# To Dracontius

- Author: [Athanasius of Alexandria](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/authors/athanasius/)
- Latin title: *Epistula ad Dracontium*
- Date: ca. 355 (approximate)
- Source: J.-P. Migne, ed., Patrologiae cursus completus, Series Graeca 25 (Paris: Migne, 1857), Epistula ad Dracontium (reprinting the Benedictine edition of B. de Montfaucon, Paris, 1698)

- Translation: Claude, from the original text, unless a passage says otherwise; each passage below gives the translator
- Editions and translations: Hans-Georg Opitz et al., eds., Athanasius Werke, vol. 2 (Berlin: de Gruyter, 1935–)
- Work page: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-epistula-dracontium/
- Passages: 8

## Letter to Dracontius 1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-epistula-dracontium/1/#p-1
- Source: PG 25:524b
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-12

Summary: Athanasius rebukes Dracontius, a monk newly chosen bishop, for fleeing his appointment, and warns of the harm his flight will do.

### Greek text

’Δπορῶ τί γράψω. ’Δρα γὰρ ὡς παραιτούμενον μέμψομαί σε, ἢ ὡς τὸν καιρὸν ὁρῶντα, καὶ κρυπτόμενον διά τὸν φόβον τῶν Ἰουδαίων ; Πλὴν εἲίτε ἄλλως, εἴτε οὕτως, ἄξιον μέμψεως τὸ παρὰ σοῦ γεγενημὲυ νον, ἀγαπητὶ Δρακόντιε. Οὐ γὰρ ἔπρεπε λαβόντα σε τὴν χάριν κρύπτεσθαι, οὐδὲ φρόνιμον ὄντα, διδόναι τοῖς ἄλλοις προφάσεις φυγῆς. Πολλοὶ γάρ ἀκούσαντες σκανδαλίζονταιο οὐχ ὡς ἀπλῶς τοῦτό σου ποιοῦντος, ἀλλὰ συνορῶν-τος τὸν καιρὸν, καὶ τὰς ἐπικειμένας θλίψεις τῇ Ἐκκλησία. Καὶ φοβοῦμαι μή, διὰ σαυτὸν φεύγων, διʼ ἄλλους εὑρεθῇς κινδυνεύων παρὰ τῷ Κυρίῳ. Εἰ γὰρ ὁ ἕνα τῶν μικρῶν σκανδαλίζων, ἕλοιτʼ ἂν μύλον ὀνικὸν περὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ κρεμασθῆναι, καὶ καταποντισθῆναι· τί ἃν πάθοις σὺ τοσούτοις γινόμενος σκάνδαλον; Καὶ γὰρ ἡ ἐκ παραδόξου γενομένη συμφωνία ἐν τῇ Ἀλεξανὸ δρὲων χώρᾳ, ἐν τῇ καταστάσει, ἐξ ἀνάγκης σχισθήσεται διὰ τὴν σήν ἀναχώρησινο καὶ ἡ ἐπισκοπή δὶ τῆς χώρας αὐτῆς ὑπὸ πολλῶν ἀρπαγήσεται καὶ πολλῶν οὐκ ὀρθῶν. ἀλλʼ ὧν οἶδας καὶ αὐτός, Καί ἐθνικοὶ δὲ οἱ ἐπαγγελλόμενοι Χριστιανοὶ γίνεσθαι ἐπὶ τῇ σῇ καταστάσει, ἁπομενοῦσιν Ἕλληνες, τῆς σῆς εὐλαβείας ἐξουθενούσης τήν δοθεῖσαν χάριν. 

### English translation (Claude)

I am at a loss what to write. Shall I blame you for refusing, or for looking to the times and hiding for fear of the Jews? Either way, what you have done deserves blame, beloved Dracontius. For it was not fitting that you, having received the grace, should hide, nor that you, being a prudent man, should give others pretexts for flight. For many who hear of it are offended, not as though you had done this simply, but because you looked to the times and to the afflictions pressing upon the Church. And I fear that, fleeing for your own sake, you may be found in danger before the Lord on account of others. For if he who causes one of the little ones to stumble would rather have a great millstone hung about his neck and be drowned, what might you suffer, becoming a stumbling block to so many? For the agreement that came about so unexpectedly in the district of the Alexandrians over your appointment will of necessity be broken by your withdrawal; and the episcopate of the district itself will be seized by many, and many who are not orthodox, but men you know yourself. And the heathen who were promising to become Christians on your appointment will remain heathen, since your reverence despises the grace that was given.

### Scripture references

- John 20:19: echo, medium confidence
- Matt 18:6: allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- Letter 49, to Dracontius (ca. 354–355), a monk elected bishop of Hermopolis Parva, who had fled to avoid consecration. “Fear of the Jews”: John 7:13; 20:19, applied figuratively. “Causes one of the little ones to stumble”: Matt 18:6. The scan ends this section with a few lines of Migne's footnotes (variant readings), removed by a logged correction.

### Citation (SBL)

Athanasius, Ep. Drac. 1 (PG 25:524b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-epistula-dracontium/1/#p-1).

