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| To Anatolius the Patrician.
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CXIX. To Anatolius the
Patrician.1903
| 1903 This letter is of the same date as the rest of the present series.
Theodoret has heard of his deposition and is expecting the sentence of
banishment. |
Your excellency has been fully
informed as to the acts of the most righteous judges at Ephesus, for
their sound has gone out into all lands and their most just judgment to
the ends of the world.1904
What church has
not felt the storm that has been raised by it? The one side wronged,
the other were wronged, but they who neither suffered nor did the wrong
share the distress of the wronged, and lament over them that so
savagely and against all laws human and divine massacred their own
members. Even house breakers caught in the very act are first tried and
then punished by their judges; even murderers, violators of sepulchres,
and adulterers, are first haled before the bench, and their accusers
ordered to make their indictment, and the motive of the witnesses is tested to see
that they are not giving evidence to curry favour with the prosecutors,
or are prejudiced against the defendants; and after this they are
bidden to make their defence to the charges brought against them. This
is done twice, thrice; sometimes even four times; and then, and not
till then, after the truth has been sought in the words of both accuser
and accused, the sentence is given. As to how these men judged in the
case of the rest I will say nothing, lest I may seem a meddler in what
does not concern me. I am forced to speak on behalf of myself alone,
for the unrighteous deed of violence compels me. The imperial order
kept me at home, and prevented me from travelling beyond the bounds of
the city placed under my pastoral care. The decision of the synod went
against me, and a man was condemned who was five and thirty days’
journey away.
Now the God of all said to the
patriarch Abraham about Sodom and Gomorrah: “Because the cry of
Sodom and Gomorrah is very great and because their sin is very
grievous; I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether
according to the cry of it which is come unto me; and if not, I will
know.”1905
He knew quite well the wickedness of
those men, and nevertheless He said, “I will go down and
see,” so teaching us to wait for the proof of facts. But these
men never summoned me to trial, they never heard the sound of my voice,
they refused to hear from me a statement of my opinions, and handed me
over, as a victim to be slaughtered, to the rage of the enemies of the
truth.
I, however, welcome my rest, and
especially so at the present time, when the apostolic decrees have been
by many destroyed, and the new heresy strengthened. But lest any one
who does not know me should believe that the slanders uttered against
me are true, and should be scandalized at the idea of my holding
opinions other than those of the gospel, I implore your excellency to
ask as a favour from the victorious sovereign that I may go to the
West, and there plead my cause before the very godly and holy bishops;
and if I be found transgressing in the least degree the rule of the
faith, that I may be plunged into the midst of the deep sea. If he will
not grant you this request, let him at least command me to inhabit my
monastery,1906
which is a hundred and twenty miles
away from Cyrus, seventy-five from Antioch, and lies three miles away
from Apamea.
Of these petitions, if possible,
I ask the former; if not at least I implore that, through your
excellency’s interposition, the second may be granted me. I shall
ever carry the memory of your kindness in my heart and on my lips,
supplicating the Lord of hosts to requite your excellency as well with
present as with future blessings. I am compelled to write to you in
these terms because I have heard that certain persons are endeavouring
to compass my removal from this place. E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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