Theodoret of Cyrrhus, Church History 1.15.3-1.16.4
created: This entry is taken from Church History 1.15.3-1.16.4 written by Theodoret of Cy
edition published: 2023-01-20-06:00
language: grc; grc
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https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/374

Caesarea Maritima is indirectly attested at Theodoret of Cyrrhus, Church History 1.15.3-1.16.4. This passage was written ca. 449-458 CE possibly in Cyrrhus. Theodoret served as bishop of Cyrrhus in northwestern Syria in 423-457. Following his wide education in both the Christian and the Greek traditions and a brief monastic devotion, he became a vigorous leader of his diocese, distinguished by his philanthropy, and a prominent theologian, particularly in opposition to Cyril of Alexandria as a staunch and lasting defender of Nestorius. He was a prolific writer, and his many extant works include exegesis, ecclesiastical history, and Christological treatises. In this passage from the Church History, Theodoret records Eusebius’ direct quotation of a letter he had received as bishop of Caesarea from the emperor. The letter probably dates from the late autumn of 335 C.E. or winter of 335-336 C.E. By then Eusebius had returned to Caesarea from Constantinople, where he delivered before Constantine in the Palace his speech on the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, dedicated September, 335 C.E. (Life of Constantine 4.33). Constantine wrote Eusebius to order 50 special bibles (“Divine Scriptures”) for use by the churches of Constantinople, which were growing as the new capital flourished. The production of these copies apparently in multivolume sets of lavish codices would have been carried out at the Ecclesiastical Library of Caesarea.

(15.3) … ὁποῖα δὲ καὶ περὶ τῆς τῶν ἱερῶν βιβλίων κατασκευῆς πρὸς Εὐσέβιον ἔγραψε τὸν Παλαιστῖνον ἐξ αὐτῶν τῶν γραμμάτων καταμαθεῖν εὐπετές. (16.1) “Νικητὴς Κωνσταντῖνος Μέγιστος Σεβαστὸς Εὐσεβίῳ. Κατὰ τὴν ἐπώνυμον ἡμῖν πόλιν, τῆς τοῦ σωτῆρος θεοῦ συναιρομένης προνοίας, μέγιστον πλῆθος ἀνθρώπων τῇ ἁγιωτάτῃ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἀνατέθεικεν ἑαυτό, ὡς πάντων ἐκεῖσε πολλὴν λαβόντων αὔξησιν σφόδρα ἄξιον καταφαίνεσθαι καὶ ἐκκλησίας ἐν αὐτῇ κατασκευασθῆναι πλείους. (2) τοιγάρτοι δέδεξο προθυμότατα τὸ δόξαν τῇ ῆμετέρᾳ προαιρέσει. πρέπον γὰρ κατεφάνη δηλώσαι τοῦτο τῇ σῇ συνέσει, ὅπως ἂν πεντήκοντα σωμάτια ἐν διφθέραις ἐγκατασκεύοις εὐανάγνωστά τε καὶ πρὸς τὴν χρῆσιν εὐπαρακόμιστα ὑπὸ τεχνιτῶν καλλιγράφων καὶ ἀκριβῶς τὴν τέχνην ἐπισταμένων γραφῆναι κελεύσειας, τῶν θείων δηλαδὴ γραφῶν, ὧν μάλιστα τήν τε ἐπισκευὴν καὶ τὴν χρῆσιν τῷ τῆς ἐκκλησίας λόγῳ ἀναγκαίαν εἶναι γινώσκεις. (3) ἀπέσταλται δὲ γράμματα παρὰ τῆς ἡμετέρας ἡμερότητος πρὸς τὸν τῆς διοικήσεως καθολικόν, ὅπως ἂν πάντα τὰ πρὸς τὴν ἐπισκευὴν αὐτῶν ἐπιτήδεια παρασχεῖν φροντίσειεν. ἵνα γὰρ ὡς τάχιστα τὰ γραφέντα σωμάτια κατασκευασθείη, τῆς σῆς ἐπιμελείας ἔργον τοῦτο γενήσεται. καὶ γὰρ δύο δημοσίων ὀχημάτων ἐξουσίαν εἰς διακομιδὴν ἐκ τῆς αὐθεντίας τοῦ γράμματος ἡμῶν τούτου λαβεῖν σε προσήκει. (4) οὕτω γὰρ ἂν μάλιστα τὰ καλῶς γραφέντα καὶ μέχρι τῶν ἡμετέρων ὄψεων ῥᾷστα διακομισθείη, ἑνὸς δηλαδὴ τοῦτο πληροῦντος τῶν ἐκ τῆς σῆς ἐκκλησίας διακόνων, ὃς ἐπειδὰν ἀφίκηται πρὸς ἡμᾶς τῆς ἡμετέρας πειραθήσεται φιλανθρωπίας. ὁ θεός σε διαφυλάξει, ἀδελφὲ ἀγαπητέ.”

[Ed. Parmentier and Hansen 1998]

(15.3) … We can easily ascertain from the letters themselves what he wrote to Eusebius (the bishop) of Palestine concerning the preparation of Holy Bibles: (16.1) “The Victor Constantine Maximus Augustus to Eusebius. Through the sustaining Providence of God our Savior, it happens that great numbers have united themselves to the most Holy Church in the city which is called by my name (sc. Constantinople). It seems, therefore, highly requisite, since that city is rapidly advancing in prosperity in all other respects, that the number of churches should also be increased. (2) Do you, therefore, receive with all readiness my determination on this behalf. I have thought it expedient to instruct your Intelligence to order fifty volumes, leatherbound and ornate, to be written in a highly legible way, easy to carry for use, by skilled calligraphers, keenly knowledgable of their craft, copies that is of the Divine Scriptures, the provision and use of which you know are necessary for discourse in church. (3) The catholicus of the diocese has also received instructions by letter from our Clemency to take care to furnish all things necessary for the preparation of such copies; and the task for your special oversight is to furnish the completed copies as quickly as possible. (4) You are also authorized by virtue of this letter to use two of the public carriages for their conveyance, by which arrangement the copies, when fairly written, will most easily be forwarded for my personal inspection; and one of the deacons of your church may be entrusted with this service, who, on his arrival here, will enjoy my generosity. God protect you, dear brother!”

[Adapted from Jackson 1892 and Parmentier, Hansen, and Bouffartigue 2009, with ref. to Cameron and Hill 1999]

Works Cited

[...] 1 15.3-16.4
[...] 53

Additional Bibliography

[...] 1 15.3-16.4
[...] 166-167, 326-327

[* Eusebius, Life of Constantine 4.35-4.37

* Gelasius of Cyzicus, Church History 3.4.1-3.4.5

* Nicephorus Callistus Xanthopoulos, Church History 8.27 (I 590)

* Socrates, Church History 1.9.50-1.9.55

Cassiodorus, Church History 2.16.1-5]

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