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| To the Emperor Jovian.
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Letter
LVI.—To the Emperor Jovian.
Copy of a letter of the
Emperor Jovian, sent to Athanasius, the most holy Archbishop of
Alexandria.
To the most religious and friend of God,
Athanasius, Jovian.
Admiring exceedingly the achievements of your
most honourable life, and of your likeness to the God of all, and of
your affection toward our Saviour Christ, we accept you, most honoured
bishop. And inasmuch as you have not flinched from all labour, nor from
the fear of your persecutors, and, regarding dangers and threats of the
sword as dung, holding the rudder of the orthodox faith which is dear
to you, are contending even until now for the truth, and continue to
exhibit yourself as a pattern to all the people of the faithful, and an
example of virtue:—our imperial Majesty recalls you, and desires
that you should return to the office of the teaching of salvation.
Return then to the holy Churches, and tend the people of God, and send
up to God with zeal your prayers for our clemency. For we know that by
your supplication we, and all who hold with us [the Christian faith],
shall have great assistance from the supreme God.
56. Letter of Athanasius to Jovian4673
| 4673 Cf.
Prolegg, ch. ii. §9, and ch. v. §3, h. and supr. p.
487. Athanasius, on the first news of Julian’s death, by a secret
and rapid journey, succeeded in meeting Jovian, when still beyond the
Euphrates on his return from the East. He thus secured the ear of the
new Emperor before the Arian deputation from Alexandria could reach
him. The letter before us (Migne xxvi. 813) was drawn up at Antioch, as
it would seem in response to a request from Jovian on a doctrinal
statement. The short letter of Jovian prefixed to the Epistle is a
formal authorisation for the bishop’s return to his see, with
which, taught by his experience under Julian, he was careful to arm
himself. The documents given as an appendix are notes made at Antioch,
and carefully preserved, of the reception given by Jovian to the Arian
deputation. They are probably the ‘exemplaria’ referred to
in Hist. Aceph. §14 (see note there). They are
characteristic, and interesting in many ways; among others, as shewing
how accurately Jovian had been primed by Athanasius with the leading
facts of his case. | concerning the
Faith.
1. A desire to learn and
a yearning for heavenly things is suitable to a religious Emperor; for
thus you will truly have ‘your heart’ also ‘in the
hand of God4674
| 4674 Prov. xxi. 1. The letter as
given by Theodoret adds, ‘and you will peacefully enjoy a long
reign:’ probably the words were erased from our text on account
of Jovian’s premature death. If genuine, they stamp the
prediction supr. p. 487, as, at least in part, a vaticinium
ex eventu. | .’ Since then your Piety
desired4675
| 4675 Very
probably orally, see Prolegg. ubi supr. | to learn from us the faith of the
Catholic Church, giving thanks for these things to the Lord, we
counselled above all things to remind your Piety of the faith confessed
by the Fathers at Nicæa. For this certain set at nought, while
plotting against us in many ways, because we would not comply with the
Arian heresy, and they have become authors of heresy and schisms in the
Catholic Church. For the true and pious faith in the Lord has become
manifest to all, being both ‘known and read4676
’ from the Divine Scriptures. For in it
both the saints were made perfect and suffered martyrdom, and now are
departed in the Lord; and the faith would have abode inviolate always
had not the wickedness of certain heretics presumed to tamper with it.
For a certain Arius and those with him attempted to corrupt it, and to
introduce impiety in its place, affirming that the Son of God was from
nought, and a creature, and a thing made and changeable. But with these
words they deceived many, so that even ‘they that seemed to be
somewhat were carried away4677
,’ with their
blasphemy. And yet our holy Fathers, as we said before, came promptly
together at the Synod at Nicæa, and anathematised them, and
confessed in writing the faith of the Catholic Church, so that, this
being everywhere preached, the heresy kindled by the heretics might be
quenched. This faith then was everywhere in every Church sincerely
known and preached. But since now certain who wish to renew the Arian
heresy have presumed to set at nought this faith confessed at
Nicæa by the Fathers, and while pretending to confess it, do in
fact deny it, explaining away the ‘Coessential4678
| 4678 This
reference is explained above, Prolegg. ch. ii. §9 sub
fin. | ,’ and blaspheming of their own
accord4679
| 4679 ᾽Αὐτοί, i.e.
adding this, as a feature of their own, to the Arianism they shared
with their predecessors. Acacius seems to be specially referred to; he
had just signed the Homousios with explanations; cf. Pseudo-Ath. de
Hypocr. Melet. et Euseb. | against the Holy Spirit, in affirming
that It is a creature, and came into being as a thing made by the Son, we hasten as of bounden
duty, in view of the injury resulting to the people from such
blasphemy, to hand to your Piety the faith confessed at Nicæa; in
order that thy religiousness may know what has been written with all
accuracy, and how far wrong they are who teach contrary to it.
