# Letters - Author: [Firmus of Caesarea](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/authors/firmus-of-caesarea/) - Latin title: *Epistolae* - Date: early fifth century (approximate) - Source: J.-P. Migne, ed., Patrologiae cursus completus, Series Graeca, vol. 77 (Paris, 1857-1866), cols. 1481-1514, from L. A. Muratori, Anecdota graeca (Padua, 1709), with Muratori's Latin version - Translation: Claude, from the original text, unless a passage says otherwise; each passage below gives the translator - Work page: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/ - Passages: 45 ## Letter 1 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-1 - Source: PG 77 77:1481 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus praises Achilles, an official, for clearing the Taurus road of brigands and bringing peace to the frontier. ### Greek text Τὸ ἁπλοῦν τοῦ ἤθους καὶ ἀκατάσκευον, καὶ ἡρωϊκῇ πρέπον φιλοτιμίᾳ ἰδόντες ἐν σοὶ πόῤῥωθεν οἱ καλῶς τὰς φύσεις διερευνώμενοι, ἔθεντό σοι τὴν τοῦ ἐκκρίτου τῶν ἡρώων προσηγορίαν, ὡς ἡ πεῖρα τοῖς γενομένοις προσμαρτυρεῖ. Τὸ τε γὰρ ὑπήκοον πρὸς εὐταξίαν ἐῤῥύθμισας, ἀπελήλαται δὲ τῶν ἐσχατιῶν ὁ φόβος· κἂν ὁδὸν [ἄνοδον] τις εἴπῃ, κἂν πέτραν ἡλίβατον ἢ ἀπόῤῥωγα, καὶ ταύτην ἔστιν ὡς εἰρηνευομένην πόλιν παραδραμεῖν· οὕτως ἡμῖν ἐκ τῶν κυμάτων ἐκείνων τῆς πονηρίας τὴν τοῦ Ταύρου πορείαν τραχυνομένην, εὔδιον καὶ λείαν τοῖς παριοῦσι πεποίηκας. Καὶ τούτων χάρις τοῖς ἐπὶ τῇ θαυμασιότητί σου ταῦτα πράττειν καταβαλλομένοις τὴν ψῆφον· χρηστοὺς δεικνὺς, τοιοῦτος ὢν, οἷς ἤδη συνών. Καὶ ἐν τῷδε ἐξητασμένην ἴδομεν γνώμης σεμνότητα · αὔξομέν τε διὰ πάντων τὸ θαῦμα, καὶ τοιούτους διαμένειν, εὐχόμεθα, καὶ ἐπὶ τὸ πλεῖον προκόπτειν τοῖς κατορθώμασιν, τῆς ἀγαθῆς ἐρῶντα δόξης, καὶ τὴν τῷ Θεῷ φίλην εἰρήνην τοῖς ὑπηκόοις βραβεύοντα. ### English translation (Claude) To Achilles. Those who know how to search out natures well saw in you from afar the simplicity and artlessness of your character, fitting for a heroic ambition, and gave you the name of the choicest of the heroes, as experience bears witness to what has happened. For you have brought your subjects into good order, and fear has been driven from the borderlands: even if one speaks of a road [a pathless one], or of a towering or sheer rock, one can now pass it as one would a city at peace. So you have made the road over the Taurus, which those waves of wickedness had made rough for us, fair and smooth for travelers. And thanks for this are due to those who cast their vote for your excellency to do these things; you show them to be good men, being such as you are, with whom you are now joined. In this too we have seen the dignity of your judgment proved; we increase our admiration in every way, and we pray that you remain such, and advance further in your achievements, loving good glory and awarding to your subjects the peace that is dear to God. ### Translation notes - The "choicest of the heroes" is Achilles, the addressee's namesake. "[a pathless one]": the bracketed word is printed so in Migne, apparently as a correction or gloss; translated. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 1 (PG 77 77:1481; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1). ## Letter 2 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-2 - Source: PG 77 77:1481 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus asks a sophist who has fallen silent to keep writing to him. ### Greek text Ἡ μὲν Πυθία τῷ Σωφρονίσκου προσέταττε μουσικὴν πονεῖν, καὶ ταύτην ἐργάζεσθαι, ἐπιτείνουσα τὴν περὶ τὸ λέγειν τῷ πρεσβύτῃ σπουδήν. Ἐγὼ δὲ τὸν ἐκ παιδὸς τοῦτο μεμελετηκότα, καὶ τέχνην πεποιημένον θέλγειν τὰς ἀκοὰς μᾶλλον ἢ τὰς Σειρῆνας λόγῳ, ἐπειδὴ ἀθρόως εἶδον σιωπήσαντα πρὸς ἐμὲ, ἐκπέπληγμαι τῷ γενομένῳ, μή τι ἄρα ἐμπόδιον πρὸς τὸ γράφειν ἡ ἐμή τοι γέγονεν ἀμουσία. ᾿Αλλὰ παρακαλῶ ὄντα σε καὶ λόγων καὶ πραγμάτων διδάσκαλον, μὴ πρὸς τὴν ἡμετέραν νωθείαν βλέπειν, μηδὲ, εἰ ἥττοσιν ἀντιγράφοις ἀμειβόμεθα, τοῦτο σκοπεῖν· ἀλλ' εἰδότα ὡς ἀρκεῖ γράμμα τῆς σῆς λογιότητος, καὶ λύπην κοιμίσαι, καὶ θεραπεῦσαι ψυχὴν, καὶ ποιῆσαι σώματι τόνον, γράφοντα διατελεῖν, μνήμην καὶ λόγον ἡμῶν ἐκ τῶν ἐπιστολῶν τοῖς τε καθ' ἡμᾶς, καὶ τοῖς ἔπειτα παρεχόμενον. ### English translation (Claude) To Cyterius the sophist. The Pythia commanded the son of Sophroniscus to labor at music and to practice it, quickening the old man's zeal for speech. But as for you, who have practiced this from boyhood and have made it your art to charm the ear with speech more than the Sirens do, when I saw you suddenly fall silent toward me I was struck by what had happened, fearing that my lack of culture had become some obstacle to your writing. But I beg you, the teacher of words and deeds alike, not to look at our dullness, nor to consider whether we repay you with poorer letters in reply; but knowing that a letter from your eloquence is enough to put grief to sleep, to heal a soul, and to give the body vigor, continue writing, providing both our contemporaries and those after us with a memorial and record of us from your letters. ### Extrabiblical texts - Plato, Phaed. 60e (Plato (works)): allusion, medium confidence - Homer, Od. 12 (Homer, Odyssey): echo, low confidence ### Translation notes - The son of Sophroniscus is Socrates; in Plato, Phaedo 60e, it is a recurring dream, not the Pythia, that bids him "make music". The Sirens: Homer, Odyssey 12. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 2 (PG 77 77:1481; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/2). ## Letter 3 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-3 - Source: PG 77 77:1483 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus excuses his complaint about a friend's silence and asks for letters. ### Greek text Εἴ τι μικρόψυχον ὑπὸ τῆς ἀῤῥωστίας ἔπαθον, μεμψάμενός σου τὴν σιωπὴν, οὐ πόῤῥω που συγγνώμης τὸ πρᾶγμα· συνασθενεῖν γάρ πως πεφύκασι καὶ οἱ λογισμοὶ τῇ τοῦ σώματος ἕξει. Ἔπαθον δὲ τοῦτο πρὸς τοὺς οἰκείους ἐμοί· τοὺς γὰρ κεχρωσμένη φιλίᾳ συζῶντας οὐκ ἂν ἐμεμψάμην ποτὲ, ὡς μηδὲ τὴν ἀρχήν μοι εἰλικρινοῦς διαθέσεως πεῖραν παρασχομένους. Ἀλλὰ τοῦτο μὲν αὐταρκῶς ἔχει καὶ ἤρκεσεν εἰς θεραπείαν τῶν προλαβόντων Ἐμοὶ δὲ ἡ ἐπιθυμία τῷ τῆς ἀπολείψεως χρόνῳ μᾶλλον ἐγκάθηται, καὶ πρὸς ὑμᾶς ὁρῶν πέπονθα οἷον ἄν τι διψῶν πάθοι αὐχμοῦ τινος τὴν ὄρεξιν ἀναφλέγοντος. Παρακαλῶ δὲ, καὶ μέμνησθέ τι γράφειν, ἱκανήν μοι τῆς ἀπολείψεως παραψυχὴν τῶν ἐπιστολῶν παρεχόμενον ### English translation (Claude) To Eustratius the count. If through illness I suffered some small-mindedness and blamed your silence, the matter is not far from pardon; for the thoughts are somehow disposed to share the weakness of the body's condition. And I suffered this toward those who are close to me; for those who live with me in a feigned friendship I would never have blamed, as men who never gave me proof of a sincere disposition at all. But this is enough, and has sufficed to heal what went before. My longing grows deeper the longer the separation lasts, and looking toward you I feel as a thirsty man would feel when some drought inflames his desire. I beg you, remember to write something, providing me with sufficient comfort for the separation through your letters. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 3 (PG 77 77:1483; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/3). ## Letter 4 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-4 - Source: PG 77 77:1483 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus urges Cynegius to return to Caesarea, his native city, with his family. ### Greek text Τοὺς ποθοῦντας, ἐν ἡμέρᾳ γηράσκειν παλαιὸς κατέχει λόγος. Ἐμοὶ δὲ ἐδιπλασίασεν τὸ γῆρας τῷ μήκει τοῦ χρόνου συνεπιλαβομένης ἐλπίδος τῆς ὑμετέρας πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἀφίξεως ταῖς ἐπαγγελίαις τιθεμένῳ· ἤξειν γάρ ποτε προσδοκῶ τὴν μεγαλοπρέπειάν σου, ὡς ἐπὶ μητέρα τὴν ἡμετέραν πόλιν, ἀπαιτοῦσαν δικαίως τῶν τροφείων τὴν ἀμοιβήν. Εἰ δὲ καὶ ἡμῶν τις λόγος παρὰ σοὶ, μὴ δευτέρους ἀγάγῃς τῶν αὐτόθι φίλων· τῶν γὰρ ἄλλων πάντων πᾶσιν ἡττώμενοι, ἕτοιμοι πρὸς τοὺς ἐθέλοντας περὶ φιλίας διαγωνίζεσθαι, καὶ μάλιστα ὅταν ἄθλον τῆς νίκης ᾗ τὸ τοῖς σοῖς ἐντρυφῆσαι καλοῖς. Παρακαλῶ οὖν, τὸν ὄχνον ἀποσεισάμενος ἐπάνελθέ μοι πρὸς τὴν τοῦ σώματος ἀκμὴν, δείξας ἡμῖν σαυτὸν τοιοῦτον, οἷόν σε τηνικαῦτα ἐπὶ τὴν τῶν Φρυγῶν στελλόμενον παρεπέμπομεν. Εἰ δὲ καὶ ἐλάττων ἡ δύναμις ὑπὸ τοῦ χρόνου γεγένηται, ἄκουσον τῆς μητέρος σου τῆς Ἐκκλησίας ἐγγυωμένης, αὖθίς σε τοιοῦτον καταστήσειν, εἰ πρὸς αὐτὴν ἐπανέλθοις καλούμενος. Δώσεις δὲ ὀλοτελῆ τὴν χάριν, εἰ καὶ τὴν κοσμιωτάτην