all are made more beautiful by loving kindness. For it we earnestly pray the God of all through it alone

 You are conspicuous, my Lord, for many forms of goodness, and your holiness is beautified in an especial degree by loving-kindness, by contempt of ric

 I know very well that your means are small and your heart is great, and that in your case generosity is not prevented by limited resources. I therefor

 When rulers keep the scales of justice true, and let them hang in even balance, they confer all kinds of benefits upon their subjects if they are als

 The divine feast of salvation has brought us the founts of God’s good gifts, the blessing of the Cross, and the immortality which sprang from our Lord

 My wish was to write in cheerful terms and sound the note of the spiritual joy of the feast, but I am prevented by the multitude of our sins, which ar

 The custom of the feast bids me write a festal letter, but the cloud of our calamities suffers me not to gather the usual happy fruit from it. Who is

 The divine Celebration has as usual conferred on us its spiritual boons but the sour fruits of sin have not suffered us to enjoy them with gladness.

 Did no necessity compel me to address a letter to your greatness, I might haply be found guilty of presumption, for neither taking due measure of myse

 Since you adorn the empire by your piety and render the purple brighter by your faith, we make bold to write to you, no longer conscious of our insign

 Thanks be to the Saviour of the world because to your greatness He is ever adding dignity and honour. The reason of my not writing up to this time to

 Your greatness knows full well how all the inhabitants of the East feel towards your magnificence, as sons feel towards an affectionate father. Why th

 Nothing is able to stay the praiseworthy purpose of them that highly esteem what is right. That this is the case is confirmed by the grief shown by yo

 A year ago, thanks to your holiness, the illustrious Philip governor of our city was delivered from serious danger. After entering into the enjoyment

 I have gladly received the accusation, although I have no difficulty in disproving the indictment. I have written not three letters only but four and

 It is the nature of mirrors to reflect the faces of them that gaze into them, and so whoever looks at them sees his own form. This is the same too wit

 The characters of souls are often depicted in words and their unseen forms revealed so now your reverence’s letter exhibits the piety of your holy so

 The works of virtue are admirable in themselves, but yet more admirable do they appear if they find an eloquence able to report them well. Neither of

 LII. To Ibas, Bishop of Edessa .

 LIII. To Sophronius, Bishop of Constantina .

 By our divine and saving celebrations both the down-hearted are cheered, and the joyous made yet more joyful. This I have learnt by experience, for, w

 We are much distressed, for we are gifted with the nature not of rocks but of men, but the recollection of the Lord’s Epiphany has been to me a very p

 My grief is now at its height and my mind is seriously affected by it, but I have thought it right to fulfil the custom of the feast, so now I take my

 Besides other boons the Ruler of the universe has granted to us that of hearing of your excellency’s honour, and of congratulating at once yourself on

 I am divided in mind at the idea of sending a letter to your greatness. On the one hand I know how everything depends on your judgment I see you unde

 Sincere friendships are neither dissolved by distance of place nor weakened by time. Time indeed inflicts indignities on our bodies, spoils them of th

 Among many forms of virtue by which we hear that your holiness is adorned (for all men’s ears are filled by the flying fame of your glory, which speed

 I did not let the two letters which I had just received from you go unheeded, but wrote without delay, and gave my letter to the very devout presbyter

 A saying of one of the men who used to be called wise was, “Live unseen.” I applaud the sentiment, and have determined to confirm the word by deed, fo

 We have enjoyed the wonted blessings of the Feast. We have kept the memorial Feast of the Passion of Salvation by means of the resurrection of the Lo

 When the Master underwent the Passion of salvation for the sake of mankind, the company of the sacred Apostles was much disheartened, for they knew no

 To be smitten by human ills is the common lot of all men to endure them bravely and rise superior to their attack is no longer common. The former is

 She that gave you birth and nurtured you invites you to the longed-for feast. The holy shrine is crowned by a roof it is fitly adorned it is eager f

 It was thy work, my good Sir, to call the rest also to the feast of the dedication. Through thy zeal and energy the holy temple has been built, and th

