Letter 9

From: Hilary (later Pope), archdeacon of Rome To: Victorius of Aquitaine, computist Date: ~456 AD Context: Pope Hilary's letter 2 — written while Hilary was still archdeacon of Rome, addressing Victorius of Aquitaine on the disputed question of the Easter computation, where the Latin and Greek tables gave different results. Hilary, archdeacon of the Roman church, to the learned Victorius, greetings. The question of the Easter computation is one that should not, in principle, divide Christians — and yet the divergence between the Roman and Alexandrian tables has created practical difficulties that I have been asked to address. The problem you know better than I do: the two tables give different dates for Easter in certain years, and the divergence is a source of embarrassment when Eastern and Western Christians observe the feast on different days, or when a community has access to both tables and does not know which to follow. I write to you as someone who has studied the astronomical and mathematical basis of the computation more carefully than most, to ask whether you can produce a unified table that resolves the divergence — one that takes account of both traditions and establishes a clear and defensible basis for a single Easter date applicable throughout the church. This is a practical and not merely theoretical project, and it is one that the Bishop of Rome wishes to see addressed. Whatever assistance or authorization you need to complete the work, write to me and I will provide it. Hilary, archdeacon of Rome

^456^ Hilari nrbis Bomae archidiaconi ad Yictoriam. Lalinig ei Graecis de Paschatis compuiationf inter se dissentienHbus HiU Victoriwn adit^ ut ejus dissensionis et origines inquirat et ad eam removeni aptas rationes proferat. Dilectissimo et honorabili sancto fratri Vict Hilarus archidiaconus urbis Romae. 1. Quum pleraque de ratione paschali tam de Graeco traii quam a Latinis condita recenserem, discrepare inter se utroru] sententias atque sibi invicem resultare perspexi: ut neutra dum impugnatur ab altera, putetur evidenter adstruere hujus o vantiae disciplinam. Quo fit, ut quimi institutio Latina vel Gi eruditioni domesticae magis favere contendit, praecipuo mur peragendo inter eorum dissensiones tempus saepe non congrua 2. Quapropter, dilectissime frater, tanta*-') rerura ambigi permotus tuae dilectionis studio fidenter injungo, ut per otium genter inquiras, vel unde supradicta diversitas oriatur, vel potissimum ratione veritas indagetur: ut deinceps dissonae oj nis errore sublato idem semper tenere possit imiversitas, qua cuncti in commune fideles a dubiis omnibus expediti in sunmii britate mysterii inoffenso devotionis tramite dirigantur. Ora nobis, dilectissime frater.