Letter 95: At the request of Theophilus Anastasius, bishop of Rome, writes to Simplicianus, bishop of Milan, to inform him that he, like Theophilus, has condemned Origen whose blasphemies have been brought under his notice by Eusebius of Cremona. This latter had shown him a copy of the version by Rufinus of the treatise On First Principles. The date of the...

Anastasius, Bishop of Rome, to his lord and brother Simplicianus — greetings. A good shepherd gives unceasing care and vigilance to his flock. A watchman on the tower keeps his eyes on the city by day and by night. A ship's captain in a storm stays alert at the helm, dreading every moment lest wind and wave dash his vessel on the rocks. Our revered brother and fellow bishop Theophilus has shown precisely this kind of tireless pastoral care — never resting in his efforts to ensure that God's people in the various churches are not ruined by reading Origen and running headlong into his blasphemies. I am writing, therefore, to inform Your Holiness that we in Rome — where the prince of the apostles, the glorious Peter, first founded the Church and then by his faith strengthened it — have likewise condemned these books. We have issued a firm directive that no one is to read them, in violation of apostolic teaching. We have urged careful adherence to the precepts that God and Christ have inspired the evangelists to hand on. And we have reminded all concerned of the apostle Paul's solemn warning: "If anyone preaches to you a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8). Holding fast to this command, we declare that everything Origen wrote in former times that is contrary to our faith stands equally condemned by us. Our brother Eusebius of Cremona, a man of proven reliability, brought a copy of the Latin rendering of Origen's "On First Principles" to our attention. Having read it, we can say plainly: it is a mine of blasphemy. The faithful are not to be exposed to it. Write back to us and let us know the state of things in Milan. We are one body in this matter.

From Pope Anastasius to Simplicianus At the request of Theophilus Anastasius, bishop of Rome, writes to Simplicianus, bishop of Milan, to inform him that he, like Theophilus, has condemned Origen whose blasphemies have been brought under his notice by Eusebius of Cremona. This latter had shown him a copy of the version by Rufinus of the treatise On First Principles. The date of the letter is 400 A.D. To his lord and brother Simplicianus, Anastasius. 1. It is felt right that a shepherd should bestow great care and watchfulness upon his flock. In like manner too from his lofty tower the careful watchman keeps a lookout day and night on behalf of the city. So also in the hour of tempest when the sea is dangerous the shipmaster suffers keen anxiety lest the gale and the violence of the waves shall dash his vessel upon the rocks. It is with similar feelings that the reverend and honourable Theophilus our brother and fellow bishop, ceases not to watch over the things that make for salvation, that God's people in the different churches may not by reading Origen run into awful blasphemies. 2. Being informed, then, by a letter of the aforesaid bishop, we inform your holiness that we in like manner who are set in the city of Rome in which the prince of the apostles, the glorious Peter, first founded the church and then by his faith strengthened it; to the end that no man may contrary to the commandment read these books which we have mentioned, have condemned the same; and have with earnest prayers urged the strict observance of the precepts which God and Christ have inspired the evangelists to teach. We have charged men to remember the words of the venerable apostle Paul, prophetic and full of warning:— if any than preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:8 Holding fast, therefore, this precept, we have intimated that everything written in days gone by Origen that is contrary to our faith is even by us rejected and condemned. 3. I send this letter to your holiness by the hand of the presbyter Eusebius, a man filled with a glowing faith and love for the Lord. He has shown to me some blasphemous chapters which made me shudder as I passed judgement on them. If Origen has put forth any other writings, you are to know that they and their author are alike condemned by me. The Lord have you in safe keeping, my lord and brother deservedly held in honour. About this page Source. Translated by W.H. Fremantle, G. Lewis and W.G. Martley. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 6. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1893.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3001095.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.