Letter CXLII.734    Placed in 373.

To the prefects’ accountant.735    On the exemption of hospitals from taxation.

I assembled all my brethren the chorepiscopi at the synod of the blessed martyr Eupsychius736    cf. Letters c. and cclii., and note on p. 184. to introduce them to your excellency.  On account of your absence they must be brought before you by letter.  Know, therefore, this brother as being worthy to be trusted by your intelligence, because he fears the Lord.  As to the matters on behalf of the poor, which he refers to your good-will, deign to believe him as one worthy of credit, and to give the afflicted all the aid in your power.  I am sure you will consent to look favourably upon the hospital of the poor which is in his district, and exempt it altogether from taxation.  It has already seemed good to your colleague to make the little property of the poor not liable to be rated.

ΝΟΥΜΕΡΑΡΙῼ ΕΠΑΡΧΩΝ

[1] Συνήγαγον μὲν πάντας ἐν τῇ συνόδῳ τοῦ μακαρίου μάρτυρος Εὐψυχίου τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ἡμῶν τοὺς χωρεπισκόπους, ὥστε γνωρίμους ποιῆσαι τῇ τιμιότητί σου. Ἐπεὶ δὲ ἀπελείφθης, διὰ γραμμάτων αὐτοὺς ἀναγκαῖόν ἐστι προσαχθῆναί σου τῇ τελειότητι. Γνώριζε τοίνυν τὸν ἀδελφὸν τόνδε ἄξιον ὄντα τοῦ πιστεύεσθαι παρὰ τῆς σῆς φρονήσεως διὰ τὸν φόβον τοῦ Κυρίου. Καὶ ἅπερ ἂν τῶν πτωχῶν ἕνεκεν ἀναφέρῃ σου τῇ ἀγαθῇ προαιρέσει καταξίωσον ὡς ἀληθεύοντι πείθεσθαι καὶ τὴν δυνατὴν ἐπικουρίαν παρέχεσθαι τοῖς καταπονουμένοις. Καταξιώσεις δὲ δηλονότι καὶ πτωχοτροφίαν τῆς συμμορίας τῆς ὑπ' αὐτὸν ἐπισκέψασθαι καὶ πάντη ἀνεῖναι τῆς συντελείας. Τοῦτο γὰρ ἤδη καὶ τῷ ἑταίρῳ σου συνήρεσε τὴν μικρὰν κτῆσιν τῶν πενήτων ἀλειτούργητον καταστῆσαι.