Letter 140

From: Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus To: Vincomalus, Magister [a senior imperial official] Date: ~451 AD Context: Theodoret thanks a court official he has never met personally for advocating on his behalf, details the extreme injustice of his trial, and asks him to urge the emperor to convene a proper council. To the Master Vincomalus, I am deeply astonished to learn that your magnificence, though quite unacquainted with me personally and knowing only that I had been wronged, stood up as my advocate and left no means untried to undo the conspiracy against me. Your excellency will surely receive recompense from our generous Lord -- for He who promised a reward for a cup of cold water [Matthew 10:42] will undoubtedly grant greater recompense to those who give greater gifts. I have endured sufferings that none, or at least very few, of the ancients underwent -- and not only from my open enemies but, I believe, from those I thought were my friends. The former attacked me; the latter betrayed me. Who in the world ever heard of such a trial? Who ever ordered a defendant to be tried in his absence after chaining him up more than thirty-five stages away? What judge has ever been so savage and inhuman as to condemn men without ever hearing the sound of their voice -- and to do so in the most brutal fashion? The Lord Himself commanded that the wayward brother who refuses correction should, after a first, second, and third warning, be treated "as a heathen and a tax collector" [Matthew 18:17]. But these most "equitable and righteous" judges did not even grant their fellow believers the treatment they give to heathens and tax collectors. Those they do at least see and speak with from time to time, and treat with all honor and deference when they appear to be people of rank. But they ordered me to be cut off from home, from water, from everything. This is how they wished to become imitators of our Father in heaven, "who makes His sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust" [Matthew 5:45]. But I will say no more about these men. The Lord's tribunal is near, where what is required is not stage performance but the reality of life. I beg your excellency to express my thanks to the Christ-loving emperor and the godly Augusta for making true religion the firm root of their pious empire. Implore their majesties to secure the peace of the churches by commanding the assembly of a council -- not of violent men who throw discussion into chaos, but of lovers of the truth who confirm apostolic teaching and repudiate this newfangled and counterfeit heresy. And I pray that for these honorable efforts you may reap the reward at the hands of our loving Lord.

Letter 140 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 the Master Vincomalus. I have been much astonished to learn that your magnificence, though quite unacquainted with me and mine, and knowing only the wrong that had been done me, stood up as my advocate, and left no means untried to undo the results of the conspiracy against me. But your excellency will assuredly receive recompense from our bountiful Lord, for He who promised to give a reward for a little water will doubtless give greater recompense to the givers of greater gifts. I have indeed endured such sufferings as none, or at least very few, of the ancients have undergone, and this not only from my open foes, but, as I apprehend, from my real friends. The former attacked me, the latter betrayed me. Who in the world ever heard of such a trial? Who ever commanded a criminal to be tried in his absence after chaining him up at a distance of more than five and thirty stages? What judge has ever been so savage and inhuman as not only to try men, aye but to condemn men the sound of whose voice he has never heard, and this in most savage and inhuman fashion? The Lord has ordered the erring brother, who spurns advice, after a first, second and third admonition, to be treated as an heathen man and a publican. Now these most equitable and righteous judges have not even given to them of the same faith with themselves the treatment which they give to heathen men and publicans. These indeed they do see and occasionally converse with, and that with all honour and deference where they appear to be of rank and dignity. But they have ordered me to be cut off from home, from water, from everything. This is the way in which they have wished to become imitators of our Father in heaven Who makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. But of these men I will say no more. The tribunal of the Lord is at hand where is required not stage pretence but the reality of life. Now I beseech your excellency to express my thanks to the emperor, the lover of Christ and victorious, and to the very pious and godly Augusta, for having made true religion the firm root of their pious empire, and to implore their majesties to make the peace of the churches firm by commanding the assembling of a council, not of men of violence who throw the discussion into confusion, but of the lovers of the truth who confirm the apostolic teaching, and repudiate this new fangled and spurious heresy. And I pray that of these honourable endeavours you may reap the fruit at the hands of our loving Lord.