From: Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus
To: Ibas, Bishop of Edessa
Date: ~440 AD
Context: Theodoret reflects on the Vandal devastation of North Africa as a providential warning and introduces Bishop Cyprianus, an African refugee seeking hospitality across the eastern churches.
To Ibas, Bishop of Edessa [one of the major cities of Roman Mesopotamia, modern Urfa in southeastern Turkey],
I believe it is part of God's providential care for our common salvation that he allows certain calamities to fall upon some people. For the chastened, such misfortunes become a healing remedy. For those already striving toward virtue, they are an encouragement to hold firm. And for everyone who witnesses them, they serve as a powerful example -- since it is natural, when we see others punished, to be seized by fear ourselves.
With these thoughts in mind, I view the disaster in Africa [the Vandal conquest of Roman North Africa, which devastated the Catholic church there] as carrying a lesson for all of us. When I recall their former prosperity and then contemplate their sudden ruin, I see how unstable all human affairs are, and I learn a double lesson: not to rejoice in good fortune as though it will last forever, and not to be crushed by calamity as though it were unbearable. Then I remember my own past failings, and I tremble at the thought of suffering a similar fate.
My main reason for writing, however, is to introduce to your holiness the deeply devout bishop Cyprianus. He has come from that famous Africa and is now compelled by the barbarians' savagery to wander through foreign lands. He carries a letter of introduction from the most holy bishop Eusebius, who wisely governs the Galatians.
When your piety has received him with your customary kindness, I ask you to send him on with letters to whatever faithful bishops you think fitting, so that while he enjoys their consolation, he may in turn be the means of their receiving heavenly and lasting blessings.
Letter 52
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To Ibas, Bishop of Edessa.
It is, I think, of His providential care for our common salvation that the God of all brings on some men certain calamities, that chastisement may prove to be to them that have erred a healing remedy; to virtue's athletes an encouragement to constancy; and to all who look on a beneficial exemplar. For it is natural that when we see others punished we should be filled with fear ourselves. In view of these considerations I look on the trouble of Africa as a general advantage. In the first place when I bear in mind their former prosperity and now look on their sudden overthrow, I see how variable are all human affairs, and learn a twofold lesson — not to rejoice in felicity as though it would never come to an end, nor be distressed at calamities as hard to bear. Then I recall the memory of past errors, and tremble lest I fall into like sufferings. My main motive in now writing to you is to introduce to your holiness the very God-beloved bishop Cyprianus, who starting from the famous Africa is now compelled, by the savagery of the barbarians, to travel in foreign lands.
He has brought a letter to us from the very holy bishop the lord Eusebius, who wisely rules the Galatians. When your piety has received him with your wonted kindness I beg you to send him with a letter to whatever pious bishops you may think fit so that while he enjoys their kindly consolation he may be the means of their receiving heavenly and lasting benefits.
◆
From:Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus
To:Ibas, Bishop of Edessa
Date:~440 AD
Context:Theodoret reflects on the Vandal devastation of North Africa as a providential warning and introduces Bishop Cyprianus, an African refugee seeking hospitality across the eastern churches.
To Ibas, Bishop of Edessa [one of the major cities of Roman Mesopotamia, modern Urfa in southeastern Turkey],
I believe it is part of God's providential care for our common salvation that he allows certain calamities to fall upon some people. For the chastened, such misfortunes become a healing remedy. For those already striving toward virtue, they are an encouragement to hold firm. And for everyone who witnesses them, they serve as a powerful example -- since it is natural, when we see others punished, to be seized by fear ourselves.
With these thoughts in mind, I view the disaster in Africa [the Vandal conquest of Roman North Africa, which devastated the Catholic church there] as carrying a lesson for all of us. When I recall their former prosperity and then contemplate their sudden ruin, I see how unstable all human affairs are, and I learn a double lesson: not to rejoice in good fortune as though it will last forever, and not to be crushed by calamity as though it were unbearable. Then I remember my own past failings, and I tremble at the thought of suffering a similar fate.
My main reason for writing, however, is to introduce to your holiness the deeply devout bishop Cyprianus. He has come from that famous Africa and is now compelled by the barbarians' savagery to wander through foreign lands. He carries a letter of introduction from the most holy bishop Eusebius, who wisely governs the Galatians.
When your piety has received him with your customary kindness, I ask you to send him on with letters to whatever faithful bishops you think fitting, so that while he enjoys their consolation, he may in turn be the means of their receiving heavenly and lasting blessings.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.