Theodoret of Cyrrhus, Letters 110.40.20-42.8
created: This entry is taken from Letters 110.40.20-42.8 written by Theodoret of Cyrrhus
edition published: 2023-06-30-05:00
language: grc; grc
availability: Except for materials quoted from other sources, this entry is copyright 2023 by the contributors (Joseph L. Rife, et al.) and the Caesarea City and Port Exploration Project. It is licensed under the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. Some texts quoted in this entry may be in the public domain in the United States. No copyright is asserted for these quotations. Some texts quoted in this entry may have copyright restrictions and are reused under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)

https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/477

and

Καισαρείας

is directly attested at Theodoret of Cyrrhus, Letters 110.40.20-42.8. This passage was written ca. 448 C.E. possibly in Cyrrhus. Theodoret served as bishop of Cyrrhus in northwestern Syria in 423-457 C.E. 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 persistent defender of Nestorius. He was a prolific writer, and his many extant works include exegesis, ecclesiastical history, and Christological treatises. Hundreds of letters written by Theodoret on a variety of topics also survive. In this letter addressed to Domnus, Bishop of Antioch, probably from spring of 448, he cites the ordination of Domninus as bishop of Caesarea despite his second marriage.

Εἰς δὲ τὸ τῆς διγαμίας, τοῖς πρὸ ἡμῶν ἠκολουθήσαμεν. Καὶ γὰρ ὁ τῆς μακαρίας καὶ ὁσίας μνήμης Ἀλέξανδρος, ὁ τὸν ἀποστολικὸν τοῦτον διακοσμήσας θρόνον, σὺν τῷ μακαριωτάτῳ Ἀκακίῳ τῷ Βεροίας ἐπισκόπῳ, τὸν τῆς μακαρίας μνήμης Διογένην ἐχειροτόνησαν δίγαμον ὄντα· ὡσαύτως δὲ καὶ ὁ μακάριος Πραύλιος Δομνῖνον τὸν Καισαρείας δίγαμον ὄντα. Ἔθει τοίνυν ἠκολουθήσαμεν, καὶ ἀνδράσιν ἐπισήμοις καὶ ἐπὶ γνώσει καὶ βίῳ πολυθρυλήτοις. Πολλὰ δὲ καὶ ἄλλα τοιαῦτα δεδιδαγμένος ὁ τῆς μακαρίας μνήμης Πρόκλος, ὁ τῆς Κωνσταντινουπολιτῶν ἐπίσκοπος, καὶ αὐτὸς τὴν χειροτονίαν ἐδέξατο, καὶ ἔγραψεν ἐπαινῶν καὶ θαυμάζων. Ὡσαύτως δὲ καὶ οἱ πρωτεύοντες τῆς Ποντικῆς διοικήσεως θεοφιλέστατοι ἐπίσκοποι, καὶ οἱ Παλαιστῖνοι πάντες, καὶ οὐδεμία ἀμφιβολία περὶ τούτου γεγένηται· καὶ δυσσεβὲς νομίζομεν τὸ κατακρῖναι ἄνδρα πολλοῖς καὶ παντοδαποῖς κατορθώμασι λαμπρυνόμενον.

[Ed. Azéma 1965]

As to the question of digamy, I have followed my predecessors; for Alexander of blessed and sacred memory, the ornament of this apostolic see, as well as the very blessed Acacius bishop of Beroea, ordained Diogenes of blessed memory, who was digamos. And likewise the blessed Praylius ordained Domninus of Caesarea who was digamos. We have therefore followed precedent, and the example of men well known and illustrious both for learning and character. Proclus, bishop of Constantinople, of blessed memory, well aware of this and many other instances, both himself accepted the ordination and wrote in praise and admiration of it. So too did the leading most loved-by-God bishops of the Pontic diocese and all the Palestinians. “No doubt has been raised about the matter, and we hold it impious to condemn a man illustrious for many and various noble actions.”

[Adapted from Jackson 1892 with ref. to Azéma 1965]

Works Cited

[...] 110 40.20-42.8
[...] 290

[Beroea

Constantinople

Palestine

Pontus]

[Acacius, Bishop of Beroea

Alexander

Domninus, Bishop of Caesarea

Praylius, Bishop of Caesarea

Proclus, Bishop of Constantinople]

[Christianity

Culture and Society

Family

Theology]