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| From Theophilus to Epiphanius.
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Letter XC. From Theophilus to Epiphanius.
Theophilus writes to Epiphanius to convoke a council in
Cyprus for the condemnation of Origenism and asks him to transmit to
Constantinople by a trustworthy messenger a copy of its decrees
together with the synodical letter of Theophilus himself. His anxiety
about this last point is caused by the news that certain of the
excommunicated monks have set sail for Constantinople to lay their case
before the bishop, John Chrysostom. The date of the letter is 400 a.d.
Theophilus to his well-beloved lord, brother, and
fellow-bishop Epiphanius.
The Lord has said to his prophet “See, I have this
day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms to root out and to
pull down and to destroy and…to build and to plant.”2627
In every age he bestows the same grace
upon his church, that His Body2628
may be
preserved intact and that the poison of heretical opinions may nowhere
prevail over it. And now also do we see the words fulfilled. For the
church of Christ “not having spot or wrinkle or any such
thing”2629
has with the sword of the gospel
cut down the Origenist serpents crawling out of their caves, and has
delivered from their deadly contagion the fruitful host of the monks of
Nitria. I have compressed a short account of my proceedings (it was all
that time would allow) into the general letter2630
which I have addressed indiscriminately to all. As your excellency has
often fought in contests of the kind before me, it is your present duty
to strengthen the hands of those who are in the field and to gather
together to this end the bishops of your entire island.2631
A synodical letter should be sent to
myself and the bishop of Constantinople2632
| 2632 i.e. John
Chrysostom who had been raised to the patriarchate in 398 a.d. | and to any others whom you think fit;
that by universal consent Origen himself may be expressly condemned and
also the infamous heresy of which he was the author. I have learned
that certain calumniators of the true faith, named Ammonius, Eusebius,
and Euthymius, filled with a fresh access of enthusiasm in behalf of
the heresy, have taken ship for Constantinople, to ensnare with their
deceits as many new converts as they can and to confer anew with the
old companions of their impiety. Let it be your care, therefore, to set
forth the course of the matter to all the bishops throughout Isauria
and Pamphylia and the rest of the neighbouring provinces: moreover, if
you think fit, you can add my letter, so that all of us gathered
together in one spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ may
deliver these men unto Satan for the destruction of the impiety which
possesses them.2633
And to ensure
the speedy arrival of my despatches at Constantinople, send a diligent
messenger, one of the clergy (as I send fathers from the monasteries of
Nitria with others also of the monks, learned men and continent) that
when they arrive they may be able themselves to relate what has been
done. Above all I beg of you to offer up earnest prayers to the Lord
that we may be able in this contest also to gain the victory; for no
small joy has filled the hearts of the people both in Alexandria and
throughout all Egypt, because a few men have been expelled from the
Church that the body of it might be kept pure. Salute the brothers who
are with you. The people2634
with us salute
you in the Lord.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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