Library › St Optatus of Milevis › Against the Donatists
Against the Donatists
St Optatus of Milevis, tr. Vassall-Phillips, 1917
13. Appendix 13: Letter of Constantine to Pope Miltiades
Letter of the Emperor Constantine in which he provides for the case concerning Caecilian to be judged at Rome
Constantine Augustus to Miltiades Bishop of Rome and to Marcus.1 Whereas several documents2 have been sent to me from Anulinus, the most illustrious ProConsul of Africa, in which it is shown that Caecilian, Bishop of Carthage, has been accused on many grounds by certain of his fellow-Bishops3 in Africa----since it appears to me a very grievous4 thing that in those Provinces which Divine Providence has freely committed to my fidelity, where there is a vast population, the multitude (as it were divided into twain) are found to be deteriorating, and the Bishops, amongst others, are at variance----I have resolved that this Caecilian with ten of the Bishops who accuse him and ten others whom he himself may choose to aid in his defence, shall sail to Rome; that there in your presence and in the presence of Reticius, Maternus and Marinus your fellow-Bishops, whom I have ordered to hasten to Rome for this purpose, this case may be determined in the manner which you know to be in agreement with the most holy Law.5 Moreover, that you may derive the fullest knowledge of all this business, I have added copies of the documents which were sent me by Anulinus, to my letters to your above-mentioned fellow-Bishops. After you have perused these your Gravity6 will carefully consider in what way this controversy may be most accurately investigated and justly decided. And it will not have escaped your careful observation that so great is my reverence for the most holy Catholic Church that I am absolutely unwilling that any schism or dissension should be left in any place by you.7 My most esteemed one,8 may the Divinity of the Most High God preserve you for many years.
Notes
- καὶ Μάρκῳ. Baronius suspected that the text was here corrupt and suggested ἱεράρχῃ. But Marcus was probably a priest in Rome high in the counsels of Miltiades----very likely the Marcus who succeeded Silvester as Pope (Opt. ii, 3). Μάρκῳ may, however, be a mistake for Μεροκλεί, the Bishop of Milan, who was present at the Roman Council (Opt. i, 23).
- χάρται, called chartae in Coll. Carthag. (diei iii, cccvi).
- κολλήγων αὐτοῦ.
- βαρὺ σφόδρα.
- i.e. of the Catholic Church; cf. p. 333, n. 2:
- ἡὑμετέρα στεῤῥότης.
- ἔν τινι τόμῳ ὑμᾶς καταλιπεῖν.
- τιμιώτατε.