 It was my wish to summon you to the feast of holy Apostles and Prophets, not only as a citizen, but as one who shares both my faith and my home. But I

 Had I not been unavoidably prevented, I should no sooner have heard that your great and glorious husband had fallen asleep than I should straightway h

 The story of the noble Mary is one fit for a tragic play. As she says herself, and as is attested by several others, she is a daughter of the right ho

 Your fortitude rouses universal admiration, tempered as it is by gentleness and meekness, and exhibited to your household in kindliness, to your foes

 At the time when men were whelmed in the darkness of ignorance, all did not keep the same feasts, but celebrated distinct ceremonies in different citi

 Themistocles the son of Neocles, the far-famed and admirable general, is described by the admiring historian as endowed with natural virtue alone. Of

 It has been granted to us by our generous Lord once again to enjoy the feast and to send to your excellency the festal salutation. We pray that you ma

 I perceive that it is with reason that I am well disposed to your reverences, for I have been assured by your kindly letter that my affection was retu

 True friendship is strengthened by intercourse, but separation cannot sunder it, for its bonds are strong. This truth might easily be shewn by many ot

 I know that Satan has sought to sift you as wheat, and that the Lord has allowed him so to do that He may shew the wheat, and prove the gold, crown th

 Whenever anything happens to the helmsman, either the officer in command at the bows, or the seaman of highest rank, takes his place, not because he b

 The Lord God has given your excellency to us to be at the present time a source of very great comfort, and has afforded us a meet haven for the storm.

 I have been much astonished that no information has been sent me by your lordship of the plots against me. To counteract them would very likely have b

 For but a brief portion of a day I enjoyed the society of your lordship, for I was deprived by unavoidable circumstances of what I so earnestly desire

 I had hoped at this time to hear frequently from your holiness. Suffering as I do under charges which are plain calumny I stand in need of brotherly c

 To them that suffer under false accusation the greatest comfort is given by the words of Scripture. When such a sufferer is wounded by the lying words

 Your piety has heard of the calumnies directed against me. The opponents of the truth allege that I divide our one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotte

 The chief good is said by the divine Paul to be love, and by love he ordered the nurslings of the faith to be fed. Of this love your piety possesses g

 At the present time, most God-beloved lord, I have received many buffetings of billows, but I called upon the great Pilot, and have been able to stand

 The law of brotherly love demanded that I should receive many letters from your godliness at this time. For the divine Apostle charges us to weep with

 Slanderers have forced me to go beyond the bounds of moderation, and compel me to write to you who have adorned the highest offices, and obtained the

 In sending a letter to your greatness I am daring what is beyond me, but the cause of my daring is not self-confidence, but the slanders of my calumni

 I have passed through the contests of my prime. I see before me the confines of old age, and have expected as an old man to have more honour given me.

 I well know, and need no words to tell me, how your excellency regards me. Actions speak more clearly than words, but I have been anxious for you to k

 The very holy lord archbishop Domnus has arranged for the most pious bishops to repair to the imperial city, with a view to the complete refutation of

 I cherish an indelible memory of your magnificence, and now by very religious and holy bishops I salute you. The very holy lord bishop Domnus has arra

 The loving-kindness of the Lord has already given you an opportunity of carrying out your good intentions. He has given you a greater opportunity now,

 You have laid aside the cares of your very important government, but your fame flourishes among all for they that have reaped the fruit of your benev

 I have written to you two letters, indeed I think three, but without getting any answer. I had wished to say no more, but to know my own place and the

 I am delighted with your excellency’s letter. My pleasure has been increased by the very religious presbyter and monk Iamblichus, who has told me of y

 We are distressed to see the tempest of the churches, but their Master and Ruler ever through mighty billows shows to men His own wisdom and power. He

 Although you have not yet met me, I think that your excellency is aware of the open calumnies that have been published against me, for you have often

 I have recently received your excellency’s letter. For the zeal you have shewn on my behalf I thank you, and pray the God of all to guard the goods yo

