Letter 45

From: Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus To: Anatolius, Patrician Date: ~440 AD Context: Theodoret expresses sorrow at losing Anatolius's official protection and begs him to continue shielding the district from the renegade bishop's schemes even from a distance. To the Patrician Anatolius, Your greatness knows well how all the people of the East feel toward your magnificence -- as children feel toward a loving father. Why then have you shown coldness to those who love you, withdrawn your generous care, and driven everyone to tears by putting your own interests ahead of public service? I truly believe there is not one God-fearing person who is not deeply grieved at the loss of your authority in office, and I think even those without right knowledge of divine things, when they remember your kindnesses, share in this distress. For my own part, I am especially sorry when I think of your dignity and your unaffected character. I pray the God of all to protect you always with his invincible right hand and to supply you with every kind of blessing. But I must ask: even though you are no longer present in an official capacity, extend to us your accustomed protection. Help us undo the schemes of our unworthy bishop, whose purposes are perfectly well known to your greatness. He is working, I am told, toward the complete ruin of our district. He has taken up the informer's role to discredit the recent tax assessment -- and this when everyone knows that taxation here is crushing, and that many estates have already been abandoned by their farmers. Yet this man, in contempt of his excommunication and in flight from the holy synod, has turned his tongue against the wretched poor. May your magnificence see to it that the truth is not defeated by a lie. And I bring the same plea on behalf of the Cilicians -- for we will not stop protesting until this injustice is set right.

Letter 45 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 the Patrician Anatolius. Your greatness knows full well how all the inhabitants of the East feel towards your magnificence, as sons feel towards an affectionate father. Why then have you shown hate to them that love you, deprived them of your kindly care, and driven them all to weeping and lamentation by putting your own advantage before the service of others? In truth I think there is not one of them that fear the Lord who is not much grieved at losing your official sway, and I think that even all the rest, although they have not right knowledge about divine things, when they reflect on the kindnesses you have conferred, share in these sentiments of distress. I for my part am specially sorry when I bethink me of your dignity and your unaffected character, and I pray the God of all ever to bestow on you the bulwark of His invincible right hand, and supply you with abundance of all kinds of blessings. We beseech your excellency no less when absent than when present to extend to us your accustomed protection, and to undo the rage of that unworthy bishop of ours whose purposes are perfectly well known to your greatness. He is endeavouring, as I am informed, to work the entire ruin of our district, and has accepted the part of an informer to culumniate the recent visitation, and this when all in a word know that the taxation of our district is very heavy, and that in consequence many estates have been abandoned by the husbandmen. But this man, in contempt of his excommunication, and in flight from the holy synod, has thrust out his tongue against the unhappy poor. May your magnificence then consent to look to it that the truth be not vanquished by a lie. And I bring the same supplication about the Cilicians. For we cease not to wail till the iniquity be undone. The Lord, who promises to reward even a drop of water, will requite you for this trouble.