Letter 133

From: Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus To: John, Bishop of Germanicia [a city in the Euphratensis province] Date: ~451 AD Context: Written after Theodoret's rehabilitation, he reflects on the end of the storm, plans to refute slanders against him, and then hopes to retire from public life. To John, Bishop of Germanicia, I have always known, my lord, that you have not forgotten our friendship. And it has always been my wish and prayer that your piety should hold fast to exact truth, shun communion with traitors to true religion, and give thanks to the supreme Ruler for His care on our behalf. For indeed, while I was silent and inactive, He put an end to our keen and terrible sufferings and replaced the dire tempest with this bright calm. Now that the loving-kindness of the Lord has granted us this blessing, I find the quiet of my retreat delightful. But I feel the need to persuade those who were misled by the slanders against me -- to convince them of the truth of Gospel teaching and refute the attacks of falsehood. Once that refutation is complete and the truth is vindicated, I intend to leave public life and withdraw to the rest I so deeply long for. Of the enemies of truth I cry out with the prophet: "Their memory has perished with a crash" [Psalm 9:6]. Of ourselves I sing with the Psalmist: "He sent from above, He took me, He drew me out of many waters; He delivered me from my strong enemy" [Psalm 18:16-17]. This letter is in reply to two I received from your holiness -- one carried by Anastasius, the presbyter of Beroea, and one by the standard-bearer Theodotus. In your latest letter you mention another, but that one has not been delivered. As for my travel plans, I can say nothing until I know what orders the most pious emperor gives concerning me. His letter has not yet arrived.

Letter 133 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 John, Bishop of Germanicia. 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 exact truth, and shun the communion of traitors to true religion, ascribing to the Supreme Ruler His care on our behalf. For indeed, while I have been silent and inactive, He has put an end to our very keen and terrible sufferings, and has replaced the dire tempest by this bright calm. And now that the loving-kindness of the Lord has granted us this blessing, I find the quiet of my retreat indeed delightful, for I feel the necessity of persuading those who have been led away by the slanders launched against me, and of both convincing them of the truth of the teaching of the gospels, and refuting the attack of falsehood. When once this refutation is finished, and the victory of the truth is secured, it is my purpose to quit public life, and withdraw to the rest that I so greatly long for. As to the foes of the truth I cry with the prophet, Their memorial is perished with a noise, but the Lord shall endure forever. As to ourselves, I sing with the Psalmist, He sent from above, He took me, He drew me out of many waters, He delivered me from my strong enemy. This letter is in reply to two received from your holiness, one conveyed by Anastasius, the presbyter of Berœa, and one by the standard-bearer Theodotus. In your last letter you mention another, but this has not been delivered. As to my journey there I can say nothing till I know what orders are given concerning me by the most pious emperor. His letter has not yet arrived.