## Letter to Dracontius 2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-epistula-dracontium/1/#p-2
- Source: PG 25:525a–525c
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-12

Summary: Athanasius tells Dracontius that a bishop lives for his people, and that hiding the gift is like burying the talent.

### Greek text

Ποία οὖν ἐπὶ τοῖς τοιούτοις ἀπολογία παρά σοῦ δοθήσεται; Ποίοις ἂν ἀπονίψασθαι καὶ ἀπομάξασθαι λόγοις τὰς τοιαύτας αἰτίας δυνήσῃ ; Πῶς θεραπεύσεις τοὺς διὰ σὲ πεσόντας καὶ σκανδαλιζομένους,Ἦ πῶς, μετὰ τὸ σχισθῆναι τήν εἰρήνην, συρῥάψαι ταύτην δυνήσῃ ;Ω ἀγαπητὶ Δρακόντιε, ἀντὶ χαρᾶς λύπην ἡμῖν πεποίηκας, ἀντὶ παραμυθίας στεναγμόν. Προσεδοκοῦμεν γὰρ παραμυθίαν ἔχειν σε μεθʼ ἡμῶν, καὶ νῦν βλέπομεν φεύγοντά σε, καὶ ὁρῶμεν, ὅτι κρινόμενος μὲν έλεγχθήσῃ, κινδυνεύων δὲ μεταμεληθήσῃ. Καὶ τίς φείσεται, ὡς 6 προφήτης εἴρηκεν, ἐπὶ σοί; Τίς ἀνακάμψει ἐπὶ σὲ είς εἰρήνην, ὁρῶν τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς, διʼ οὓς Χριστὸς ἀπέθανε, βλαβέντας ἐπὶ τῇ σῇ φυγῇ; Δεῖ γὰρ εἰδέναι σε καὶ μὴ ἀμφιβάλλειν, ὅτι πρὶν μὶν κατασταθῇς σαυτῷ ἔζης, κατασταθεὶς δὶ, οἷς κατεστάθης. Καὶ πρίν μὲν λάβῃς τήν τῆς ὶπισκοπῆς χάριν, οὐδεὶς ἐγίνωσκέ σε· γενόμενον δὲ λοιπὸν, οἱ λαοὶ προσδοκῶσι φέροντά σε τροφὴν αὐτοῖς, τὴν ἐκ τῶν Γραφῶν διδασκαλίαψ ὅταν τοίνυν οἱ προσδοκῶντες λιμώττωσι, σὺ δὲ σαυτὸν μόνον τρέφῃς, καὶ ἔλθῃ 6 Κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς, ἡμεῖς τε αύτῷ παραστῶμεν, ποίαν σχοίης ἀπολογίαν, ὁρῶντος αὐτοῦ τὰ ἵδια πρόβατα λιμώττοντα ; Εἰ μὲν γὰρ μὴ εἶλήφεις τὰ δηνάρια, οὐκ ἃν ἐμέμψατό σε. λαβόντα δὲ καὶ χώσαντα καὶ κρύψαντα, μέμψαιτʼ ἂν εἰκότως, λέγων ἐκεῖνα τὰ ῥή ματα, ἃ μὴ γένοιτο, κᾶν ἀκοῦσαι τὴν σὴν εὐλάβειαν ο Ἔδει σε βαλεῖν τὰ δηνάριά μου τοῖς τραπεζίταις, ἵνα ἐλθὼν κάγὼ παρʼ ἐκείνων ἀπαιτήσω.

### English translation (Claude)

What defense, then, will you give for such things? With what words will you be able to wash off and wipe away such charges? How will you heal those who have fallen and been offended because of you? Or how will you be able to stitch the peace together again once it has been torn? O beloved Dracontius, instead of joy you have caused us grief, instead of comfort, groaning. For we expected to have you with us as a comfort, and now we see you fleeing, and we see that, when judged, you will be convicted, and, when in danger, you will repent. And who, as the prophet said, will spare you? Who will turn to you in peace, seeing the brothers for whom Christ died harmed by your flight? For you must know, and not doubt, that before you were appointed you lived for yourself, but once appointed, for those for whom you were appointed. And before you received the grace of the episcopate, no one knew you; but now that you have become a bishop, the people expect you to bring them food, the teaching from the Scriptures. When, then, those who expect it go hungry, and you feed yourself alone, and our Lord Jesus Christ comes and we stand before him, what defense would you have when he sees his own sheep starving? For if you had not received the money, he would not have blamed you; but having received it and buried it and hidden it, he would rightly blame you, speaking those words which God forbid your reverence should ever hear: “You ought to have put my money with the bankers, so that when I came I might demand it from them.”

### Scripture references

- Jer 15:5: quotation, high confidence
- 1 Cor 8:11: allusion, high confidence
- Matt 25:27: quotation, high confidence
- Luke 19:23: allusion, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- “Who will spare you?”: Jer 15:5. “The brothers for whom Christ died”: Rom 14:15; 1 Cor 8:11. “You ought to have put my money …”: Matt 25:27 (Luke 19:23).

