Letter 132

From: Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus To: Ibas, Bishop of Edessa [a fellow theologian who was also attacked for his Christological views] Date: ~449 AD Context: Theodoret writes to a fellow bishop who has also suffered persecution, urging mutual encouragement and offering solidarity in their shared ordeal. To Ibas, Bishop of Edessa, The Lord has taught those who suffer injustice not to be downcast but to rejoice, and to draw comfort from ancient examples. From the first men down to our own day we find people who were zealous in worshiping the God of all yet were wronged by those around them and fell into many grievous troubles. I would have gone through the entire list, but since you, beloved of God, have been nurtured from boyhood in the divine Scriptures, I thought it unnecessary. I ask only this: cast your eyes on those examples, and look with sorrow on the well-meaning clergy who have done wrong, with pity on those who watch wrongdoing and do nothing, and with grief at the turmoil in the Church. But rejoice and be glad that I am sharing in suffering for the sake of true religion, and praise without ceasing the One who has imposed this lot on me. As for honor, comfort, the prestige of episcopal sees, and wretched reputation -- let us leave all that to the murderers. Let us cling only to the doctrines of the Gospel. With them, if need be, let us endure any extreme of pain, and let us choose honorable poverty over wealth with all its anxieties. I write this not to give you instruction, for I know the courage your holiness shows in trouble. My purpose is to make my own convictions known to you, and to let you know that you have comrades who are gladly risking everything for the truth's sake. I have been wanting to write to you for some time but could find no one to carry the letter. Now I have met with the honorable and devout presbyter Ozeas, a man who is both fighting for the truth and devoted to your person. Through him I send greetings, and I beg you to support me with your prayers and comfort me with a letter in return.

Letter 132 Please help support the mission of New Advent and get the full contents of this website as an instant download. Includes the Catholic Encyclopedia, Church Fathers, Summa, Bible and more — all for only $19.99... To Ibas, Bishop of Edessa. The Lord has taught them that suffer wrong not to be cast down, but to rejoice, and to derive consolation from the examples of old. For from the period of the first men down to our own days we find instances of men who have been zealous in the worship of the God of all, and yet have been wronged by those with whom their lot was cast, and have fallen into many and grievous troubles. Of these I would have gone through the entire list, had I not been writing to one of accurate knowledge of the divine Scriptures. But since you, O beloved of God, have been nurtured from your boyhood in the divine oracles, I have thought it needless so to do. I only ask you to cast your eyes on them, and to look on all the kind-hearted clergy that have done wrong, with sorrow; on all that look lightly on wrong doing, with pity; and to be sorrowful for the disquiet of the Church. I ask you to rejoice and be glad that I am a sharer in suffering for the sake of true religion, and to praise without ceasing Him who has imposed this lot on me. As for honour and comfort and the dignity of sees and wretched reputation, let us yield them to the murderers. Let us cleave only to the doctrines of the gospel, and with them, if need be, endure any extremity of pain, and choose honourable penury rather than wealth with its many cares. I am not writing in these terms in order to give you exhortation, for I know the courage of your holiness in trouble. My object is to make my own mind known to your piety, and to inform you that you have on your side comrades who are gladly incurring peril for the truth's sake. I have been anxious for some time to write thus to you, but I have been unable to find anyone to convey my letter. Now I have met with the very honourable and pious presbyter Ozeas, a man who is at once engaged in the battle for truth and attached to your piety. So I write and salute your holiness, and beg you to give me both the prop of your prayers and the comfort of a letter from you.