Theodoret of Cyrrhus→Lupicinus|c. 440 AD|theodoret cyrrhus
To Lupicinus the Master.
I have passed through the contests of my prime. I see the borders of old age ahead of me, and I had expected that age would bring me more honor, not less. Instead I find myself a target of slander and compelled to defend myself against accusations leveled in my absence. Under these circumstances I beg your Excellency not to believe the lies of my accusers.
Had I been living in silence, there might have been room for suspicion of unorthodoxy. But I preach continually in the churches, and therefore have — by God's grace — innumerable witnesses to the soundness of my teaching. I follow the laws and rules of the Apostles. I test my teaching against the faith set down by the holy and blessed Fathers at Nicaea, as one applies a rule and measure. If anyone maintains that I hold a contrary opinion, let him accuse me face to face. Let him not slander me behind my back.
It is fair that even the accused should have an opportunity to speak — to meet the charges against him with his defense — and that only then should the judges lawfully deliver their sentence. This is the one favor I ask through your assistance.
If some men wish to condemn me without a hearing, I accept their unjust sentence willingly. I wait for the judgment of the Master, before whom neither witnesses nor advocates are needed. Before him, as the divine Apostle says, "all things are naked and open."
Letter 90
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To Lupicinus the Master.
I have passed through the contests of my prime. I see before me the confines of old age, and have expected as an old man to have more honour given me. But I am a mark for the shafts of slander, and am driven to meet by defense accusations levelled against me. Under these circumstances, I beseech your excellency not to believe the lies of my accusers. Had I been living a life of silence, there might have been room for the suspicion of unorthodoxy. But I am continually discoursing in the churches, and therefore have, by God's grace, innumerable witnesses to the soundness of what I teach. I follow the laws and rules of the apostles. I test my teaching by applying to it, like a rule and measure, the faith laid down by the holy and blessed Fathers at Nicæa. If any one maintain that I hold any contrary opinion, let him accuse me face to face; let him not slander me in my absence. It is fair that even the defendant should have an opportunity of speech, and meet with his defense the charges brought against him, and that then and not till then should the judges lawfully pronounce their sentence. This favour I beg through your excellency's assistance. If any men wish to condemn me unheard, I accept with willingness even their unjust sentence. For I wait for the judgment of the Master, where we need neither witnesses nor accusers. Before Him, as says the divine Apostle, all things are naked and opened.
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To Lupicinus the Master.
I have passed through the contests of my prime. I see the borders of old age ahead of me, and I had expected that age would bring me more honor, not less. Instead I find myself a target of slander and compelled to defend myself against accusations leveled in my absence. Under these circumstances I beg your Excellency not to believe the lies of my accusers.
Had I been living in silence, there might have been room for suspicion of unorthodoxy. But I preach continually in the churches, and therefore have — by God's grace — innumerable witnesses to the soundness of my teaching. I follow the laws and rules of the Apostles. I test my teaching against the faith set down by the holy and blessed Fathers at Nicaea, as one applies a rule and measure. If anyone maintains that I hold a contrary opinion, let him accuse me face to face. Let him not slander me behind my back.
It is fair that even the accused should have an opportunity to speak — to meet the charges against him with his defense — and that only then should the judges lawfully deliver their sentence. This is the one favor I ask through your assistance.
If some men wish to condemn me without a hearing, I accept their unjust sentence willingly. I wait for the judgment of the Master, before whom neither witnesses nor advocates are needed. Before him, as the divine Apostle says, "all things are naked and open."
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.