2. For know, most religious Augustus, that these
things have been preached from time immemorial, and this faith the
Fathers who met at Nicæa confessed; and to it have assented all
the Churches in every quarter, both those in Spain, and Britain, and
the Gauls, and all Italy and Dalmatia, Dacia and Mœsia, Macedonia
and all Greece, and in all Africa and Sardinia, and Cyprus and Crete,
as well as Pamphylia, Lycia and Isauria, and those in Egypt and the
Libyas, Pontus and Cappadocia, and those near at hand to us4680
| 4680 This
points to Antioch as the place of composition, which is fairly certain
on other grounds. | , and the Churches in the East, except a few
who hold with Arius. For of all those above mentioned we have both
learnt the opinion by experience, and we have letters. And you know, O
most religious Augustus, that even if some few speak against this
faith, they cannot create a demurrer4681
| 4681 πρόκριμα, a ‘præjudicium’ or prima facie
objection in their favour. | , inasmuch as
the whole world4682
| 4682 A
pardonable exaggeration, but its very use is significant; cf. de
Syn. 33, and Bright’s note, Later Treatises, p.
20. | holds the Apostolic
faith. For they having long been infected by the Arian heresy, now the
more obstinately oppose the truth. And that your Piety may know,
although you know already, yet we hasten to append the faith confessed
by the Bishops at Nicæa. The faith then confessed at Nicæa by
the Fathers is as follows:—
3. We believe4683
| 4683 Ut
supr. p. 75; the other authorities for the text of the creed in
Hahn §73, note. Cf. Hort, p. 54 sqq. The only important
variant here not noticed by Hort is τὸν ἕνα
κύριον. | , &c.,
&c.
4. By this faith, Augustus, all must needs abide,
as Divine and Apostolic, and none must unsettle it by plausibilities,
and contentions about words, which is what the Arian madmen have done,
saying that the Son of God is from nought, and that once there was when
He was not, and that He is created, and made and changeable. For for
this cause, as we said before, the Synod at Nicæa anathematised
such heresy, but confessed the faith of the truth. For they have not
merely said that the Son is like4684
| 4684 See
above, pp. 83 and 84, note 4, also Prolegg. ii. §8 (2)
b. | the Father,
lest He should be believed merely like God, instead of Very God from
God; but they wrote ‘Coessential,’ which was peculiar to a
genuine and true Son, truly and naturally from the Father. Nor yet did
they make the Holy Spirit alien from the Father and the Son, but rather
glorified Him together with the Father and the Son, in the one faith of
the Holy Triad, because there is in the Holy Triad also one
Godhead.
Appendix to Letter
LVI.
Petition made at Antioch to Jovian the Emperor on
the part of Lucius4685
| 4685 Originally Arian deacon (p. 70), and presently bishop of the
Arians at Alexandria; see Hist. Aceph. p. 499, and Prolegg ch.
ii. §10. | and Bernicianus,
and certain other Arians against Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria.
First Petition which they made as the Emperor was
departing to Camp, at the Roman Gate.
May it please your Might and your Majesty and
your Piety to hear us. The Emperor: ‘Who are you and where
from?’ The Arians: ‘Christians, my Lord.’
Emperor: ‘Where from, and from what city?’ The
Arians: ‘Alexandria.’—Emperor: ‘What
do you want?’ The Arians: ‘May it please your Might
and your Majesty, give us a Bishop.’ Emperor: ‘I
ordered the former one, whom you had before, Athanasius, to occupy the
See.’ The Arians: ‘May it please your Might: he has
been many years both in banishment, and under accusation.’
Suddenly a soldier answered in indignation: ‘May it please your
Majesty, enquire of them who they are and where from, for these are the
leavings and refuse of Cappadocia, the remains of that unholy George
who desolated the city and the world.’ The Emperor on hearing
this set spurs to his horse, and departed to the Camp.
