Letter 119

From: Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus To: Anatolius, Patrician at Constantinople [a powerful court official] Date: ~449 AD Context: Theodoret's second appeal to the patrician Anatolius after the "Robber Synod," comparing his own condemnation to the worst forms of judicial injustice and asking either to be sent West or allowed to retire to his monastery. To Anatolius the Patrician, Your excellency is fully aware of the acts of the "most righteous" judges at Ephesus. Their fame has spread to every land, and their "most just" verdict has reached the ends of the earth. What church has not felt this storm? One side inflicted the wrong; the other suffered it. But even those who neither committed nor endured the injustice share the distress of the victims and grieve over men who so savagely -- in defiance of every human and divine law -- massacred their own members. Even housebreakers caught in the act are first tried and then punished. Even murderers, grave-robbers, and adulterers are first brought before the bench. Their accusers are ordered to present their case. The motives of witnesses are examined to ensure they are not testifying to curry favor with the prosecution or out of prejudice against the defendants. Only then are the accused asked to respond to the charges -- and this happens two, three, sometimes even four times. Only after the truth has been sought in the words of both sides is a sentence given. I will say nothing about how these men judged in the cases of others, lest I seem to meddle in what does not concern me. I speak only for myself, because the unjust violence done to me compels it. The imperial order kept me at home and forbade me to travel beyond the bounds of my own city. The synod ruled against me -- condemning a man who was thirty-five days' journey away. The God of all said to the patriarch Abraham about Sodom and Gomorrah: "Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is very great, and their sin is very grievous, I will go down now and see whether they have done according to the cry of it which has come to me; and if not, I will know" [Genesis 18:20-21]. God knew perfectly well the wickedness of those men, yet He said, "I will go down and see" -- teaching us to wait for the proof of facts. But these judges never summoned me to trial. They never heard the sound of my voice. They refused to let me state my beliefs. They handed me over, like a victim for slaughter, to the fury of the enemies of the truth. I welcome my rest, especially now, when apostolic teaching has been destroyed by many and the new heresy has been strengthened. But I do not want anyone who does not know me to believe the slanders against me and be led astray, thinking I hold beliefs contrary to the Gospel. So I implore your excellency: ask the emperor to allow me to travel to the West, where I may plead my case before the godly and holy bishops. If I am found to transgress the rule of faith in even the smallest degree, let me be cast into the depths of the sea. If the emperor will not grant this, then let him at least allow me to live in my monastery, which lies a hundred and twenty miles from Cyrrhus, seventy-five from Antioch, and three miles from Apamea. Of these two requests, I prefer the first. But if that is not possible, I implore you to intercede for the second. I will carry the memory of your kindness in my heart and on my lips forever, praying to the Lord of hosts to reward your excellency with blessings both now and in the age to come. I am compelled to write in these terms because I have heard that certain people are trying to have me removed even from this place.

Letter 119 Please help support the mission of New Advent and get the full contents of this website as an instant download. Includes the Catholic Encyclopedia, Church Fathers, Summa, Bible and more — all for only $19.99... To Anatolius the Patrician. Your excellency has been fully informed as to the acts of the most righteous judges at Ephesus, for their sound has gone out into all lands and their most just judgment to the ends of the world. What church has not felt the storm that has been raised by it? The one side wronged, the other were wronged, but they who neither suffered nor did the wrong share the distress of the wronged, and lament over them that so savagely and against all laws human and divine massacred their own members. Even house breakers caught in the very act are first tried and then punished by their judges; even murderers, violators of sepulchres, and adulterers, are first haled before the bench, and their accusers ordered to make their indictment, and the motive of the witnesses is tested to see that they are not giving evidence to curry favour with the prosecutors, or are prejudiced against the defendants; and after this they are bidden to make their defense to the charges brought against them. This is done twice, thrice; sometimes even four times; and then, and not till then, after the truth has been sought in the words of both accuser and accused, the sentence is given. As to how these men judged in the case of the rest I will say nothing, lest I may seem a meddler in what does not concern me. I am forced to speak on behalf of myself alone, for the unrighteous deed of violence compels me. The imperial order kept me at home, and prevented me from travelling beyond the bounds of the city placed under my pastoral care. The decision of the synod went against me, and a man was condemned who was five and thirty days' journey away. Now the God of all said to the patriarch Abraham about Sodom and Gomorrha: Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrha is very great and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it which has come unto me; and if not, I will know. He knew quite well the wickedness of those men, and nevertheless He said, I will go down and see, so teaching us to wait for the proof of facts. But these men never summoned me to trial, they never heard the sound of my voice, they refused to hear from me a statement of my opinions, and handed me over, as a victim to be slaughtered, to the rage of the enemies of the truth. I, however, welcome my rest, and especially so at the present time, when the apostolic decrees have been by many destroyed, and the new heresy strengthened. But lest any one who does not know me should believe that the slanders uttered against me are true, and should be scandalized at the idea of my holding opinions other than those of the gospel, I implore your excellency to ask as a favour from the victorious sovereign that I may go to the West, and there plead my cause before the very godly and holy bishops; and if I be found transgressing in the least degree the rule of the faith, that I may be plunged into the midst of the deep sea. If he will not grant you this request, let him at least command me to inhabit my monastery, which is a hundred and twenty miles away from Cyrus, seventy-five from Antioch, and lies three miles away from Apamea. Of these petitions, if possible, I ask the former; if not at least I implore that, through your excellency's interposition, the second may be granted me. I shall ever carry the memory of your kindness in my heart and on my lips, supplicating the Lord of hosts to requite your excellency as well with present as with future blessings. I am compelled to write to you in these terms because I have heard that certain persons are endeavouring to compass my removal from this place.