From: Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus
To: Eustathius, Bishop of Aegae
Date: ~440 AD
Context: Theodoret asks for help getting a noblewoman safely home -- Mary, the daughter of a Libyan official, who was captured by barbarians, sold into slavery, and rescued by Christian soldiers in Cyrrhus.
To Eustathius, Bishop of Aegae,
The story of the noble Mary belongs in a tragedy. As she herself says, and as several others confirm, she is a daughter of the distinguished Eudaemon. In the catastrophe that has overtaken Libya [likely the Vandal conquest of North Africa], she has fallen from her father's free estate into slavery. Merchants bought her from the barbarians and sold her to people in our region. Sold alongside her was a young woman who had once been her own household servant, so the galling yoke of slavery fell at the same moment on both mistress and maid.
But the servant refused to forget the distinction between them. Even in calamity she preserved her loyalty: after waiting on their common masters, she waited on the woman who was now reckoned her fellow slave -- washing her feet, making her bed, and performing every such service. The purchasers noticed. Soon the whole town heard the story of the mistress's noble birth and the servant's remarkable devotion.
When this reached the ears of the faithful soldiers stationed in our city (I was away at the time), they paid the purchase price and freed the woman from slavery. On my return, when I was told the whole sad story and the admirable generosity of the soldiers, I called down blessings on their heads, placed the noble young woman in the care of a reputable deacon, and arranged sufficient provision for her.
Ten months passed. Then she heard that her father was still alive and holding high office in the West. Naturally, she expressed a desire to return to him. It is reported that many travelers from the West are on their way to the fair being held here, and I ask your holiness to help her find safe passage among them.
Letter 70
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To Eustathius, Bishop of Ægæ.
The story of the noble Mary is one fit for a tragic play. As she says herself, and as is attested by several others, she is a daughter of the right honourable Eudæmon. In the catastrophe which has overtaken Libya she has fallen from her father's free estate, and has become a slave. Some merchants bought her from the barbarians, and have sold her to some of our countrymen. With her was sold a maiden who was once one of her own domestic servants; so at one and the same time the galling yoke of slavery fell on the servant and the mistress. But the servant refused to ignore the difference between them, nor could she forget the old superiority: in their calamity she preserved her kindly feeling, and, after waiting upon their common masters, waited upon her who was reckoned her fellow slave, washed her feet, made her bed, and was mindful of other like offices. This became known to the purchasers. Then through all the town was reported abroad the free estate of the mistress and the servant's goodness. On these circumstances becoming known to the faithful soldiers who are quartered in our city (I was absent at the time) they paid the purchasers their price, and rescued the woman from slavery. After my return, on being informed of the deplorable circumstances, and the admirable intention of the soldiers, I invoked blessings on their heads, committed the noble damsel to the care of one of the respectable deacons, and ordered a sufficient provision to be made for her. Ten months had gone by when she heard that her father was still alive, and holding high office in the West, and she very naturally expressed a desire to return to him. It was reported that many messengers from the West are on the way to the fair which is now being held in your parts. She requested to be allowed to set out with a letter from me. Under these circumstances I have written this letter, begging your piety to take care of a noble girl, and charge some respectable person to communicate with mariners, pilots, and merchants, and commit her to the care of trusty men who may be able to restore her to her father. There is no doubt that those who, when all hope of recovery has been lost, bring the daughter to the father, will be abundantly rewarded.
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From:Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus
To:Eustathius, Bishop of Aegae
Date:~440 AD
Context:Theodoret asks for help getting a noblewoman safely home -- Mary, the daughter of a Libyan official, who was captured by barbarians, sold into slavery, and rescued by Christian soldiers in Cyrrhus.
To Eustathius, Bishop of Aegae,
The story of the noble Mary belongs in a tragedy. As she herself says, and as several others confirm, she is a daughter of the distinguished Eudaemon. In the catastrophe that has overtaken Libya [likely the Vandal conquest of North Africa], she has fallen from her father's free estate into slavery. Merchants bought her from the barbarians and sold her to people in our region. Sold alongside her was a young woman who had once been her own household servant, so the galling yoke of slavery fell at the same moment on both mistress and maid.
But the servant refused to forget the distinction between them. Even in calamity she preserved her loyalty: after waiting on their common masters, she waited on the woman who was now reckoned her fellow slave -- washing her feet, making her bed, and performing every such service. The purchasers noticed. Soon the whole town heard the story of the mistress's noble birth and the servant's remarkable devotion.
When this reached the ears of the faithful soldiers stationed in our city (I was away at the time), they paid the purchase price and freed the woman from slavery. On my return, when I was told the whole sad story and the admirable generosity of the soldiers, I called down blessings on their heads, placed the noble young woman in the care of a reputable deacon, and arranged sufficient provision for her.
Ten months passed. Then she heard that her father was still alive and holding high office in the West. Naturally, she expressed a desire to return to him. It is reported that many travelers from the West are on their way to the fair being held here, and I ask your holiness to help her find safe passage among them.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.