Second Petition of the Arians.
‘We have accusations and clear proofs
against Athanasius, in that ten and twenty years ago he was deprived by
the ever memorable Constantine and Constantius, and incurred banishment
under the most religious and philosophical and blessed Julian.’
Emperor: ‘Accusations ten, twenty, and thirty years old
are now obsolete. Don’t speak to me about Athanasius, for I know
why he was accused, and how he was banished.’
Third Petition of the Arians.
‘And now again, we have certain other
accusations against Athanasius.’ Emperor: ‘The
rights of the case will not appear by means of crowded numbers, and
clamours, but choose two from yourselves, and from the party of the
majority other two, for I cannot answer each one severally.’
Those from the majority: ‘These are the leavings from the
unholy George, who desolated our province, and who would not allow a
counsellor to dwell in the cities.’ The Arians: ‘May
it please you, any one you will except Athanasius.’
Emperor: ‘I told you that the case of Athanasius was
already settled,’ (and then angrily) ‘feri, feri4686
| 4686 i.e.
strike, strike! probably a direction to the guard to silence the
petitioners. | !’ The Arians: ‘May it
please you, if you send Athanasius, our city is ruined, and no one
assembles with him.’ Emperor: ‘Yet I took pains, and
ascertained that he holds right opinions and is orthodox, and teaches
aright.’ The Arians: ‘With his mouth he utters what
is right, but in his soul he harbours guile.’ Emperor:
‘That will do, you have testified of him, that he utters what is
right and teaches aright, but if he teaches and speaks aright with his
tongue, but harbours evil thoughts in his soul, it concerns him before
God. For we are men, and hear what is said; but what is in the heart
God knows.’ The Arians: ‘Authorise our holding
communion together.’ Emperor: ‘Why, who prevents
you?’ The Arians: ‘May it please you, he proclaims
us as sectarians and dogmatisers.’ Emperor: ‘It is
his duty, and that of those who teach aright.’ The Arians:
‘May it please your Might; we cannot bear this man, and he has
taken away the lands of the
Churches.’ Emperor: ‘Oh then, it is on account of property
you are come here, and not on account of the faith’—then he
added—‘go away, and keep the peace.’ Once more he
added to the Arians: ‘Go away to the Church, to-morrow you have a
Communion, and after the dismissal, there are Bishops here, and here is
Nemesinus4687
| 4687 Possibly an imperial notary or registrar, see D.C.B. iv.
15. | , each one of you shall sign as he
believes: Athanasius is here too; whoever does not know the word of
faith, let him learn from Athanasius. You have to-morrow and the day
after, for I am going out to Camp.’ And a certain lawyer4688
belonging to the Cynics petitioned the
Emperor: ‘May it please your Majesty, on account of Bishop
Athanasius, the Receiver-General4689
seized my
houses.’ Emperor: ‘If the Receiver-General seized
your houses what has that to do with Athanasius?’ Another lawyer,
Patalas, said: ‘I have a complaint against Athanasius.’
Emperor: ‘And what have you to do with Christians, being a
heathen?’ But certain of the majority of them of Antioch took
Lucius and brought him to the Emperor, saying: ‘May it please
your Might and your Majesty, look whom they wanted to make a
Bishop!’
Another petition made at the porch of the
palace4690
| 4690 In
the New Town, on the island of the Orontes. | on the part of
Lucius:—‘May it please your Might, listen to me.’
The Emperor stopped and said: ‘I ask you, Lucius, how did you
come here, by sea or by land?’ Lucius: ‘May it
please you, by sea.’ Emperor: ‘Well, Lucius, may the
God of the world, and the radiant sun, and moon, be angry with those
men that made the voyage with you, for not casting you into the sea;
and may that ship never again have fair winds, nor find a haven with
her passengers when in a storm.’ And through Euzoius4691
| 4691 Originally one of the Arian clergy of Alexandria (supr. p.
70), now Arian bishop of Antioch. | the unbelieving Arians asked Probatius and
his fellows, the successors of Eusebius4692
and Bardio as eunuchs, that they might be granted an audience. The
Emperor learned this, and tortured the eunuchs and said: ‘If any
one wants to make a petition against Christians let this be his
fate.’ And so the Emperor dismissed them.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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