### Citation (SBL)

Athanasius, Ep. Drac. 2 (PG 25:525a–525c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-epistula-dracontium/1/#p-2).

## Letter to Dracontius 3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-epistula-dracontium/1/#p-3
- Source: PG 25:525c–529b
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-12

Summary: Athanasius urges Dracontius not to serve the times but the Lord, and points to Moses, Jeremiah and Jonah, who tried to refuse their calling but obeyed.

### Greek text

Παρακαλῶ φεῖσαι σεαυτοῦ καὶ ἡμῶν· σαυτοῦ μὶν,ίνα μὴ κινδυνεύσῃςο ἡμῶν δὲ,ίνα μὴ λυπηθῶμεν ἐπὶ σοί. Φρόντιζε τῆς Ἐκκλησίαςξίνα μὴ διὰ σὶ πολλοι τῶν μικρῶν βλαβῶσι, καὶ οἱ ἄλλοι δὲ πρόφασιν λάβωσιν εἷς τὰ ἀναχωρεῖν. Εἰ μὲν οὗν τὸν καιρὸν ἐφοβήθης, καὶ καταπτήξας τσῦτο ἐποίησας, οὐκ ἀνδρικὸν τὸ φρόνημσο ἔδει γὰρ τὸν κατά Χριστόν ζῆλον ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις ἐπιδείκνυσθαι, καὶ μᾶλλον ἐν ταῖς περιστάσεσι παρρησιάζεσθαι, λέγειν τε τὰ τοῦ μακαρίου Παύλου ῥήματα· Ἐν τούτοις πᾶσιν ὑπερνικῶμεν· καὶ μάλιστα, ὅτι οὐ πρέπειτῷ καιρῷ δουλεύειν, ἀλλὰ τῷ Κυρίῳ* εἶ δὲ τῶν Ἐκκλησιῶν ἡ διάταξις οὐκ ἀρέσκει σοι, οὐδὲ νομίζεις τὸ τῆς ἐπισκοπῆς λειτούργημα μισθὸν ἔχειν, ἀλλὰ καταφρονεῖν τοῖʼ) ταῦτα διαταξαμένου Σωτῆρος πεποίηκας σαυτόν· παρακαλῶ, μὴ τοιαῦτα λογίζου, μηδὲ ἀνέχου τῶν ταῦτα συμβουλευόντωνο ού γὰρ ἄξια Δρακοντίου ταῦτα. ’Δ γὰρ 6 Κύριος διὰ τῶν ἀποστόλων τετύπωκε, ταῦτα καλᾶ καὶ βέβαια μένει · ἡ δὲ τῶν ἀδελφῶν δειλία παύσεται. … Γραφᾶς,οόκ ἂν παρὰ ταύτας συνεβούλευον. Ὥρα γάρ αὐτοὺς καὶ τὸν Ἰερεμίαν καταμέμφεσθαι, καὶ τὸν μέγαν αἰτιᾶσθαι Μωσῆν, ὅτι την τούτων συμβουλὴν οὐκ ἤκουσαν, ἀλλὰ τὸν Θεὸν φοβηθέντες, τὴν διακονίαν ἐτέλεσαν, καὶ προφητεύοντες ἐτελειώθησαν. Καὶ γὰρ αὐτοὶ ἀποσταλέντες, καί λαβόντες ἤδη τὴν τῆς προφητείας χάριν, παρῃτήσαντο μὲν, ἐφοβήθησαν δὶ μετὰ ταῦτα, καὶ οὐκ ἐξουδένωσαν τὸν ἀποστείλαντα. Εἴτε τοίνυν ἰσχνόφωνος εἴ, καὶ βραὸύγλωσσος, ἀλλὰ φοβήθητι τὸν πλάσαντά σε Θεόν* εἴτε νεώτερον σαυτὸν λέγεις πρὸς τὸ κήρυγμα, ἀλλʼ εὐλαβοῦ τὸν γινώσκοντά σε πρὸ τοῦ πλασθῆναι· εἷʼτε λόγον δέδωκας (ὁ δὲ λόγος τοῖς ἁγίοις ὡς ὅρκος ἦν), ἀλλᾶ ἀνάγνωθι τὸν Ἰερεμίαν, πῶς καὶ αὐτὸς εἰρηκὼς, Οὐ μὴ ὀνομάσω τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου, ὕστερον δὲ φοβηθεὶς τὸ ἐν αὖτῷ πῦρ γενόμενον,οὗκέτι, ὡς εἷʼρηκε, πεποίηκεν, οὐδὲ ὡς προληφθεὶς τῷ ὅρκῳ ἐκρύβη· ἀλλά τὸν ἐγχειρίσαντα εὐλαβούμενος, τετελείωκε τὴν προφητείαν. Ἥ οὐκ οἶδας, ἆγαπητὲ, ὅτι καὶ Ἰωνᾶς φεύγων, γέγονε μὶν, ὡς γέγονε, μετά δὲ ταῦτα πάλιν προεφήτευσεν ;

