Letter 44

From: Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus To: Senator, Patrician Date: ~440 AD Context: Theodoret congratulates the patrician Senator on a new honor while urgently requesting his help to block a fugitive bishop's attempt to overturn the district's tax assessment. To the Patrician Senator, Thanks be to the Savior of the world, who continues to add dignity and honor to your greatness. The reason I have not written before now to express my delight at this crowning distinction is simply that I did not wish to trouble your magnificence. But I write now because the district Providence has entrusted to my care stands, as the proverb says, on a razor's edge. You will remember the tax assessment conducted when we first benefited from your presence among us -- how it was established with difficulty under the excellent prefect Florentius, and confirmed by his successor. Now a man who bears the name of bishop, but whose behavior is unworthy of even stage actors, has fled the episcopal synod while under sentence of excommunication. He is trying to discredit and overturn the assessment, and through his hatred of the distinguished Philip he assails the truth itself. I beg your excellency to render his lies powerless and to ensure that the lawfully confirmed assessment stands undisturbed. It would be fitting for your greatness to reap the fruit of this good deed alongside all your others -- to receive the grateful praise of those you are protecting, and so to honor both the God of all and his true servant, the man of God the Lord Jacob, who joins me in this appeal. Had it been his custom to write, he would have written himself.

Letter 44 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 Patrician Senator. Thanks be to the Saviour of the world because to your greatness He is ever adding dignity and honour. The reason of my not writing up to this time to exhibit the delight which I have felt at the colophon of your honour, has been my wish not to trouble your magnificence. At the moment of my now thus writing, the district which Providence has committed to my care stands as the proverb has it on a razor's edge. You will remember the visitation which was made at the time when we first were benefited by your presence among us; how it was with difficulty established in the time of the most excellent prefect the Lord Florentius; and how it was confirmed by the present holder of the office. An individual who bears the name of bishop, but of ways unworthy even of stage players, has fled from the episcopal synod at a time when he was lying under sentence of excommunication and is endeavouring to calumniate and discredit the visitation, while through his hatred to the illustrious Philip he assails the truth. I therefore beseech your excellency to make his lies of none effect, and that the visitation lawfully confirmed may remain undisturbed. It is indeed becoming to your greatness to reap the fruit of this good deed among the rest, to receive the acclamations of those whom you are benefiting, and so to do honour at once to the God of all and to his true servant the very man of God the Lord Jacob, who joins with me in sending you this supplication. Had it been his wont to write he would have written himself.