Roman Letters

Letter 3005: After the holy services of the Lord's Nativity — at which I was present, though very ill and truly more than...

Avitus of Vienne→Sidonius Apollinaris|c. 495 AD|Avitus of Vienne
christologyillness
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From: Avitus, bishop of Vienne
To: Apollinaris, bishop (son of Sidonius)
Date: ~505 AD
Context: A very brief, touching note — Avitus has been gravely ill and, right after the Christmas services at which he could barely stand, his first thought is to ask for news of Apollinaris.

Avitus, bishop, to Bishop Apollinaris.

After the holy services of the Lord's Nativity — at which I was present, though very ill and truly more than exhausted — the first and dearest thing to me after God is to await your messenger. If I am fortunate enough to receive one, whatever harshness I deserve will be tempered (as I trust) and cleared away (as you deserve).

Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.

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