### English translation (Claude)

I beseech you, spare yourself and us: yourself, lest you be in danger; us, lest we grieve over you. Take thought for the Church, lest many of the little ones be harmed because of you, and the others take a pretext for withdrawing. If you feared the times and did this out of cowardice, the thought is not manly; for you ought to show zeal according to Christ in such circumstances, and rather to speak boldly in difficulties, and to say the words of blessed Paul, “In all these things we are more than conquerors,” especially since we ought to serve not the time but the Lord. But if the ordering of the churches does not please you, and you do not think that the ministry of the episcopate has a reward, but have brought yourself to despise the Savior who ordained these things, I beseech you, do not think such things, nor tolerate those who counsel them; for these things are not worthy of Dracontius. For what the Lord ordained through the apostles remains good and sure; and the cowardice of the brothers will cease. … [5] … the Scriptures, they would not counsel contrary to them. For it is time for them to find fault with Jeremiah too and to accuse the great Moses, because they did not listen to such counsel, but, fearing God, fulfilled their ministry and were perfected in prophesying. For they too, when sent and having already received the grace of prophecy, at first declined, but afterwards feared, and did not despise him who sent them. Whether, then, you are weak of voice and slow of tongue, fear God who formed you; or if you say you are too young for preaching, revere him who knew you before you were formed; or if you have given your word (and to the saints a word was like an oath), read Jeremiah, how he too, having said, “I will not name the name of the Lord,” afterwards, fearing the fire that came to be in him, did not do as he had said, nor hide himself as bound by an oath, but, revering him who had entrusted it to him, completed his prophecy. Or do you not know, beloved, that Jonah too fled, and what happened to him happened, but afterwards he prophesied again?

### Scripture references

- Rom 8:37: quotation, high confidence
- Rom 12:11: allusion, medium confidence
- Exod 4:10: allusion, high confidence
- Jer 1:6: allusion, high confidence
- Jer 1:5: allusion, high confidence
- Jer 20:9: quotation, high confidence
- Jonah 1:3: allusion, high confidence
- Jonah 3:4: allusion, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- In the scan this section is interrupted after “will cease” by pages of another work: passages of the letters of the council of Sardica preserved in the Defence against the Arians (from ch. 37 and ch. 45), which were removed by a logged correction. The rest of chapter 3, all of chapter 4 and the beginning of chapter 5 of this letter are lost; the scan resumes in the middle of a sentence (marked [5] …). “In all these things we are more than conquerors”: Rom 8:37. “Serve not the time but the Lord”: Rom 12:11, in the reading καιρῷ/κυρίῳ. Moses slow of tongue: Exod 4:10. Jeremiah too young, known before he was formed: Jer 1:5–6. “I will not name the name of the Lord”: Jer 20:9. Jonah: Jonah 1:3; 3:1–4.

### Citation (SBL)

Athanasius, Ep. Drac. 3 (PG 25:525c–529b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-epistula-dracontium/1/#p-3).

## Letter to Dracontius 6

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-epistula-dracontium/1/#p-6
- Source: PG 25:529b–529d
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-12

Summary: Athanasius urges Dracontius to fear the judgment and take up the charge entrusted to him.

### Greek text

Μή τοίνυν ἄλλα παρᾶ ταῦτα συμβουλεύου. Μᾶλλον γὰρ ἡμῶν οἶδεν ὁ Κύριος τὰ ἡμῶν, καὶ οἶδε τίσιν ἐγχειρίζει τὰς ἑαυτοῦ Ἐκκλησίας. Κᾶν γὰρ μὴ ἄξιός τις τυγχάνῃ, ἀλλὰ μή πρὸς τὸν πρότερον βίον ἀποβλεπέτω, ἀλλὰ την διακονίαν ἐκτελείτω· ’ίνα μή πρὸς τῷ βίῳ καὶ τήν ἐκ τῆς ἀμελείας κατάραν ἀπενέγκηται. Ἀρα γὰρ, άγαπητὶ Δρακόντιε, ταῦτα γινώσκων καὶ συνετὸς τυγχάνων, οὗ κατανύττῃ την ψυχήν ; Οὑ φροντίζεις μή ἀπόληταί τις τῶν ἐγχειρισοι ξʼοὐ φλέγῃὴ ὡς διπὸ πυρὸς τοῦ-συνειδότος ; Οὐ φοβῇ τὴν ἡμέραν τῆς κρίσεως, ἐν οὖδεὶς τῶν συμβουλευόντων νῦν ἐκεῖ γενήσεται βοηθός; Ἕκαστος γὰρ τῶι ἐγχειρισθέντων αὖτῷ καὶ λόγον ἀποδώσει. Ῥί γὰρ ὤνησε τὸν κρύψαντα τὸ δηνάριον ἠ πρόφασις; Ἦ τί ὠφέλησε τὸν Ἀδάμ εἰρηκότα, Ἡ γυνή με ἠπάτησεν; ’Δγαπητέ Δρακόντιε, εἰ καὶ ἀληθῶς ἀσθενὴς τυγχάνεις, ἀλλὰ ἀναλαβεῖν σε τὴν φροντίδα πρέπει, ’ίνα μή, τῆς Ἐκκλησίας ἐρήμου τυγχανούσης. οἳ ἐχθροῖ ταύτην βλάψωσι, πρόφασιν εὑρόντες τὴν σʼἧν φυγήν. Πρέπει σε ἀναζώσασθαι, ἵνα μὴ μόνους ἡμᾶς ἀφῇς ἐν τῷ ἀγῶνιο πρέπει σε συγκαμεῖν, ’ἕνα μετὰ πάντων καὶ τὸν μισθὸν ἆπολάβῃς.