 The flames of the war against us have been lit up again. After yielding awhile, the enemy of men has once more armed against us men nurtured in lies,

 There is nothing remarkable in the reproaches that are directed against me being heard in silence by men who do not know me but that your holiness sh

 The very godly bishops have been led to travel to the imperial city by the calumnies uttered against me, and I by their holinesses send your excellenc

 I have already in another letter informed your holiness how openly the calumniators of our teaching are slandering us. Now in like manner by means of

 We have heard from many sources of your piety’s efforts on behalf of true religion. It is therefore right that you should readily succour one who is c

 By the godly bishops I salute you. I beseech you to give heed to the churches’ calm, and to disperse the waves of calumny. “Whatsoever a man soweth th

 The struggles which your piety has undergone on behalf of the apostolic doctrines are not unknown, but are frequently mentioned alike by those who hav

 True indeed is the promise of David’s Psalm, for through him the Spirit of truth gave this promise to them that believe, “Commit thy way unto the Lord

 Many are the devices secretly plotted against me, and through me patched up against the faith of apostles. I am however comforted by the sufferings of

 When I read your letter I remembered the very blessed Susannah, who when she saw the famous villains, and believed that the God of all was present, ut

 Your excellency will be recompensed for the kindness you have shewn me by the God of all, for all that is done for His sake has its reward. I laugh at

 When news was brought to me that the pettiness of the victorious emperor had been put an end to, a reconciliation effected between him and the very go

 If Paul, the herald of the truth, the trumpet of the Holy Ghost, hastened to the great Peter in order that he might carry from him the desired solutio

 To our much beloved brother Theodoretus, bishop, Leo, bishop.

 CXIV . To Andiberis.

 When I undertook the direction of the see of Cyrus, I procured for it from all directions men who practised necessary arts, and besides this induced s

 We have heard of the warm and righteous zeal of your holiness, and the just and lawful boldness of speech which you employed in condemning the audacio

 Truly the grace of our God and Saviour has not yet abandoned the human race, but has left us a seed in your holiness “lest we should become as Sodom,

 A terrible storm has attacked our churches, but the adherents of the apostolic faith have in your holiness a safe and quiet haven. Not only do you cha

 CXIX. To Anatolius the Patrician .

 Even the enemies of the truth must, I think, be indignant at the injustice and illegality of the violence done us. It is only reasonable that the nurs

 The Lord who overlooks and governs all things has shewn both the apostolic truth of my doctrines, and the falsehood of the slander laid at my door. Fo

 I have been greatly delighted that we who correspond in character should have corresponded by letter. But I do not quite see what you mean by saying “

 Your letter was a long one, and a pleasant one, and it shews how warm and genuine is your affection. So delighted am I with it that I am not at all so

 I too am distressed at the calamities of the Church, and wail over the storm that is raging for myself I am glad to be quit of agitation, and to be e

 I know the strength and stability of your faith, and have been filled with the greatest possible delight, for, since we worshippers of the eternal Tri

 I praised your holiness on your quitting the envied see. Once it was venerable now it is ridiculous, for we have made it a thing to be bought and sol

 The patriarch Abraham won a victory in his old age. The great Moses was now an old man when, so long as he stretched out his hands in prayer, he vanqu

 I am afraid that the vigour of your godly soul has been overcome by old age, and that you do not keep your hands stretched out as usual. So Amalek is

 Sailors at night are cheered by the sight of the harbour lights, and so are they who are in peril for the sake of the apostolic faith by the zeal of t

 Not without purpose does the supreme Ruler allow the spirits that are against us to agitate the waves of impiety. He does so that He may try the coura

 You have shewn alike your zeal for the true religion, and your love for your neighbour, both of which are at the present time clearly connected, for i

 The Lord has taught them that suffer wrong not to be cast down, but to rejoice, and to derive consolation from the examples of old. For from the perio

 I have always known, sir, that you are not unmindful of our friendship. And it has ever been my wish and prayer that your piety should give heed to ex

 Our Saviour, Lawgiver, and Lord, was once asked, “What is the first commandment?” His reply was “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,

 You have reminded me of the ancient story, and remarked how the King of the Syrians, bethinking him of the loving kindness of the kings of Israel, ass

 I was very much distressed to hear of the trouble which had befallen you. How indeed could I fail to suffer, making as I do your interest mine, and re

 The blessed David fell into several errors, which God, who wisely orders all things, has caused to be recorded for the good of them that were to come

 I have cordially welcomed the rest which has fallen to my lot, and am harvesting its beneficial and pleasant results. Our Christ-loving Emperor, after

 To the other good deeds of your excellency must be added your having acquainted our pious and most christian emperor, whom God’s grace has appointed f

 I have been much astonished to learn that your magnificence, though quite unacquainted with me and mine, and knowing only the wrong that had been done

 Bright is made your holiness by your goodly life, exhibiting on earth the image of the conversation of the angels, but it is made still brighter by yo

 I have already addressed your reverence in another letter, and have delivered it to your much respected brethren. Now again I address your holiness. I

 I have never seen your piety nor have we ever communicated by letter, but I have become warmly attached to you. What has wrought the charm and continu

 Human nature is everywhere the same, but pursuits in life are many and various. Some men prefer a sailor’s career, some a soldier’s some men become a

 There is nothing new or surprising in the fact that the men who have made their tongues weapons against our God and Saviour should also aim their shaf

 Rest and a life free from care are very grateful to me. I have therefore blocked the door of the monastery, and decline intercourse with my friends.

 Immediately on receipt of your holiness’s former letter I replied. About the present state of affairs, it is impossible to entertain any good hope. I

 Is “the minute of the most holy bishop Cyril, delivered to Posidonius, when sent by him to Rome, in the matter of Nestorius.” (Cyrill. Ep. XI. tom. lx

 This letter has sometimes been supposed to have been really composed by Theodoret.

 I have been much distressed at reading the anathematisms which you have sent to request me to refute in writing, and to make plain to all their hereti

 When I contemplate the condition of the Church at the present crisis of affairs,—the tempest which has recently beset the holy ship, the furious blast

 In obedience to the order of your pious letter we have journeyed to the Ephesian metropolis. There we have found the affairs of the Church in confusio

 We had expected to be able to report to your pious majesties in different terms, but we are now compelled to make known to you the following facts, fo

 

 

 

 Your piety, which shines forth for the good of the empire and of the churches of God, has commanded us to assemble at Ephesus, in order to bring about

 On receiving the letter of your piety we entertained hopes that the Egyptian storm which has lately struck the churches of God would be driven away. B

 

 

 

 Writing from Ephesus I salute your holiness, I congratulate you on your infirmity, and deem you dear to God, in that you have known what evil deeds ha

 On our arrival at Chalcedon, for neither we ourselves nor our opponents were permitted to enter Constantinople, on account of the seditions of the exc

 Through the prayers of your holiness our most pious prince has granted us an audience, and by God’s grace we have got the better of our opponents, as

 To the very pious bishops now in Ephesus: Johannes, Himerius, Paulus, Apringius, Theodoretus, greeting. For the fifth time an audience has been grante

 It had been much to be desired that the word of true religion should not be adulterated by ridiculous explanations, and least of all by men who have o

 Your piety has been informed on several occasions, both by ourselves in person and by our emissaries, that the doctrine of the true faith seems to sta

 We never expected the summons of your piety to meet with this result. We were honourably convoked, as priests by prince we were convoked to ratify th

 We have left no means untried, of courtesy, of sternness, of entreaty, of eloquence before the most pious emperor, and the illustrious assembly, testi

 To our most godly and holy fellow-minister Rufus, Joannes, Himerius, Theodoretus, and the rest, send greeting in the Lord.