### English translation (Claude)

Do not, then, take counsel contrary to this. For the Lord knows our affairs better than we do, and knows to whom he entrusts his churches. For even if someone is not worthy, let him not look to his former life, but let him fulfill the ministry, lest, besides his life, he incur also the curse for neglect. Are you not, beloved Dracontius, knowing these things and being intelligent, pricked in your soul? Are you not anxious lest any of those entrusted to you perish? Are you not burned as by the fire of conscience? Do you not fear the day of judgment, on which none of those who now counsel you will be there to help? For each will also give account of those entrusted to him. What did his pretext profit the man who hid the money? Or what did it profit Adam to say, “The woman deceived me”? Beloved Dracontius, even if you are truly weak, yet it is fitting that you take up the charge, lest, the Church being left desolate, the enemies harm it, finding your flight a pretext. It is fitting that you gird yourself, lest you leave us alone in the contest; it is fitting that you labor with us, so that with all you may also receive the reward.

### Scripture references

- Jer 48:10: allusion, medium confidence
- Heb 13:17: allusion, medium confidence
- Matt 25:25: allusion, high confidence
- Gen 3:13: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- The curse for neglect: Jer 48:10 (“cursed is he who does the work of the Lord negligently”). Giving account: Heb 13:17. The hidden money: Matt 25:25. “The woman deceived me”: Gen 3:13.

### Citation (SBL)

Athanasius, Ep. Drac. 6 (PG 25:529b–529d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-epistula-dracontium/1/#p-6).

## Letter to Dracontius 7

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-epistula-dracontium/1/#p-7
- Source: PG 25:529d–532b
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-12

Summary: Athanasius reminds Dracontius of other monks who became bishops, served well, and turned many to Christ.

### Greek text

Σπεῦδει τοιγαροῦν, ἂγαπητὶ, μηκέτι βραδύνων, μηδὲ ἀνέχουιτῷν σε κωλυοντων, ἀλλὰ τοῦ δεδωκότος ινδήσθητι· καὶ διῦρο πρὸς ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἀγαπῶντάς σε, τοὺς συμβουλεύοντάς σοι τὰ τῶν Γραφῶν, ’ἱνα καὶ παρʼήμῶν προπεμφθῇς, καὶ λειτουργῶν έν ταῖς Ἐκκλησίαις μνημονεύσῃς καὶ ὑπὶρ 06 γὰρ σὺ μόνος ἐκ μοναχῶν κατεστάθης, οὐδὲ σὺ μόνος προέστης μοναστηρίου, ἢ μόνος ὑπὸ μοναχῶν ἠγαπήθης· ἀλλʼ οἶδας, ὅτι καί Σεραπίων μοναχός ἐστι, καὶ τόσων μοναχῶν προέστη· οὐκ ἔλαθέ σε, πόσων μοναχῶν πατὴρ γέγονεν ’Δπολλώς. οἶδας ’Δγάθωνα, καὶ ούκ ἀγνοεῖς ’Δρίστωνα- μνημονεύεις ’Δμμωνίου, τοῦ μετὰ Σαραπίωνος ἀποδημήσαντος · ἴσως δὲ ἤκουσας καὶ περὶ Μουίτου ἐν τῇ ἅνω Θηβαίδι, καὶ δύνάσαι μαθεῖν περί Παύλου τοῦ έν τῷ Λατῷ. καὶ περὶ ἄλλων πολλῶν. Καὶ ὅμως οὗτοι, κατασταθέντες, οὐκ ἀντειρήκασιν, ἀλλʼ ’ἔχοντες τύπον τὸν Ἐλισσαῖον, καὶ εῗδότες τὰ κατὰ Ἑλίαν, μαθόντες τε τὰ κατὰ τοὺς μαθητὰς καὶ ἀποστόλους, ἀντελάβοντο τῆς φροντίδος, καὶ ού κατεφρόνησαν τῆς λειτουργίας,καὶ οὔτε χείρους ἑαυτῶν γεγόνασιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ μᾶλλον τοῦ καμάτου τὸν μισθὸν προσδοκῶσι, προκόπτοντες καὶ προκόπτειν ἄλλους νουθετοῦντες. Πόσους ἀπὸ τῶν εἰδώλων ἐπέστρεψαν ; Πόσους ἀπὸ τῆς δαιμονιώδους συνηθείας ἔπαυσαν νουθετοῦντες; Πόσους παρέστησαν τῷ Κυρίῳ δούλους, ὥστε καὶ τοὺς δρῶντας τὰ σημεῖα ταῦτα βλέποντας θαυμάζειν ; Ἣ οὐχὶ μέγα σημεῖον κόρην ποιῆσαι παρθενεύειν, καὶ νεώτερον ἐγκρατεύεσθαι, καὶ είδωλολάτρην ἐπιγνῶναι τὸν Χριστόν;

### English translation (Claude)

Hasten, then, beloved, delaying no longer, and do not tolerate those who hinder you, but remember him who gave you the grace; and come to us who love you and counsel you what is in the Scriptures, so that you may be sent forth by us as well, and, ministering in the churches, may remember us too. For you are not the only one appointed from among the monks, nor the only one who presided over a monastery, nor the only one loved by monks; but you know that Serapion too is a monk, and presided over so many monks; you are not unaware of how many monks Apollos has been father; you know Agathon, and you are not ignorant of Ariston; you remember Ammonius, who went abroad with Serapion; perhaps you have heard also of Muitus in the Upper Thebaid, and you can learn about Paul at Latopolis, and about many others. And yet these, when appointed, did not refuse; but, having Elisha as a pattern, knowing what concerned Elijah, and having learned about the disciples and apostles, they took up the charge and did not despise the ministry; nor have they become worse than themselves, but rather they expect the reward of their labor, advancing themselves and exhorting others to advance. How many have they turned from idols? How many have they stopped from demonic habits by their admonitions? How many have they presented as servants to the Lord, so that even those who see these signs marvel? Or is it not a great sign to make a girl live as a virgin, a young man live in continence, and an idolater come to know Christ?

### Scripture references

- 1 Kgs 19:19: allusion, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- The monk-bishops named include Serapion of Thmuis, to whom Athanasius wrote the Letters to Serapion. Latopolis renders “ἐν τῷ Λατῷ”. Elisha's call: 1 Kgs 19:19–21. A few letters are lost in the scan after “may remember us too”.

### Citation (SBL)

Athanasius, Ep. Drac. 7 (PG 25:529d–532b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-epistula-dracontium/1/#p-7).

## Letter to Dracontius 8

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-epistula-dracontium/1/#p-8
- Source: PG 25:532b
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-12

Summary: Athanasius argues that the saints grew in holiness precisely by fulfilling the ministries to which they were sent.

### Greek text

Μὴ τοίνυν κωλυέτωσάν σε μοναχοὶ, ὡς μόνον ἐκ μοναχῶν κατασταθέντα, μηδὶ σὺ προφασίζου, ὡς χείρων σεαυτοῦ ἐσόμενος · δύνασαι γὰρ καὶ κα- Αίων γενέσθαι μιμούμενος τὸν Παῦλον, ζηλῶν τῶν ἁγίων τὰς πράξεις. Οἶδας γὰρ, ὅτι οἱ τοιοῦτοι, οἰκονόμοι τῶν μυστηρίων κατασταθέντες, μᾶλλον κατὰ σκοπὸν ἐδίωκον είς τὸ βραβεῖον τῆς ἅνω κλήσεως, Πότε Παῦλος ἐμαρτύρησε, καὶ τὸν στέφανον λαβεῖν προσεδόκησεν, εἰ μὴ ὅτε ἀπεστάλη διδάσκειν; Πότε Πέτρος ὡμολόγησεν, εί μὴ ὅτε εὐηγγελίζετο, καὶ ἁλιεὺς ἀνθρώπων γέγονες Πότε Ἠλίας ἀνελήφθη, εἰ μὴ ὅτε πᾶσαν τὴν προφητείαν ἐπλήρωσε ; Πότε Ἐλισσαῖος ἐν πνεύματι ἔσχε διπλᾶ, εί μή ὅτε πάντα καταλιπὼν ἠκολούθησε τῷ Ἦλίᾳ; Διὰ τί δὲ καὶ ἐξελέξατο μαθητὰς ὁ Σωτὴρ, εὶ μὴ ’ίνα καὶ ἀποστείλῃ ς

### English translation (Claude)

Let not the monks, then, hinder you, as though you were the only one appointed from among the monks; nor make the excuse yourself that you will become worse than you are; for you can even become better, imitating Paul and emulating the deeds of the saints. For you know that such men, appointed stewards of the mysteries, pressed on all the more toward the goal, for the prize of the upward call. When did Paul bear witness and expect to receive the crown, if not when he was sent to teach? When did Peter confess, if not when he was preaching the gospel and had become a fisher of men? When was Elijah taken up, if not when he had fulfilled all his prophecy? When did Elisha have a double portion in the spirit, if not when he had left all and followed Elijah? And why did the Savior choose disciples, if not that he might also send them out …

### Scripture references

- 1 Cor 4:1: allusion, high confidence
- Phil 3:14: quotation, high confidence
- 2 Tim 4:8: allusion, high confidence
- Matt 4:19: allusion, high confidence
- 2 Kgs 2:11: allusion, high confidence
- 2 Kgs 2:9: allusion, high confidence
- 1 Kgs 19:21: allusion, medium confidence
- Mark 3:14: allusion, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- Stewards of the mysteries: 1 Cor 4:1. “Toward the goal …”: Phil 3:14. Paul's crown: 2 Tim 4:7–8. Fisher of men: Matt 4:19. Elijah taken up: 2 Kgs 2:11; Elisha's double portion: 2 Kgs 2:9. The section breaks off at the foot of a column; the following lines are lost in the scan.