 God, who governs all things in wisdom, who provides for our unanimity, and cares for the salvation of His people, has caused us to be assembled togeth

 To the very reverend and religious lord and very holy Father, Nestorius, the bishop Theodoretus sends greeting in the Lord. Your holiness is, I think,

 “God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be a

 We wish to acquaint your holiness that on reading and frequently discussing the letter brought from Egypt we find it in harmony with the doctrine of t

 CLXXV. To Alexander of Hierapolis .

 Be it known to your holiness that when I read the letter addressed to the emperor I was much distressed, because I know perfectly well that the writer

 The illustrious Aristolaus has sent Magisterianus from Egypt with a letter of Cyril in which he anathematizes Arius, Eunomius, Apollinarius and all wh

 I think that more than all the very holy and venerable bishop, my lord John, must have been gratified at my refusing either to give my consent to the

 

 At last and with difficulty the villain has gone. The good and the gentle pass away all too soon the bad prolong their life for years.

 CLXXXI. Letter to Abundius, Bishop of Como .

LXXIX. To Anatolius the Patrician.143 cf. Epp. XLV. XCII. CXI. CXIX. CXXI. CXXXVIII.

The Lord God has given your excellency to us to be at the present time a source of very great comfort, and has afforded us a meet haven for the storm. We have therefore confidence in informing your lordship of our distress. Not long ago we acquainted your excellency that the right honourable Count Rufus had shewn us an order written in the imperial handwriting commanding the gallant general to provide with prudence and diligence for our residence at Cyrus, and not to suffer us to depart to another city, on the ground that we are endeavouring to summon synods to Antioch, and are disturbing the orthodox.144 This edict of Theodosius is dated by Tillemont March 30, 449. Theodoret received the order for his relegation to Cyrus while he was at Antioch, and at once submitted. Now I make known to you that in obedience to the imperial letter I have come to Cyrus. After an interval of six or seven days they sent the devoted Euphronius, the commander, with a letter begging me to acknowledge in writing that the imperial order had been shown me. I therefore promised to remain in Cyrus and its adjacent district, and to tend the sheep entrusted to my care. I therefore beseech your excellency to make exact enquiry, both whether these orders had really been issued, and for what reason. I am indeed conscious of many other sins, but I do not know that I have erred either against the Church of God, or against public order. And I write as I do, not because I take it ill to have to live at Cyrus, for in truth she is dearer to me than any of the most famous cities, because my office in her has been given me by God. But the fact of my being bound to her not by preference but by compulsion does seem somewhat grievous, and besides it does give a handle to the wicked to grow bold and to refuse to obey our exhortations.

Under these circumstances I beseech your lordship, if no order of the kind has really been issued, to let me know; but if the letter really comes from the victorious emperor, tell his pious majesty not readily to believe calumnies, nor give ear to accusers alone, but to demand an account from the accused. Though really the evidence of the facts alone was quite enough to persuade his piety that the charges against me were false. For when did I ever make myself offensive about anything to his serene majesty or his chief officers? Or when was I ever obnoxious to the many and illustrious owners here? It is on the contrary well known to your excellency that I have spent a considerable portion of my ecclesiastical revenues in erecting porticoes and baths, building bridges, and making further provision for public objects. But if any persons take it ill that I mourn over the ruin of the churches of Phœnicia, be it known to your lordship that it is impossible for me not to grieve when I see the horn of the Jews exalted on high and the Christians in tears and sorrow, though they send them to the very ends of the earth.145 The allusion appears to be to the edict of Feb. 448, ordering the deposition of Theodoret’s friend Irenæus bishop of Tyre, on the ground of his being a digamus and a heretic. Irenæus was degraded from the priesthood and forbidden to appear in Tyre. cf. Epp. III. XII. XVI. XXXV. We cannot fight against the apostolic decrees, for we remember the word of the Apostle which says, “We ought to obey God rather than men,”146 Acts v. 29 and more terrible to us than any of the pains of this life is the “judgment seat of Christ”147 Romans xiv. 10 the Lord, before whom we shall all stand to render an account of our words and of our deeds. On account of that judgment seat the hardships of this present life must be endured. For them that suffer wrong the hope of what is to come is consolation enough, but to us the loving Lord has given further comfort in you, most excellent sir, whose life is bright with piety and faith.