### Citation (SBL)

Athanasius, Ep. Drac. 8 (PG 25:532b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-epistula-dracontium/1/#p-8).

## Letter to Dracontius 9

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-epistula-dracontium/1/#p-9
- Source: PG 25:532b–533b
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-12

Summary: Athanasius answers the claim that the episcopate leads to sin: bishops can be as ascetic as monks, and the crown depends on deeds, not on place.

### Greek text

Ὅθεν, τούτους ἔχων τύπον, ἀγαπητὶ Δρακόντιε, μὴ λέγε, μηδὲ πείθου τοῖς λέγουσιν ἁμαρτίας εἶναι πρόφασιν τήν ἐπισκοπὴν, μηδὲ ὅτι ἐκ ταύτης tem z'os ἁμαρτάνειν ent: -ἓέέσὲι ’,δέκα ιιιἑέ σκοπον ὄντα σε πεινᾷν, καὶ διψῆν, ὡς ὁ Παῦλος δύνασαι μὴ πιεῖν οἶνον, ὡς ὁ Τιμόθεος· καὶ νηστεύειν καὶ αὐτὸς συνεχῶς, ὡς ὁ Παῦλος ἐποίει· ἵνα κατʼ ἐκεῖνον οὕτως νηστεύων, χορτάζῃς ἄλλους ἐν τοῖς λόγοις, καὶ διψῶν ἐν τῷ μὴ πιεῖν, ποτίζῃς ἄλλους διδάσκων, Μὴ οὖν ταῦτα προβαλλέτωσαν οἱ συμβουλεύοντες σοι. Οἴδαμεν γὰρ καὶ ἐπισκόπους νηστεύοντας, καὶ μοναχοὺς ἐσθίοντας. οἷδαμεν καὶ ἐπισκόπους μὴ πίνοντας οἶνον, μοναχοὺς δὲ πίνοντας· οἴδαμεν καὶ σημεῖα ποιοῦντας ἐπισκόπους, μοναχοὺς δὲ μὴ ποιοῦντας. Πολλοὶ δὲ τῶν ἐπισκόπων οὖδὶ γεγαμήκασι, μοναχοὶ δὲ πατέρες τέκνων γεγόνασιν· ὥσπερ καὶ ἐπισκόπους πατέρας τέκνων, καὶ μοναχοὺς ἐξ ὁλοκλήρου γένους τυγχάνοντας.Καὶ πάλιν οἴδαμεν κληρικοὺς πεινῶντας, μοναχοὺς δὲ νηκεκώλυται. Ἀλλά πανταχοῦ τις ἀγωνιζέσθω· καὶ γὰρ ὁ στέφανος οὗ κατᾶ τόπον, ἀλλά κατὰ τήν πρᾶξιν ἀποδίδοται.

### English translation (Claude)

Therefore, having these as your pattern, beloved Dracontius, do not say, nor believe those who say, that the episcopate is an occasion of sin, nor that from it … to sin. … you, being a bishop, can hunger and thirst, as Paul did; you can drink no wine, as Timothy; and you can fast continually yourself, as Paul used to do; so that, fasting like him, you may feed others with your words, and, thirsting by not drinking, you may give others drink by teaching. So let those who counsel you not put these things forward. For we know bishops who fast and monks who eat; we know bishops who do not drink wine and monks who do; we know bishops who work signs and monks who do not. And many of the bishops have not even married, while monks have become fathers of children; just as we know bishops who are fathers of children, and monks who are of a whole family. And again we know clergy who hunger, and monks who … is forbidden. But let a man strive everywhere; for the crown is given not according to place but according to action.

### Scripture references

- 2 Cor 11:27: allusion, high confidence
- 1 Tim 5:23: allusion, high confidence
- 2 Cor 6:5: allusion, medium confidence
- 1 Cor 9:25: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- Two passages are unreadable or lost in the scan (marked …): after “nor that from it”, and after “clergy who hunger, and monks who”. Hunger and thirst: 2 Cor 11:27; Timothy and wine: 1 Tim 5:23; fasting: 2 Cor 6:5; 11:27. The statement that some bishops were married and fathers is Athanasius's own, as a matter of fact in his time.

### Citation (SBL)

Athanasius, Ep. Drac. 9 (PG 25:532b–533b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-epistula-dracontium/1/#p-9).

## Letter to Dracontius 10

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-epistula-dracontium/1/#p-10
- Source: PG 25:533b–536d
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-12

Summary: Athanasius urges Dracontius to return before Easter, and sends Hierax and Maximus to persuade him.

### Greek text

Οὐκοῦν μή ἀνέχου τῶν ἕτερα παρὰταῦτα συμβους λευόντων, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον ἐπείγου, καὶ μὴ μέλλε· μάλιστα ὅτι καὶ ἡ ἁγία ἐορτή ἐγγίζει,“ίνα μὴ χωρὶς σοῦ οἾ. λαοὶ τὴν ἑορτὴν ποιήσωσι, καὶ μέγαν κίνδυνον ἐπισπάσῃ κατὰ σαυτοῦ. Τίς γὰρ αὐτοῖς εύαγγελίσεται τὸ Πάσχα μὴ παρόντος σου ; Τίς αὐτοῖς τὴν ἡμέραν ἀναγγελεῖ τῆς ἀναστάσεως, κρυπτομένου σου; Τίς αὐτοῖς συμβουλεύσει δεόντως ἑορτάζειν, φεύγοντάς σου ; Ὢ πόσοι μὲν ὠφεληθήσονταιπαραγενομένουʼσου, πόσοι δὲ βλαβήσονται φεύγοντάς σου i Καὶ τίς ἐπὶ τούτοις ἀποδέξεται σε ;Καὶ διὰ τί σκοπῆς, αὐτοὶ θέλοντες ἔχειν πρεσβυτέρους; Εἰ γὰρ φαῦλος τυγχάνεις, μὴ συνέστωσάν σοι· εἷ δὲ ἐπιτήδειον εἶναί σε ἐπιγινώσκουσι, μή φθονείτωσαν τοῖς ἄλλοις εί γὰρ τό διδάσκειν καὶ προΐστασθαι πρόφασίς ἐστιν ἁμαρτίας κατʼ ἐκείνους, μὴ διδασκέσθωσαν αὐτοὶ, μηδὲ πρεσβυτέρους ἐχέτωσαν, ’ίνα μή χείρους ἱαυτῶν γένωνται αὐτοί τε καὶ οἱ διδάσκοντες αὐτούς. Ἀλλὰ μή πρόσεχε τούτοις τοῖς ἀνθρωπίνοις ῥήμασι, μηδὲ. ἀνέχου τῶν ταῦτα συμβουλευόντων, καθὰ ποΛλάκις προεῖπον ’ σπεῦδε δὲ μᾶλλον καὶ ἐπίστρεφε πρὸς τὸν Κύριον, ἵνα, τῶν προβάτων αὐτοῦ φροντίζων, μνημονεύσῃς καὶ ἡμῶν. Τούτου δὶ χάριν προετρεψάμην ἐλθεῖν τοὺς ἀγαπητοὺς ἡμῶν Ἰέρακα τὸν πρεσβύτερον, καὶ Μάξιμον τὸν ἀναγνώστην· ’ίνα καί διὰ λόγων σε προτρέψωνται, καί μαθεῖν δυνηθῇς ἐκ τούτου τήν τε διάθεσιν ἣν ἔχων ἔγραψα, κῗῖδτὸν ἐκ τοῦ ἀντιλέγειν τῇ ἐκκλησιαστικῇ διατάξει κν υνον.

### English translation (Claude)

Do not, then, tolerate those who counsel otherwise, but rather make haste and do not delay, especially since the holy feast is drawing near, lest the people keep the feast without you, and you bring great danger upon yourself. For who will announce Easter to them if you are not present? Who will proclaim to them the day of the resurrection if you are hiding? Who will counsel them to keep the feast fittingly if you flee? O how many will be helped if you are present, and how many harmed if you flee! And who will approve of you for this? And why do they … you against the episcopate, when they themselves wish to have presbyters? For if you are bad, let them not associate with you; but if they recognize that you are fit, let them not begrudge you to the others. For if teaching and presiding is an occasion of sin according to them, let them not be taught themselves, nor have presbyters, lest they themselves and those who teach them become worse than themselves. But do not heed these human words, nor tolerate those who counsel this, as I have often said before; but rather make haste and return to the Lord, so that, taking care of his sheep, you may remember us too. For this reason I urged our beloved Hierax the presbyter and Maximus the reader to come, so that they may exhort you by word too, and you may learn from this both the disposition with which I have written and the danger of opposing the ordering of the Church.

### Scripture references

- John 21:16: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- A garbled phrase after “And why” (Καὶ διὰ τί σκοπῆς) is marked …; the sense is “why do they advise you against the episcopate”. The scan then runs on into part of the synodal letter of the council of Sardica (preserved in the Defence against the Arians, ch. 47), which was removed by a logged correction; the closing greeting of this letter, if there was one, is lost.

### Citation (SBL)

Athanasius, Ep. Drac. 10 (PG 25:533b–536d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/athanasius-epistula-dracontium/1/#p-10).