θυγατέρα ἡμῶν, καὶ τὰ γλυκύτατα παιδία μετὰ σαυτοῦ ἄγων ἀφίκοιο, πλείονι χειρὶ τὴν ἔκτισιν τῶν ὀφλημάτων ποιούμενος. ### English translation (Claude) To Cynegius the count. An old saying holds that those who long grow old in a day. But for me old age has been doubled, since hope of your coming to us has lengthened the time for one who rests on your promises; for I expect that your magnificence will come at some time to our city as to a mother, which justly demands the repayment of her nurture. And if you have any regard for us, do not put us second to your friends there; for though we are outdone by all others in everything, we are ready to contend with any who wish about friendship, especially when the prize of victory is to delight in your goodness. I beg you, then, shake off your reluctance and come back to me in the vigor of your body, showing yourself to us such as you were when we sent you off on your way to the Phrygians. And if your strength has grown less with time, hear your mother the church pledging that she will make you such again if you return to her when called. And you will make the favor complete if you come bringing with you our most excellent daughter and the sweetest children, making repayment of your debts with a fuller hand. ### Translation notes - "Those who long grow old in a day": Theocritus, Idyll 12.2 (no extrabiblical id yet). ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 4 (PG 77 77:1483; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/4). ## Letter 5 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-5 - Source: PG 77 77:1485 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus is reconciled with a country bishop who had given way to his subordinates, and urges him to keep them in order. ### Greek text ᾿Ανω ποταμῶν ἱερῶν τὸ λεγόμενον) χωροῦσι πηγαὶ, ὅτε καὶ ἡ εὐλάβειά σου ἀφ' ἡμῶν δέεται προστασίας, ἑτέροις τοῦτο νέμειν ἐκ τῆς παλαιᾶς συνηθείας ἄδειαν ἔχουσα. Ἐπεὶ δὲ ὅλως διεπρεσβεύσω πρὸς τὸν θεοσεβῆ ἐπίσκοπον Ἱμέριον τὰς πρὸς ἡμᾶς δι' αὐτοῦ σπουδάζων καταλλαγὰς, γίνωσκε νῦν ἔξων παρ' ἡμῖν πλεῖον ἢ πρότερον, ὥστε σοι ἄδειαν εἶναι περὶ ὧν ἂν ἐθέλοις διδάσκειν, καὶ τυγχάνειν τῆς παρ' ἡμῶν εὐμενοῦς ἀποκρίσεως, εἰ τὸ ὑπήκοον πρὸς εὐταξίαν ὁρμίσειας. Οὐδὲ γὰρ πρότερον αὐτῷ σοι ἴδια ἰδίᾳ] ἐγκαλεῖν εἴχομεν· ἀλλ' ὅτι τοιαύτης τυχὼν ἀσκήσεως, καὶ τοῖς τοιούτοις διδασκάλοις γραφεὶς παρὰ τὴν σαυτοῦ ὑπόληψιν ἥττων ἐδείκνυσο, ταῖς τῶν ὑποχειρίων ὁρμαῖς σαυτὸν ἐνδιδούς. Ἴσθι οὖν τοιούτων ἡμῶν εἰς φιλίαν ἐπιτευξόμενος, οἴους ἠπίστασο πρότερον· σεαυτὸν δὲ δεῖξαι σπούδασον ἄρχεσθαί τε εἰδότα, καὶ ἄρχειν εὐεπιστάμενον. ### English translation (Claude) To Alypius the chorepiscopus. The springs flow upward from the sacred rivers (as the saying goes), when your reverence asks protection from us, though you have the freedom from old custom to dispense it to others. But since you have sent an embassy to the God-fearing bishop Himerius, earnestly seeking reconciliation with us through him, know that you will now have more standing with us than before, so that you are free to make known whatever you wish and to obtain a kindly answer from us, provided you bring your subordinates to anchor in good order. For even before we had nothing personally to charge against you yourself; but that, having had such a training and having been enrolled among such teachers, you showed yourself inferior to your own reputation, yielding yourself to the impulses of those under you. Know then that you will find us such in friendship as you knew us before; but take care to show yourself one who knows how to be ruled and well understands how to rule. ### Extrabiblical texts - Euripides, Med. 410 (Euripides (plays and fragments)): quotation, high confidence ### Translation notes - "The springs flow upward from the sacred rivers": Euripides, Medea 410, a proverb for things reversed. A chorepiscopus was a country bishop under the city bishop. "Personally" renders ἴδια ἰδίᾳ] as printed (a stray bracket). ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 5 (PG 77 77:1485; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/5). ## Letter 6 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-6 - Source: PG 77 77:1485 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus consoles a friend whose soldier brother had to leave again soon after returning. ### Greek text ᾿Αδελφὸς ἀνδρὶ παρείη, φησὶ τοῦτο δὴ τὸ τοῦ λόγου ὡς τῆς φύσεως συντρόφου, καὶ γνησίας φιλίας παρεχομένης ἀπόλαυσιν. Καὶ οὐκ ἀπεικὸς ἡδέως ὧφθαι παρὰ τῆς σῆς λογιότητος τὸν σὸν ἀδελφὸν χρόνῳ πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἀφικόμενον. Εἰ δὲ στρατείαν ἐπαγγέλλοντι, καὶ ταύτῃ πρὸς τὸν βίον τῇ τέχνη χρωμένῳ ἐξελάσαι πάλιν ἐδέησεν, οὐδὲν παρήρηται τῆς ἐλπίδος· ἥξει γὰρ πάλιν ποθοῦσιν, εἰ γένοιτό τι κατὰ γνώμην αὐτῷ. ### English translation (Claude) To Gessius the scholasticus. "Let a brother stand by a man," as the saying goes, since nature provides the enjoyment of a native and genuine friendship. And it is no wonder that your brother, coming to you after a long time, was welcomed with pleasure by your eloquence. But if he, who professes military service and uses it as his livelihood, had to march out again, nothing of our hope has been taken away; for he will come again to those who long for him, if anything turns out as he wishes. ### Extrabiblical texts - Plato, Resp. 362d (Plato (works)): allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - "Let a brother stand by a man": proverb quoted in Plato, Republic 362d. The next letter's heading (ΔΙΔΝΙΩ) has leaked into the middle of φιλίας and is removed. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 6 (PG 77 77:1485; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/6). ## Letter 7 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-7 - Source: PG 77 77:1487 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus asks a friend to obtain his release from the duties that keep him away. ### Greek text Τὰς τῶν φαρμάκων χρήσεις οὐκ ἀεὶ νομίζω ταυτὸν δύνασθαι, οὐδὲ ὁμοίως ἰᾶσθαι τὰ χρονιώτερα τῶν παθῶν. Ὅθεν καὶ ἐμοὶ τὸ τῶν ἐπιστολῶν φάρμακον ἕωλον ἤδη πέφηνεν εἰς παράκλησιν, μακρῷ χρόνῳ τῆς ἀπολείψεως κάμνοντι. Αλλ' ἔργον ἡμῖν γενέσθω ἐξαιτήσασθαί με τῶν δυσχερῶν. Εἰ γὰρ τῶν ἐντεῦθεν ἀφεθείην δεσμῶν, πάντα μοι καλῶς ἔξειν καὶ κατὰ γνώμην πεπίστευκα. ### English translation (Claude) To Didnius. I do not think the uses of medicines always have the same power, nor that they heal the more chronic ailments in the same way. So for me too the medicine of letters has now proved stale for comfort, worn out as I am by the long time of separation. But let it be your task to beg me off from these difficulties. For if I were released from the bonds here, I am confident that everything would be well with me and as I wish. ### Translation notes - The digital text displaced a line ("… let it be your task to beg me off from these difficulties. For if from …") to the start of the letter; it is restored to its place by logged corrections. The addressee's name is printed ΔΙΔΝΙΩ; uncertain. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 7 (PG 77 77:1487; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/7). ## Letter 8 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-8 - Source: PG 77 77:1487 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus tells a physician friend he needs his help in body and soul and hopes to return soon. ### Greek text Ὁμήρῳ μὲν δοκεῖ τῷ σοφῷ πολλῶν ἀνταξίους εἶναι τοὺς ἰατρούς. Ἐμοὶ δὲ τὴν αἰτίαν σκοποῦντι, δυοῖν ἕνεκα τοῦτο εἰρῆσθαι φαίνεται· τὸ μὲν κατὰ τὴν ἐπιστήμην, ὅτι θεραπευταὶ σωμάτων ἐστέ· τὸ δὲ κατὰ τὴν φιλίαν, ὅτι καὶ ψυχῶν πολλάκις τὰ δέοντα συμβουλεύοντες τὰς λύπας παύετε παραινέσεσιν. Ὧν ἑκατέρων ἴσθι χρήζοντά με τὰ νῦν σπεύδειν πρὸς τὴν ἐπάνοδον, Εἴθε θᾶττον ἀπαλλαγείημεν, τοῦ Σωτῆρος Θεοῦ τὴν ἐνταῦθα ἡμῖν οἰκονομήσαντος ἀναχώρησιν. ### English translation (Claude) To Armenius the chief physician. The wise Homer thinks physicians are worth many others. Considering the reason, it seems to me that this was said for two things: one according to knowledge, that you are healers of bodies; the other according to friendship, that you often also counsel souls in what they need and end their griefs by your exhortations. Know that I now need both of these, and am hastening to return. Would that we may be released quickly, God the Savior arranging our departure from here. ### Extrabiblical texts - Homer, Il. 11.514 (Homer, Iliad): allusion, high confidence ### Translation notes - Homer, Iliad 11.514. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 8 (PG 77 77:1487; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/8). ## Letter 9 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-9 - Source: PG 77 77:1487 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus thanks Lausus, a great man of Constantinople, for his friendship and generosity and asks for letters. ### Greek text Πολλὰ τῆς μεγάλης πόλεως ὑμῶν ἀπολαύσας τοῦτο πλεῖον τῶν ἄλλων ἀπωνάμην, ὅτι σοι εἰς πλείονα λόγων συνήθειαν ἐλθὼν, εἶδον ἄνδρα ἀτεχνῶς τοῦ χρυσοῦ γένους φιλεῖν τε εἰδότα, καὶ τοῦ φιλεῖσθαι ἄξιον, ἢ μόνον, ἢ πρὸ τῶν ἄλλων κατὰ τὴν Ὀρφέως λύραν ἄγειν ἐπιστάμενον πρὸς ἑαυτὸν ἤθει καὶ λόγῳ τοὺς ἐντυγχάνοντας · πλὴν ὅτι ἐκείνῳ μὲν ἄχρι τοῦ μέλους τὰ τῆς φιλοτιμίας ἦν, καὶ τούτῳ θέλγων κατείχε τοὺς πλησιάζοντας· ὑμῖν δὲ καὶ οἶκος περιφανής, καὶ δαπάνης πλῆθος χορηγούμενον τοῖς δεομένοις, καὶ πάντα πλείονα, ἢ ὅσα ἂν εἰπεῖν εἰς φιλοτιμίαν λόγος ἀρκέσειε. Ταύτην δὴ τὴν σχέσιν καὶ πρὸς ἀπόντας ἔχειν παρακαλῶ, καὶ διὰ μνήμης ἔχειν ἡμᾶς, καὶ δεξιοῦσθαι γράμμασιν, ὡς ἂν ἔχοιμεν ἀδόλου φιλίας ἐνέχυρα τὰς ἐπιστολάς. ### English translation (Claude) To Lausus. Of the many things I enjoyed in your great city, I profited from this more than the rest: that coming into closer acquaintance with you in conversation, I saw a man truly of the golden race, who knows how to love and is worthy to be loved, and who alone, or before others, knows how to draw those he meets to himself by character and speech, as Orpheus did with his lyre; except that his ambition reached only as far as song, and with it he charmed and held those near him, while you have also a famous house, abundant expense supplied to those in need, and everything more than speech could suffice to tell for your generosity. I beg you to keep this disposition toward us also in absence, to keep us in memory, and to greet us with letters, so that we may have the letters as pledges of a guileless friendship. ### Extrabiblical texts - Hesiod, Op. 109 (Hesiod, Works and Days): echo, low confidence ### Translation notes - Lausus was a chamberlain of Theodosius II at Constantinople. "The golden race": Hesiod, Works and Days 109. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 9 (PG 77 77:1487; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/9). ## Letter 10 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-10 - Source: PG 77 77:1489 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus urges a presbyter, kept away by illness from the chief feast, to come back, and thanks him for his gifts. ### Greek text Συχνὸν ἤδη χρόνον ἀπολειφθεῖσαν τῆς πόλεως τὴν σὴν θεοσέβειαν ἔδει παρεῖναι τῇ πρώτῃ καὶ μυστικωτάτῃ τῶν ἑορτῶν. Ἐπεὶ δὲ, ἀῤῥωστίας ἄρτι παυσαμένης, ὑπολέλειπταί τις ἐνοχλοῦσα λεπτότης, ὡς ἔμαθον, ἀναλαβὼν σαυτὸν ἀφικέσθαι πρὸς ἡμᾶς σπούδασον, πληρῶν τῇ Ἐκκλησίᾳ τὸ ὄφλημα, ἵνα μὴ δεηθῇς καὶ δευτέρας φιλοτιμίας εἰς θεραπείαν τῆς ἀπολείψεως. Τὰ δὲ ἀποσταλέντα ἐδεξάμεθα, καὶ τοῦ πλήθους, καὶ τοῦ μεγέθους θαυμάζοντες, πέρδικας τέτταρας, ὅλην ξυνωρίδα πώλων, καὶ συὸς τῶν κατοικιδίων ἡμιτόμιον, ἱκανὸν καὶ ἀγρίων νικῆσαι μέγεθος, ὅσα χρὴ τῷ πράγματι πείθεσθαι, καὶ στάμνον οἶνου πολιοῦ. Ἀλλὰ πόσα ταῦτα πρὸς ἀναγκαίαν φίλου συντυχίαν μετρούμενα; ### English translation (Claude) To Gerontius the presbyter. Your piety, having been away from the city a long time now, ought to have been present for the first and most sacred of the feasts. But since, as I have learned, though the illness has just ended a troublesome weakness remains, recover yourself and make haste to come to us, paying your debt to the church, so that you may not need a second gift to make up for your absence. We received what you sent, marveling at both its number and its size: four partridges, a whole pair of foals, and half of a domestic pig big enough to outdo even wild ones in size, so far as one may trust the thing itself, and a jar of old wine. But what are these, measured against the needed meeting of a friend? ### Translation notes - The first and most sacred of the feasts is presumably Easter. "Foals" (πώλων) is as printed; perhaps young birds or animals are meant. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 10 (PG 77 77:1489; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/10). ## Letter 11 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-11 - Source: PG 77 77:1489 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus asks a presbyter for his love, prayers and frequent letters. ### Greek text Ἐν τοῖς ἄλλοις τὸ μέτρον ἄριστον, ἐν δὲ τῇ ἀγάπῃ ὁ τὸ πλεῖον ἔχων, θεοφιλέστερος. Δεῖξον οὖν οὕτω• διακείμενος περὶ ἡμᾶς, καὶ ὑπερευχόμενος ἀεὶ, καὶ γράφων πολλάκις, ἵνα τῆς ἀπολείψεως ᾗ παρ' ἡμῖν εἰς παραμυθίαν τὰ γράμματα. ### English translation (Claude) To Ausonius the presbyter. In other things measure is best, but in love the one who has more is dearer to God. Show yourself, then, so disposed toward us, praying for us always and writing often, so that your letters may be a consolation to us for your absence. ### Translation notes - "Measure is best": the proverb of the Seven Sages (Cleobulus). ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 11 (PG 77 77:1489; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/11). ## Letter 12 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-12 - Source: PG 77 77:1489 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus asks an official to relieve famine-stricken Caesarea of the cost of quartering troops. ### Greek text Ἐκ χειμῶνος καὶ τρικυμίας γαλήνην εἶδον, καὶ ἡμέραν (τὸ τοῦ λόγου) λευκὴν ἀνασεσῶσθαι ἐκ τῆς κατὰ τὸν πλοῦν πλάνης τὴν μεγαλοπρέπειάν σου μεμαθηκώς. Ὅθεν ἐπήρθημεν ἐπὶ τὴν οἰκείαν ἡμῖν καταφεύγοντες προστασίαν, καὶ τῶν λυπούντων ἐλπίσαι παραψυχὴν, εἴτε τινὰ λόγον σχεῖν ἡμῶν τε καὶ πατρίδος λιμῷ καμνούσης καταξιώσειας, ὥστε ἐπικουφίσαι τὰ νῦν ἐνοχλοῦντα τῶν στρατιωτῶν ἀναλώματα, καὶ διοικήσασθαι μηδεμίαν στρατεύματος δι' ἡμῶν γενέσθαι πάροδον. Μόλις γὰρ, εἰ τούτων ἐπιτύχοιμεν, ἀπὸ πολλῶν ὀλίγοι τὴν τοῦ λιμοῦ πανωλεθρίαν ἀποφυγόντες περιεσόμεθα. ### English translation (Claude) To Helladius. I saw calm after storm and towering waves, and (as the saying goes) a white day, when I learned that your magnificence had come safe out of the wanderings of your voyage. So we were encouraged, taking refuge in the protection that is ours, to hope for comfort in our troubles, if you would deign to take some account of us and of our homeland, which is suffering famine, so as to lighten the expenses for the soldiers that now oppress us, and to arrange that no army march through our territory. For even if we obtain this, scarcely will we survive, few out of many, escaping the utter destruction of the famine. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 12 (PG 77 77:1489; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/12). ## Letter 13 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-13 - Source: PG 77 77:1491 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus commends the orator Olympius to Atticus, bishop of Constantinople. ### Greek text ᾿Αριστείδην οἶσθα τὸν παλαιὸν, ὁσιώτατε · πῶς δὲ οὐκ οἶσθα, φιλαθήναιος ῶν, καὶ τιμῶν δικαιότητα; Οὗτος καθ' ἡμᾶς ἐκεῖνος ὁ λογιώτατος Ὀλύμπιος, φρονήσει μὲν Θεμιστοκλέα παραδραμών, ῥητορικῇ δὲ τὸν Περικλέα, καὶ εἴ τις εἴη τοὺς πώποτε γεγονότας νενικηκὼς, εἰς ὁ ἕκαστος κατὰ τῶν ἄλλων τῶν πρωτείων ἐπέτυχεν, ζῆλον δὲ τὸν αὐτὸν ἐκείνοις ὑπὲρ τῆς πατρίδος ἐπιδεικνύμενος. Ὃν προσδέξασθαι τῆς Ἐκκλησίας παρακαλούσης ἐπίνευσον, καὶ τούτῳ τὸ μέρος δι' ἡμᾶς μεταδοὺς τῆς εἰς πάντας τοὺς δεομένους μεριζομένης φιλανθρωπίας. ### English translation (Claude) To Atticus the bishop. You know Aristides of old, most holy one; how could you not, a lover of Athens and one who honors justice? Such in our day is that most eloquent Olympius, surpassing Themistocles in prudence and Pericles in oratory, and outdoing whoever of those who ever lived won first place over the others in anything, while showing the same zeal as they did for his homeland. Since the church asks you to receive him, consent, and for our sake give him a share of the kindness that is distributed to all who are in need. ### Translation notes - Atticus was bishop of Constantinople (406–425). Aristides "the Just", Themistocles and Pericles are the Athenian statesmen. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 13 (PG 77 77:1491; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/13). ## Letter 14 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-14 - Source: PG 77 77:1491 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus welcomes a bishop's son sent to Caesarea for education. ### Greek text Ἐπὶ τὴν σαυτοῦ μητέρα τὸν σὸν ἀπέστειλας παῖδα, καὶ πρὸς ἡμᾶς τοὺς πάσῃ συνημμένους γνησιότητι, καὶ κατ' οἰκείωσιν τῇ θεοσεβείᾳ τῇ σῇ. Καὶ τῶν σῶν γενέσθω προσευχῶν ἔργον, ὁμοῦ τῇ ἡλικίᾳ τῷ παιδὶ συναύξεσθαι καὶ τὴν παίδευσιν. Κέρδος γὰρ ἡμέτερον τιθέμεθα τὰς τῶν νέων ἐπιτυχίας, ὅταν ᾗ παρ᾿ αὐτοῖς καὶ δόξης καὶ φιλίας ἀπόνασθαι. Τοῦτο δὲ ἐκ τῆς σῆς θεοσεβείας τεκμαιρόμενος λέγω οὐκ ἀπεικότως, τοὺς σοὺς κληρονόμους κληρονομήσειν προσδοκῶν καὶ τῶν τῆς δόξης καλῶν. ### English translation (Claude) To Anthimus the bishop. You have sent your boy to your own mother, and to us who are joined to your piety in all sincerity and kinship. Let it be the work of your prayers that his education grows with the boy's age. For we count the successes of the young our own gain, when we may enjoy both glory and friendship from them. And I say this not without reason, judging from your piety, expecting that your heirs will inherit also the goods of glory. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 14 (PG 77 77:1491; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/14). ## Letter 15 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-15 - Source: PG 77 77:1491 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus invites a bishop to the feast of the saints at Argokna. ### Greek text Ανάθημα μέν τις προσφέρων θεῷ τῶν δοκούντων πρὸς εὐσέβειαν βλέπειν, ἐπίγραμμα προσέθηκεν τῷ ἀνατεθέντι εἰπών· Σοὶ προσφέρω τὰ σά. Ἐγὼ δὲ ἐπιγράμματος οὐδὲν δέομαι· καλῶν δὲ ἐπὶ τὴν σὴν ἐστίαν τὴν θεοσέβειάν σου, ἵνα μὴ γελοῖον πάθω, τὴν ἐμαυτοῦ ἐπιθυμίαν προστίθημι, ὡς μὴ πρόφασιν τῇ θεοσεβείᾳ σου τῆς ἀπολείψεως τὴν ἡμετέραν ῥαθυμίαν γενέσθαι. Καὶ παρακληθεὶς ὑπάκουσον παρεῖναι τῇ ἐν Ἀργοκνοῖς τῶν ἁγίων μνήμῃ, ἣν αὐτὸς καὶ παρακαλούμενος τελέσεις, καὶ ἀπαράκλητος. ### English translation (Claude) To Evandrius the bishop. Someone offering a votive gift to God, one of those who seem to look to piety, added an inscription to the offering, saying, "I offer you what is yours." I need no inscription; but in inviting your piety to your own hearth, so as not to make myself ridiculous, I add my own desire, so that our negligence may not become a pretext for your piety's absence. Accept the invitation, then, to be present at the commemoration of the saints at Argokna, which you will celebrate yourself whether invited or not. ### Scripture references - 1 Chr 29:14: echo, low confidence ### Translation notes - "I offer you what is yours": cf. 1 Chr 29:14 and the liturgical "your own of your own". Argokna (Ἀργοκνοῖς) is unidentified. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 15 (PG 77 77:1491; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/15). ## Letter 16 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-16 - Source: PG 77 77:1493 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus thanks an official for raising the rank of Caesarea and asks that the province be enlarged and given more power. ### Greek text Ἥγειρας τὴν σαυτοῦ πόλιν ἤδη πρὸς γόνυ καμφθεῖσαν, ἀποδοὺς αὐτῇ τῶν τροφείων τὰς ἀμοιβάς. Καὶ χαίρει τοῖς οἰκείοις κοσμουμένη καλοῖς, ὅτι σε, τοιοῦτον καλὸν, ἀνεθρέψατο.΄ Λοιπὸν δὲ ἐπιφανεστέραν αὐτὴν τοῖς ἀξιώμασι γενομένην, καὶ τῇ δυνάμει δὸς διὰ τῆς σῆς αὐξηθῆναι χειρὸς, καὶ πληρῶν τὸν αὐτοῦ σκοπὸν, καὶ ἡμῖν χαριζόμενος παρακαλοῦσι, καὶ δεομένῃ τῇ πόλει καὶ τὸν ἄρχοντα, ὃν ἐπιφανέστερον ἡμῖν πεποίηκας τῇ σπουδῇ χάρισαι τοῖς πράγμασιν, ὡς προσήκοντά σοι γνωρίζεσθαι. Εἰ γὰρ τοῦτο προσθείης τοῖς προλαβοῦσιν, ἅπαντα ἡμῖν κατὰ γνώμην ἐκβήσεται. Δὸς δὲ καὶ πόλεων προσθήκῃ τὴν ἀρχὴν εὐθηνεῖσθαι, ἵνα σοι περίβλεπτος διὰ πάντων ἡ πατρὶς γένηται. Ἡμῶν δὲ μέμνησο, φιλοῦντας φιλῶν· τοῦτο γὰρ ἐστιν ἀντίδοσις ἀγαθῶν ### English translation (Claude) To Thalassius. You have raised up your own city, already bent to its knees, repaying it for your nurture. And it rejoices to be adorned with its own goods, because it reared you, so great a good. For the rest, now that it has become more illustrious in rank, grant that it also grow in power through your hand, fulfilling your own aim and doing a favor to us who ask it and to the city that needs it; and grant to its affairs also the governor whom you have made more illustrious for us by your zeal, as one who should be known as belonging to you. For if you add this to what went before, everything will turn out for us as we wish. Grant also that the province flourish by the addition of cities, so that your homeland may be admired by all because of you. And remember us, loving those who love you; for this is the exchange of goods. ### Translation notes - "Province" renders ἀρχή (the governor's jurisdiction); the letter seems to concern a reorganization of Cappadocia. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 16 (PG 77 77:1493; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/16). ## Letter 17 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-17 - Source: PG 77 77:1493 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus thanks a patron for raising Caesarea above its rival cities and asks for further benefits. ### Greek text Περίβλεπτον ἡμῖν ἤδη τὴν πατρίδα πεποιήκατε ἐν προοιμίοις τῆς προστασίας, πολλοῖς ποσὶ παρασχόμενοι τὰς γειτνιώσας παραδραμεῖν. Αἱ γὰρ πρότερον περὶ ὁμοτιμίας ἐρίζουσαι, νῦν οὐδὲ πολλοστοῦ μέρους τῆς ἀξίας δι᾽ ὑμᾶς ἐφικνοῦνται· οὕτως ἐν προοιμίοις φαιδροτέραν ἡμῖν καὶ μεγάλην τὴν πόλιν ἐδείξατε. Εἰ δὲ καὶ τὰ λείποντα προσθείητε, ἢ πόλεων ἀριθμὸν, ἢ ἀνανέωσιν οἰκοδομημάτων (πάντα γὰρ ὑμῖν δυνατὰ βουλομένοις), ταινίαις ὑμᾶς ἀναδοῦμεν, ὡς εὐεργέτας, δευτέρους οἰκιστὰς ὀνομάζοντες, μᾶλλον δὲ καὶ πλέον ἐπάδοντες· ὅσον ἐκεῖνος μὲν τὸ εἶναι τὴν πόλιν, ὑμεῖς δὲ τὸ ἐπιφανεστέραν γενέσθαι παρεσκευάσατε. Ποιήσατε δὲ ἡμῖν καὶ τὸν ἄρχοντα μείζονα μὴ τῷ ὀνόματι μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῇ δυνάμει. ### English translation (Claude) To Soterichus. You have already made our homeland admired at the very beginning of your patronage, enabling it to outstrip its neighbors by many paces. For the cities that once contended with it for equal honor now, because of you, do not reach even a small fraction of its rank; so at the very beginning you have shown us our city brighter and great. And if you add what is lacking as well, either a number of cities or a renewal of buildings (for all things are possible to you if you wish), we will crown you with ribbons as benefactors, naming you second founders, or rather singing your praise still more: for he provided that the city should exist, but you that it should become more illustrious. And make the governor greater for us, not in name only but also in power. ### Translation notes - "νotum" at the start is a word leaked from the Latin column and is removed. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 17 (PG 77 77:1493; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/17). ## Letter 18 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-18 - Source: PG 77 77:1495 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus complains that his friends have all stopped writing and tells them he has recovered and is traveling. ### Greek text Ἑνὶ συνθήματι ἀλλήλοις ἐπετάξατε τὴν πρὸς ἡμᾶς σιωπὴν, οὐκ εἰδότες, ὅτι τοῖς οὕτω διακειμένοις, καὶ τῆς πατρίδος ἐφεστηκόσιν ἱκανὴ παραμυθία τὰ τῶν οἰκείων γίνεται γράμματα. Παρακαλῶ οὖν, μεταβαλλόμενοι ταύτης τῆς κρίσεως μεμνῆσθαι καὶ γράφειν καταξιοῦτε, πολλὴν ἡμῖν παρεξόμενοι ἐκ τῶν γραμμάτων παραψυχήν. Ὡς δ᾽ ἂν μὴ ἀγνοεῖτε τὰ καθ' ἡμᾶς, γνωρίζομεν ὅτι, τῆς ἀῤῥωστίας ἐνδούσης, ἐχόμεθα τῆς ὁδοῦ. ### English translation (Claude) To Colosianus. By a single agreement you have imposed silence toward us on one another, not knowing that, for those so situated and in charge of their homeland, letters from friends are a sufficient comfort. I beg you, then, change this decision and deign to remember us and write, providing us with much comfort from your letters. And so that you may not be ignorant of our affairs, we let you know that, now that the illness has abated, we are on our way. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 18 (PG 77 77:1495; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/18). ## Letter 19 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-19 - Source: PG 77 77:1495 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus teases a bishop who fell from his mount, urges him to get a better horse and come, and thanks him for a large fish. ### Greek text Αὐτῇ τῇ θεοσεβείᾳ σου προσδοκήσας ἐντεύξασθαι, ἐπειδὴ πρόδρομον ἔλαβον τῆς ἀφίξεως τὴν ἐπιστολὴν, ἐζήτουν τὴν αἰτίαν γνῶναι τί τοῦτο γενέσθαι μή] παρεσκεύασεν. Τῆς δὲ ἐπιστολῆς εἰπούσης, κατενεχθέντος τοῦ ὑποζυγίου, πεπονηκέναι σε, ἐθαύμασα, ὅτι ἡ μὴ ἐπὶ λευκοῦ ζεύγους ὀχῇ, ἡ ἐπὶ ἁρμάτων χαλκοκολλήτων, ἵνα μετρίως εἴπω. ᾿Αλλά προσπάσχεις τοῖς σοῖς πηγάσοις, οὐ πτεροφόρους ἔχων, ἀλλὰ δεομένους κέντρων εἰς τὴν μετάβασιν. Εἰ οὖν ἱππεύεσθαί σοι σκοπὸς, καὶ συμβουλεύοντι πείθοιο, ἄλλον ἀλλαχόθεν σαυτῷ κτησάμενος ἵππον ἀσφαλῶς καὶ θᾶττον φέροντα, ἀφικέσθαι πρὸς ἡμᾶς κατάδεξαι, μὴ ἐνδοὺς τῷ μακρῷ τῆς ἀπολείψεως χρόνῳ τὴν μνήμην καταμαραίνεσθαι, Ὁ δὲ σιωπηθεὶς ἰχθὺς, ἥκων δὲ ἀνεπάγγελτος, τοσοῦτος ἦν, ὡς μεγέθει τοὺς θαλαττίους παραδραμεῖν, καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς ἐν τῇ πόλει γενέσθαι περίβλεπτος, δῶρον τῆς σῆς εἰς ἡμᾶς φιλοτιμίας ἄξιον. ### English translation (Claude) To Acacius the bishop. I expected to meet your piety in person, but since I received your letter as forerunner of your arrival, I sought to learn the cause that brought this about. When the letter said you had suffered from a fall of your beast, I was amazed that you do not ride on a white pair, or on bronze-bound chariots, to speak modestly. But you suffer along with your Pegasuses, which have no wings but need spurs to move. If, then, you intend to ride, and would take advice, get yourself another horse from somewhere that carries you safely and faster, and consent to come to us, not letting memory wither through the long time of absence. And the fish, unmentioned but arriving unannounced, was so large that it surpassed the sea fish in size and became the admiration of everyone in the city, a gift worthy of your generosity toward us. ### Translation notes - Probably Acacius of Melitene. "μή]" is printed with a stray bracket; translated by sense. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 19 (PG 77 77:1495; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/19). ## Letter 20 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-20 - Source: PG 77 77:1497 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus writes to Lausus to ease his longing and asks for letters. ### Greek text Τοῖς συντυχίας ἐρῶσιν ἱκανὴ καὶ ἡδεῖα τῶν γραμμάτων γίνεται ὁμιλία, ὅταν πολλῷ τῷ μέσῳ διαστήματι τύχωσι χωριζόμενοι. "Ο δὴ καὶ ἐμοὶ ἐπὶ τῆς ὑμετέρας συμβέβηκε μεγαλοπρεπείας. Ἐφιέμενος γὰρ τῆς συνουσίας τῆς ὑμετέρας ἐπέθηκα τὴν ἐπιστολὴν, ἐπινοῶν ἐντεῦθεν ἐμαυτῷ τῆς ἐπιθυμίας παραψυχήν. Εἰ οὖν παρὰ τῇ θαυμασιότητι ὑμῶν τοιοῦτος περὶ ἡμῶν ὁ λόγος, διατελεῖτε, καὶ μεμνημένοι, καὶ γράφοντες· ἐπειδὴ τούτοις αὔξεσθαι φιλία πέφυκεν. ### English translation (Claude) To Lausus. For those who love to meet, conversation by letters becomes sufficient and sweet, when they happen to be separated by a great distance between. This has happened to me also in regard to your magnificence. For longing for your company I have sent this letter, devising for myself from it a comfort for my desire. If, then, your excellency holds such an account of us, continue both to remember and to write, since friendship naturally grows by these. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 20 (PG 77 77:1497; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/20). ## Letter 21 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-21 - Source: PG 77 77:1497 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus apologizes for missing a meeting through illness and asks for letters. ### Greek text Ὁ τοῖς δανειζομένοις διὰ πενίαν γίνεται, τὸ τοῖς πρώτοις ὀφλήμασιν ἐπιτιθέναι καὶ δεύτερα, τοῦτο κὰμοὶ νυνὶ διὰ τὴν ἀῤῥωστίαν συμβέβηκε, καὶ πρότερον τῆς συντυχίας διαμαρτάνοντι, καὶ νῦν οὐ δυνηθέντι τὸν τῆς ὁδοιπορίας ὑποστῆναι κόπον. ᾿Αλλὰ συγγνῶναι ἡ μεγαλοπρέπειά σου καταξιώσασα καὶ μνήμης ἡμᾶς ἀξιούτω, καὶ γράμμασιν ἀμειψάσθω, ἵνα μὴ τὴν φιλίαν τῆς ἀπολείψεως· ἀμαυρώσει χρόνος. ### English translation (Claude) To Plinthas. What happens to those who borrow because of poverty, adding second debts to the first, has now happened to me too because of illness: I missed meeting you before, and now I have been unable to bear the labor of the journey. But let your magnificence deign to pardon, and count us worthy of remembrance, and reply with letters, so that time may not dim the friendship of absence. ### Translation notes - The heading ΠΛΙΗΘΑ probably stands for Plinthas, the general and consul of 419. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 21 (PG 77 77:1497; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/21). ## Letter 22 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-22 - Source: PG 77 77:1497 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus commends a well-born traveler from the East to a bishop on his way to Constantinople. ### Greek text Καὶ τὴν γλῶτταν Ἑλληνισμένον, καὶ ἤθους μετριοτητι χρώμενον, εὐπατρίδην τε ὄντα, καὶ πολλοῖς τρόποις δεικνύντα τῆς εὐγενείας τεκμήρια, ἐκ τῆς ἑᾠας ἥκοντα τόνδε αὐτός τε ὑπεδεξάμην μετὰ μαρτυρίας τῶν ἐκεῖσε ἐπισκόπων, καὶ τῇ ὁσιότητί σου συνίστημι ἐπὶ τὴν μεγάλην σπεύδοντα πόλιν, ἵνα ἰδεῖν αὐτὸν καταξιώσας εὐμενῶς, καὶ ὡς τῇ θεοσεβείᾳ σου σύνηθες, εὐπετεστέραν αὐτῷ ποιήσῃς τὴν ἐπὶ τοῖς προκειμένοις ὁδόν. ### English translation (Claude) To Theodotus the bishop. This man, Greek in his speech, of modest character, well-born, and showing in many ways the proofs of his nobility, who has come from the East, I myself received with the testimony of the bishops there, and I commend him to your holiness as he hastens to the great city, so that you may deign to see him kindly and, as is your piety's custom, make his way to what lies before him easier. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 22 (PG 77 77:1497; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/22). ## Letter 23 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-23 - Source: PG 77 77:1497 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus asks a churchman to make debtors under him repay a lender. ### Greek text Χρήστης τισὶ τῶν ὑπὸ τὴν θεοσέβειάν σου γέγονεν ὁ δεῖνα, καὶ τούτων τυχὼν ἀγνωμόνων ἀντὶ τῶν χρημάτων δίκας ἔχει καὶ πράγματα. Ὧν ἕνεκα πρόσεισιν ἱκετεύων τῶν δικαίων τυχεῖν. Τούτους συνελαθῆναι πρὸς εὐγνωμοσύνην κελευσάτω ἡ ὁσιότης σου, ἡμῖν τε χαριζομένη, καὶ τὸν ἐπὶ τῷ δικαίῳ ἀνύουσα δρόμον, ### English translation (Claude) To Eutherius. So-and-so became a lender to some of those under your piety, and finding them ungrateful he has, instead of his money, lawsuits and troubles. For this reason he comes to you begging to obtain his rights. Let your holiness order these people to be brought to fair dealing, doing us a favor and running the course of justice. ### Translation notes - "So-and-so" (ὁ δεῖνα) stands in the copy for the name. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 23 (PG 77 77:1497; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/23). ## Letter 24 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-24 - Source: PG 77 77:1499 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus rejoices at a bishop's letter announcing his recovery from illness. ### Greek text Ἀτεχνῶς ἡμῖν ἔαρ διὰ τῆς ἐπιστολῆς (το τοῦ λόγου) πεποίηκας, ἀνεὶς κρυμοῦ καὶ φρίκης οὐ τὸ σῶμα μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν καρδίαν οὕτω πεπιλημένην ὑπὸ τῆς τῶν ἀπαγγελθέντων λύπης, ὡς περί πάντων ἤδη τῶν ἀγαθῶν κινδυνεύουσαν. ᾿Αλλ' ἐπει δὴ ὁ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ φιλανθρωπίαν ταῖς ἑκάστου χρείαις ἐπιμετρῶν ἔδωκεν ἀνασφῆλαι τῆς ἀῤῥωστίας πάλιν, καὶ ἐπιθεῖναι γράμματα πρέποντα, ἀγαθῆς ἐλπίδος πεπλήρωμαι, ὡς πάντων μοι καταῤῥεόντων προκεισομένων, ἐπειδὴ τούτων ἐπέτυχον. ### English translation (Claude) To Chilon the bishop. By your letter you have made spring for us outright (as the saying goes), releasing from frost and shivering not only the body but also the heart, which was so compressed by grief at the news reported that it was already in danger regarding all good things. But since he who measures out his kindness to the needs of each has granted you to recover again from the illness and to send a fitting letter, I am filled with good hope that all things will flow freely for me, since I have obtained this. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 24 (PG 77 77:1499; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/24). ## Letter 25 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-25 - Source: PG 77 77:1499 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus thanks a friend for taking in a young man sent away for study. ### Greek text Τοῖς μὲν πολλοῖς τῶν ἀπειροκάλων ὁ ἐν χρήμασι σπουδάζεται πλοῦτος· ἐμοὶ δὲ ἀντὶ χρημάτων οἱ φίλοι. Καὶ οἶδα πλεῖον ὑμῶν ἀπωνάμενος, ἢ οἱ εὐποροῦντες τοῦ πλούτου· τῷ τε γὰρ γλυκυτάτῳ τῷδε τὴν παρὰ τῇ θαυμασιότητί σου δέδωκας καταφυγήν. Καὶ οὐδὲν, ἀποδημοῦντος τοῦ τέκνου πεφρόντικα, τῇ σῇ κοσμιότητι παραθέμενος, καὶ ἀκριβῶς εἰδὼς, ὡς πάντων ἐπιμελήσῃ διὰ χρηστότητα χειραγωγῶν, καὶ τὸ ἦθος ῥυθμίζων, καὶ ἀντὶ πατρίδος τῷ νέῳ γινόμενος. Ἐπειδή σοι σκοπὸς οὐ τοὺς οἰκείους μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς ὁπωσοῦν εἰς λόγους ἐληλυθότας εὐεργετεῖν. ### English translation (Claude) To Volusianus. By most vulgar people wealth in money is pursued; but for me, instead of money, friends. And I know I have profited more from you than the rich from their wealth; for you have given this dearest one refuge with your excellency. And I have had no anxiety while my child is away, having entrusted him to your goodness, and knowing exactly that you will care for everything, guiding him in kindness, forming his character, and taking the place of his homeland for the young man. For your aim is to do good not only to your own but also to all who have in any way come to learning. ### Translation notes - "Taking the place of his homeland" renders ἀντὶ πατρίδος as printed; ἀντὶ πατρός, "in place of a father", may have been meant. A Latin word ("fructi") leaked into φίλοι and is removed. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 25 (PG 77 77:1499; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/25). ## Letter 26 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-26 - Source: PG 77 77:1499 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus thanks an official for his friendship and prays for his advancement. ### Greek text Εἰ πάντων ἦν τοιούτων εἰς φιλίαν ἐπιτυγχανειν, ῥᾳδίως ἂν τῷ βίῳ εἰς τὴν προτέραν ἀπλότητα ἐπανῆλθε τὰ πράγματα, χρηστότητος καὶ φιλίας μεσιτευούσης τοῖς πράγμασι. Καὶ γὰρ ἐποιήσω ἡμᾶς εἰς παῖδας φίλους, καὶ διατελεῖς μεμνημένος τε καὶ γράφων περὶ ἡμῶν δεξιὰ, καὶ ποιῶν ὅσα γνησίας φιλίας ἐστὶ γνωρίσματα. Τούτων μὲν οὖν αὐτόθεν ἔχεις ἐν τῇ τῶν καλῶν ἀπολαύσει παρὰ τοῦ τὰ καλὰ ἀποδεχομένου Θεοῦ τὴν ἀμοιβὴν, παρὰ δὲ ἡμῶν τὴν ὁμολογίαν τῆς χάριτος. Οὐ γὰρ διαλιμπάνομεν εὐχόμενοι τοιαύτην οὖσαν τὴν σὴν μεγαλοπρέπειαν ἐπὶ μείζοσι προκοπαῖς αὔξεσθαι, ἡμῖν τε καὶ πατρίδι. ### English translation (Claude) To Helladius. If it were possible to find everyone such in friendship, affairs would easily return in life to their former simplicity, with kindness and friendship mediating in affairs. For you have made us friends to your children, and you continue remembering us and writing favorably about us, and doing whatever are the marks of genuine friendship. For these things you have your reward at once from God, who accepts good deeds, in the enjoyment of good things, and from us the acknowledgment of the favor. For we do not cease praying that your magnificence, being such, may grow to greater advancements, for us and for our homeland. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 26 (PG 77 77:1499; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/26). ## Letter 27 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-27 - Source: PG 77 77:1499 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus answers a playful letter from the orator Olympius and asks for more; the end of the letter is lost. ### Greek text Ἐπιθυμίας ὑπέκκαυμά μοι γέγονεν τὰ τῆς σῆς λογιότητος γράμματα, ἐπίδειξίν τε φιλοτιμίας ἔχοντα, καὶ παρεχόμενα τοῖς σοῖς ἐνευφρανθῆναι καλοῖς. Καὶ γάρ πως ἐπὶ τοῖς τοιούτοις ἥδομαι τωθαζόμενος, καὶ τὴν κωμῳδίαν ἐπαινῶ διὰ τοῦτο. Γεύσας δὲ ἡμᾶς Ἀττικοῦ μέλιτος τῆς διὰ τῶν γραμμάτων ὁμιλίας, σκόπει προστιθέναι τοῖς πεπειραμένοις ὧν ἐκ συνηθείας δέδωκας ἀπολαύειν ὡς τὸ γε στερεῖσθαι τῶν χρηστῶν μετὰ τὴν πεῖραν τοῖς ἀπολιμπανομένοις τούτων, βαρύτερον. Εἰ δὲ τρυφῆς δέοιο σεμνῆς ταύτην ταῖς εὐλογίαις ἐπικρυπτόμενος, καὶ τῶν πραγμάτων φροντίζων ἔλαττον τῷ ἀγαπητῷ τῷδε τὴν ἐπὶ τοῖς φθάσασι λογισάμενος ῥαθυμίαν, ἀνάμεινον παρ' ἡμῶν τὴν ἐπὶ τοῖς ἐχομένοις διόρθωσιν. Πάντως γὰρ οὐκ ἐλαίῳ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ μύροις ἀλείψομεν ὡς Αττικὴν ὄρνιν, καὶ ὁμοφόριον ### English translation (Claude) To Olympius. The letters of your eloquence have kindled my desire, showing generosity and allowing me to rejoice in your excellence. For somehow I enjoy being teased in such matters, and I praise comedy for this. But having given us a taste of the Attic honey of conversation by letters, see that you add to what we have experienced the things you have customarily let us enjoy, since to be deprived of good things after having experienced them is heavier for those who are left without them. And if you need a dignified luxury, hiding it under your praises, and caring less about affairs, reckoning this dear one's slackness in what is past, expect from us the correction in what follows. For we will certainly anoint you not only with oil but also with perfumes like an Attic bird, and a shoulder-cloak … ### Extrabiblical texts - Plato, Resp. 398a (Plato (works)): echo, low confidence ### Translation notes - The letter breaks off in the printed text ("and a shoulder-cloak …"). The sense of the second-to-last sentence is uncertain. Anointing with perfume recalls Plato, Republic 398a, where the poet is anointed and crowned and sent away; the "Attic bird" may be the swallow or nightingale (uncertain). ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 27 (PG 77 77:1499; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/27). ## Letter 28 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-28 - Source: PG 77 77:1501 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus writes to an official and asks for an immediate reply. ### Greek text Ὡς τοῖς διψῶσιν ἡδὺ γίνεται τὸ ποτὸν, οὕτως τοῖς συντυχίας ἐρῶσι τὸ γράφειν, ὅταν ταύτης κατόπιν ἔρχονται. Κἀγὼ τοίνυν ἐπιτείναντός μοι τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν τοῦ τῆς ἀπολείψεως χρόνου, ἀσμένως ἦλθον ἐπὶ τὰ γράμματα, ὡς δι᾿ αὐτῶν τῇ μεγαλοπρεπείᾳ σου μέλλων ἐντεύξασθαι· ἀπαιτῶν τὸ αὐτίκα ἡμᾶς ἀντιγράφοις ἀμείψασθαι· ὁ ποιεῖν συνήθως καταξίου, ὅπως ἔχεις περὶ ἡμᾶς, δηλῶν τοῖς πράγμασιν. ### English translation (Claude) To Helion. As drink is sweet to the thirsty, so writing is to those who love to meet, when it comes in place of meeting. I too, then, since the time of absence has intensified my desire, have gladly come to writing, as one who will meet your magnificence through it; asking that you reply to us at once in turn. Deign to do this as you are accustomed, showing by deeds how you are disposed toward us. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 28 (PG 77 77:1501; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/28). ## Letter 29 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-29 - Source: PG 77 77:1501 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus sends an official Easter gifts in honor of the feast. ### Greek text Τὴν πρὸς ἀξίαν τῆς σῆς μεγαλοπρεπείας τιμὴν ὑπὲρ τὴν ἐμαυτοῦ λογισάμενος δύναμιν, ἐπὶ τὴν σοι φίλην τοῦ Πάσχα κατέφυγον ἑορτὴν, τὰ ἐπὶ ταύτης σύμβολα δεχθῆναι παρ' ἡμῶν εἰς τιμὴν τοῦ θείου παρακαλῶν. "Α προσδέξασθαι αἰδοῖ τῆς ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν πρεσβευούσης. Καταδεξάμενος δὲ ἀντίδος ἡμῖν τὸ διηνεκῶς ἔχειν ἐπὶ μνήμην, ἡμᾶς φιλοῦντας φιλεῖν καταξιῶν. ### English translation (Claude) To Florentius. Reckoning that honor worthy of your magnificence is beyond my power, I have taken refuge in the feast of Pascha, dear to you, begging that the tokens of it be received from us in honor of the divine. Receive them out of reverence for the feast that intercedes for us. And having accepted them, give us in return to have you always in remembrance, deigning to love us who love you. ### Translation notes - "The feast that intercedes": the participle πρεσβευούσης is feminine and refers to the feast. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 29 (PG 77 77:1501; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/29). ## Letter 30 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-30 - Source: PG 77 77:1501 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus thanks an official for news of a friend's success at "the sacred table" and praises the style of his letter. ### Greek text Καὶ τίνι ἂν μᾶλλον ἤρμοσεν την περ. τῆς ἱερᾶς τραπέζης ἀγγελίαν ἡμῖν πρὸ τοῦ σοῦ μεγέθους χαρίσασθαι; Τις δὲ τοσοῦτος, ἢ ἄνδρα σεμνῦναι, ἢ ἐπαινέσαι τρόπον, καὶ ἑταῖρον ἡμῖν ποιῆσαι πρὸς τοῦ γνωρίμου τὸν καλόν τε καὶ ἀγαθὸν Κάνδιτον, ἢ ὁ ῥᾳδίως δυνάμενος τοῖς μικροῖς περιτιθέναι μέγεθος; Ἐγὼ δὲ ἡσθεὶς τὴν κατὰ τὴν ἱερὰν τράπεζαν ἐπιτυχίαν, οὐδὲ εἰπεῖν ἔχω, ὅσον ἥσθην τῇ ἐπιστολῇ· μύρου τε γὰρ ὅζει παιδεύσεως ᾿Αττικῆς, καὶ λειμῶνος μιμεῖται κάλλος ἦρος ὥρᾳ σύμμικτον χάριν ταῖς ὄψεσιν ὑπογράφοντος. Ἐπαλήλιπται δὲ αὐτὸ καὶ χρυσοῦ· τὸ γὰρ τῆς λέξεως εὐγενὲς οὕτω μᾶλλον εἰκάζειν ἔχομεν. Τοιοῦτον δέ σε ὄντα ὁ ἡμέτερος φυλάττοι Σωτήρ ταῖς ἑαυτοῦ Ἐκκλησίαις σύμμαχον ἀγαθὸν καὶ προστάτην ἀκαταγώνιστον. ### English translation (Claude) To Isidore. And to whom would it have been more fitting than to your greatness to give us the news about the sacred table? Who is so able either to dignify a man, or to praise a character, and to make for us a companion out of an acquaintance, the noble and good Canditus, as one who can easily give greatness to small things? I was pleased at the success at the sacred table, but I cannot even say how pleased I was with the letter: for it smells of the perfume of Attic learning, and imitates the beauty of a meadow in springtime, which paints a mingled grace for the eyes. It is overlaid also with gold; for so we may better compare the nobility of its diction. May our Savior keep you, being such, for his churches as a good ally and an unconquerable protector. ### Translation notes - "The sacred table" (ἱερὰ τράπεζα) may be the imperial treasury (the "sacred largesses") or the altar; uncertain. The name Κάνδιτον is as printed (perhaps Candidus). ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 30 (PG 77 77:1501; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/30). ## Letter 31 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-31 - Source: PG 77 77:1503 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus urges a friend to keep a long-delayed promise. ### Greek text Στρατιώτου τὸ πρόθυμον αὐτοῖς ἔργοις ἀποδειξάμενος Ὅμηρος ἐποίησεν τὸν βασιλέα τοὺς παρακλητικοὺς αὐτῷ πρὸς τοὺς ἀγῶνας σπεύδοντι ἐνδιδόναι λόγους. Ἐμοὶ δὲ πρὸς τὴν τῆς λογιότητός σου μέλλησιν ἐγράφησαν αἱ ἐπιστολαὶ, ἐπειδὴ τοὺς ποθοῦντας ἐν ἡμέρᾳ γηράσκειν ὁ παλαιὸς κατέχει λόγος· ἐνταῦθα δὲ οὐχ ἡμέρας μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐνιαυτοὺς ὅλους ἀριθμεῖν ἔστι παρατεινομένοις τῇ προσδοκίᾳ. Εἰ οὖν ἐπακολουθήσει ἐς ὀψὲ γοῦν ποτε τὸ ἔργον, ἀρκέσει εἰς θεραπείαν τῆς προλαβούσης παρατάσεως. Εἰ δὲ ἐπιμένοις, μὴ τὰ τῆς παροιμίας πάθοιμεν· ἐπαγγελίαις τρεφόμενοι, καὶ συντριβόμενοι τῷ λιμῷ. ### English translation (Claude) To Eleusinius. Homer, having shown the soldier's eagerness by deeds themselves, made the king give him words of encouragement as he hastened to the contests. But my letters were written to counter the delay of your eloquence, since the old saying holds that those who long grow old in a day; and here one may count not only days but whole years, for those kept stretched out in expectation. If, then, the deed follows, even at long last, it will suffice to heal the protracted delay before; but if you persist, may we not suffer what the proverb says: fed on promises and crushed by hunger. ### Extrabiblical texts - Homer, Il. 4 (Homer, Iliad): echo, low confidence ### Translation notes - The king's encouragement of the soldiers recalls Agamemnon's review of the army, Homer, Iliad 4.223–421. "Those who long grow old in a day": Theocritus, Idyll 12.2 (cf. Letter 4). ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 31 (PG 77 77:1503; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/31). ## Letter 32 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-32 - Source: PG 77 77:1503 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus, recalling Alexander's saying that his friends were his treasure, calls friendship his only wealth. ### Greek text Ἐρωτήσαντός τινος τὸν ᾿Αλέξανδρον, ὅπου αὐτῷ εἴη τὰ χρήματα, ὅδε τοὺς φίλους αὐτῷ ὑπέδειξεν, ἐν τούτοις εἶναι μηνύων τοὺς θησαυρούς. Κἀκείνῳ μὲν γὰρ πλουτοῦντι, οἷα δεῖ [δή] βασιλεῖ, κατ' εἰρωνείαν ἐδόκει ἡ ἀπόκρισις γεγενῆσθαι· ἐμοὶ δὲ τοῦτο μόνον ἔχοντι χρῆμα, καὶ ἐπὶ τοῖς φίλοις φρονοῦντι, καὶ τὴν ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν χρείαν εἰδέναι ἐπιμελὲς, καὶ ὅσον πλεῖον εἰς χρημάτων περιουσίαν· μόνον γὰρ κτῆμα ἄσυλον, μήτε χρόνῳ μαραινόμενον, καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἀπολείψεσι τοῖς σπουδαίοις διὰ τῶν γραμμάτων αὐξόμενον. ### English translation (Claude) To Ecdicius. When someone asked Alexander where his money was, he pointed out his friends to him, indicating that his treasures were in them. For him, wealthy as a king should be, the answer seemed to have been given in irony; but for me, who have this as my only wealth and take pride in my friends, it is a care to know also the use that comes from them, and how much more it is than abundance of money. For it is the only inviolable possession, one that does not wither with time, and in absences grows, for the earnest, through letters. ### Translation notes - The anecdote of Alexander is told also in Letter 38; source not identified. Migne brackets δή. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 32 (PG 77 77:1503; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/32). ## Letter 33 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-33 - Source: PG 77 77:1503 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus congratulates an advocate or official on a swift victory and promises to visit. ### Greek text Καίτοι τοσοῦτον προσεμαρτύρει τῇ λογιότητί σου τὰ ἡμέτερα γράμματα, ὅσον ἡ τοῦ πράγματος ἔδειξεν ἔκβασις. Ὁμοῦ τε γὰρ ἐφάνης, καὶ τροπωσάμενος τοὺς ἐναντίους ὑπέστρεψας, ἐπιφανέστερον νικήσας, ἢ ὁ τοῦ Πηλέως παρ' Ομήρῳ τοὺς Τρῶας. Εἰ δὲ ἥττων τῆς ἀξίας ὁ παρ' ἡμῶν ἔπαινος, τῇ τῆς ἐπιστολῆς λόγισαι συμμετρίᾳ. Τίς γὰρ ἂν τὸ κατὰ τέχνην ἐγκώμιον ἐν ἐπιστολῆς μέτρῳ δηλώσειεν ; Ἐγὼ δὲ τὸ λοιπὸν ἥξω δι᾽ ἐμαυτοῦ θεραπεύσων, συμμάχους λαβὼν τῆς τε περὶ πάντας σπουδῆς, καὶ τῆς φιλοτιμίας τοὺς παρὰ τῇ λογιότητί σου τιμωμένους τῇ μνήμῃ μάρτυρας. ### English translation (Claude) To Dometianus. Indeed, our letters bore witness to your eloquence as much as the outcome of the matter showed. For at the same moment you appeared, routed the opponents and returned, winning more splendidly than the son of Peleus over the Trojans in Homer. And if our praise falls short of your worth, put it down to the measure of a letter; for who could present an encomium according to the rules of art within the measure of a letter? For the rest, I shall come to pay my respects in person, taking as allies of your zeal for all and of your generosity the martyrs honored by your eloquence in their memorial. ### Extrabiblical texts - Homer, Il. 20–22 (Homer, Iliad): echo, low confidence ### Translation notes - The son of Peleus is Achilles. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 33 (PG 77 77:1503; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/33). ## Letter 34 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-34 - Source: PG 77 77:1505 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus thanks a bishop for festal greetings and asks him to keep writing. ### Greek text Ἐδιπλασίασας ἡμῖν τὸν τῆς ἑορτῆς χρόνον, ἀνανεωσάμενος αὐτὴν τοῖς τῆς φιλίας συμβόλοις. Καὶ λευκὴν ἀτεχνῶς ἡγάγομεν ἡμέραν τῶν τῆς θεοσεβείας σου γραμμάτων ἐπιτυχόντες. Γράφε τοίνυν, καὶ μέμνησο, παρακαλῶ, ἵνα μὴ λήθης ἡμῖν ὁ τῆς σιωπῆς χρόνος γένηται πρόφασις· τῆς δὲ σῆς φίλης εἰρήνης ἔχειν ἡμῖν διδοὺς συνθήματα τὰς ἐπιστολάς. ### English translation (Claude) To Evandrius the bishop. You have doubled the time of the feast for us, renewing it with the tokens of friendship. And we spent truly a white day, having received your piety's letter. Write, then, and remember us, I beg you, so that the time of silence may not become a pretext for forgetting; and grant us to have your letters as tokens of your beloved peace. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 34 (PG 77 77:1505; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/34). ## Letter 35 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-35 - Source: PG 77 77:1505 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus thanks a bishop for the gift of a fresh fish, whose leftovers were given to the poor. ### Greek text Ἱκανὸν ἥδυσμα γράμμασιν μετ᾿ εὐλογίας ἰχθὺς, θᾶττον ἢ λόγος παρ᾿ ἡμᾶς ἀφικόμενος, καὶ τὴν τῆς θεοσεβείας σου περὶ ἡμᾶς τῷ τάχει τῆς ἀφίξεως μηνύσας σχέσιν. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ τὴν τοῦ ἀέρος διέφυγε βλάβην, καὶ ὡς ἐντεῦθεν ἐκ τοῦ γείτονος ἀνανηξάμενος ποταμοῦ ἐπιτήδειον ὄψον πρὸς πανδαισίαν γεγένηται. Καὶ πλήρης ἡ τράπεζα τοῦ δεξιοῦ θύματος πρὸς πολλὰ ταῖς καρυκείαις ἁρμόσασα, ὡς μικράν εἶναι τὴν ᾿Αλκινόου τρυφήν, πρὸς τὴν σὴν ἐξεταζομένην φιλοτιμίαν, τῶν ἡμετέρων περιτευμάτων ῾διαδοθέντων τοῖς δεομένοις. ### English translation (Claude) To Acacius the bishop. A fish is a sufficient relish for a letter with a blessing, reaching us faster than word of it, and showing by the speed of its arrival your piety's disposition toward us. For it escaped the harm of the air, and as if it had swum up from the neighboring river it became a fit dish for a feast. And the table, full of the fine victim, suited to many with its sauces, made the luxury of Alcinous seem small when measured against your generosity, our leftovers being distributed to those in need. ### Extrabiblical texts - Homer, Od. 7 (Homer, Odyssey): echo, low confidence ### Translation notes - The luxury of Alcinous: Homer, Odyssey 7–8. "Leftovers" renders περιτευμάτων as printed (for περισσευμάτων). ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 35 (PG 77 77:1505; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/35). ## Letter 36 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-36 - Source: PG 77 77:1505 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus asks a bishop to have a man's runaway slaves found and returned. ### Greek text Ακατάλλακτον μίσος τοῖς οἰκέταις πρὸς τοὺς δεσπότας ἐστὶν, οἳ τοὺς κεκτημένους ἀποδιδράσκοντες ἑτέροις δουλεύειν μᾶλλον ἢ τοῖς οἰκείοις δεσπόταις ἀνέχονται. Τοῦτο δὲ καὶ τῷδε οἰκέται πεποιήκασιν· ἀποδράντες γὰρ αὐτὸν τοῖς αὐτόθι ἐμφωλεύειν λέγονται τόποις. Τούτους κέλευσον ἀνερευνηθέντας, καὶ ἀλόντας μετὰ ἀσφαλεστάτης φρουρᾶς ἐπὶ τὰ τῇδε παραπεμφθῆναι, δικαίαν καὶ ὀφειλομένην τῷ βίῳ σου, ἡμῖν τε καὶ τοῖς δι' ἡμῶν αἰτήσασι παρεχόμενος τὴν χάριν. ### English translation (Claude) To Leontius the bishop. Slaves have an implacable hatred toward their masters, running away from their owners and preferring to serve others rather than their own masters. This is what this man's slaves have done; for having run away from him they are said to be lurking in the places there. Order them to be searched out and, when caught, to be sent back here under the safest guard, granting a favor that is just and owed to your way of life, to us and to those who have made the request through us. ### Translation notes - Translated as written; the return of runaway slaves was ordinary law in the period. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 36 (PG 77 77:1505; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/36). ## Letter 37 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-37 - Source: PG 77 77:1505 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus tells Cyril of Alexandria that he now misses the stay at Ephesus (431) for Cyril's sake; the end of the letter is damaged. ### Greek text Τὰ μὲν ὅσα περὶ τῆς τῶν γραμμάτων ἐστὶ διηγήσεως οἶδα κοινοῖς τε γράμμασι και τῶν παρ᾿ ἑκάστου τὴν ἁγιότητά σου δεδιδαγμένην. Ἐγὼ δὲ γράψαι ἐπείχθην ἃ πέπονθα· ἔοικα γὰρ τὴν Στησιχόρου παλινῳδίαν ἄδειν, ἐκεῖνα ποθῶν, ὧν πρότερον μακράν ἐποιοῦμεν κατηγορίαν. Τὴν γὰρ ἐν Ἐφέσῳ διαγωγήν δυσχεραίνων, καὶ ἀσμένως ταύτης ἀπαλλαγεὶς, νῦν ἐρᾶν αὐτῆς πόθῳ τῆς σῆς ὁσιότητος ἠνάγκασμαι. Οὕτω πρὸς τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν ἐκκαίομαι. ᾿Αλλ' εἴ τις καί σοι λόγος ἡμῶν, θεοφιλέστατε, γράφε, καὶ μέμνησο τοῖς φίλοις ἐπινενόηται, τὰ δὲ πράγματα συντόμως εἰπεῖν, πρὸς οὐδὲν τῆς ἐλπίδος ἐφ᾽ ἐκάτερο στρεφομένης. ### English translation (Claude) To Cyril the bishop. All that concerns the account of the documents I know your holiness has learned from the common letters and from what each has reported. But I have hastened to write what I have experienced; for I seem to be singing the palinode of Stesichorus, longing for the very things of which I formerly made long complaint. For I was vexed at the stay in Ephesus and gladly rid of it, but now I am compelled to love it through longing for your holiness: so inflamed am I with desire. But if you too have any regard for us, most God-loving one, write, and remember … has been devised for friends; and, to speak of affairs briefly, with hope turning toward nothing either way. ### Extrabiblical texts - Stesichorus, Palinode (Stesichorus): allusion, high confidence ### Translation notes - Written after the Council of Ephesus (431), where Firmus supported Cyril. Stesichorus's palinode retracted his poem against Helen. The text after "remember" is defective (words lost between the lines); the last clause is translated by sense. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 37 (PG 77 77:1505; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/37). ## Letter 38 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-38 - Source: PG 77 77:1507 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus calls a bishop's friendship his treasure and compares their unresolved business to the stone of Sisyphus. ### Greek text Ἤρετό τις τὸν ᾿Αλέξανδρον, ὅπου αὐτῷ οἱ θησαυροὶ εἶεν. Ὁ δὲ τοὺς φίλους ἔδειξεν, ηὐπόρει γὰρ οἱμαι, τοιούτων, οἴους εὗρον κἀγὼ νῦν εἰς γνῶσιν τῆς ὑμετέρας ὁσιότητος ἐλθών. Καὶ ἔχομαι τοῦ θησαυροῦ, καὶ φυλάττω τοῦτον, χρυσῇ στήλῃ τῇ καρδίᾳ τῆς ὑμετέρας ὁσιότητος ἐγχαράξας τὴν μνήμην. Καὶ φυλάττετέ μοι ταύτην εἰς ἀεὶ, καὶ μνήμης ἀξιοῦντες, καὶ γράμμασι δεξιούμενοι. Τὰ δὲ τοῦ πράγματος ὅπως ἔχοι, τί δεῖ λέγειν ; Σισύφιον πέτρον κυλιόντων ἡμῶν· καὶ ὅταν πρὸς τῷ τέλει γενώμεθα, πρὶν ἢ ὑπερβάλλεσθαι τὸν λόφον ἐπὶ τὰ αὐτὰ φερομένου τοῦ λίθου, ὡς μηδὲν εἶναι τῶν προλαβόντων ὄφελος πόνων. Αλλὰ τῶν ὑμετέρων εὐχῶν ἔργον γενήσεται, καὶ τοῦτον ὑπερτεθῆναί ποτε, καὶ ὑμᾶς ἀφεθῆναι τῶν δυσχερῶν, καὶ εἰς ταυτὸν ἀλλήλοις ἐλθεῖν· τοῦτο γὰρ οἷμαι τῶν μακρῶν πόνων γενήσεσθαι πέρας. ### English translation (Claude) To Valerius the bishop. Someone asked Alexander where his treasures were. He pointed to his friends; for he was rich, I think, in such as I too have now found in coming to know your holiness. And I hold to the treasure and guard it, having engraved the memory of your holiness on my heart as on a golden pillar. Guard it for me always, counting me worthy of remembrance and greeting me with letters. As for how the matter stands, what need is there to say? We are rolling the stone of Sisyphus; and when we come near the end, before it crosses the crest, the stone rolls back to the same place, so that there is no profit from the earlier labors. But it will be the work of your prayers that this stone too is one day rolled over, that you are released from the difficulties, and that we meet one another; for this, I think, will be the end of the long labors. ### Extrabiblical texts - Homer, Od. 11.593–600 (Homer, Odyssey): allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - Sisyphus: Homer, Odyssey 11.593–600. "That you are released" is as printed (ὑμᾶς); perhaps "we" (ἡμᾶς) was meant. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 38 (PG 77 77:1507; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/38). ## Letter 39 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-39 - Source: PG 77 77:1507 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus asks an official to free a church singer from a slanderous charge. ### Greek text Εἰ ἀγνῶτα τῇ θαυμασιότητί σου συνιστάναι ἔμελλον, ἔδει μοι προοιμίων, καὶ τῆς περὶ αὐτοῦ διηγήσεως, τίς, καὶ πόθεν, καὶ ποδαπὸς, καὶ ὅσον τῷ ψάλλειν τῶν τε νῦν καὶ προτέρων κεκράτηκεν. Ἡσθέντα δε σε πολλάκις δι' αὐτοῦ τοῖς θείοις ᾄσμασι μετὰ σώφρονος ἡδονῆς, ἐξευμαρίσαι αὐτῷ παρακαλῶ τὰ προκείμενα, καὶ δι᾽ ἑαυτοῦ, καὶ διὰ τοῦ μεγαλοπρεπεστάτου κόμητος ἀφεθῆναι αὐτὸν τῆς ἐκ διαβολῆς παρά τινων γενομένης συκοφαντίας. Παρασκεύασαι, καὶ δὸς τὴν χάριν, δι' ἡμᾶς ἀπωσάμενος τὸ φιλόνεικον, ἵνα μὴ ἔλεγχος ἡμῖν τὸ πρᾶγμα πεπλασμένης φιλίας γένηται· λυπήσεις γὰρ οὐκ ἐμὲ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν μητέρα σου τὴν Ἐκκλησίαν ἐν παρέργῳ δεξάμενος τὴν παράκλησιν. ### English translation (Claude) To Eustratius. If I were going to commend a stranger to your excellency, I would need introductions and an account of him: who he is, where from, of what country, and how far he has surpassed, in singing psalms, both those of today and those before. But since you have often been delighted through him by the divine songs with a sober pleasure, I ask you to make things easy for him in what lies before him, and, by yourself and through the most magnificent count, to have him released from the false charge brought against him by some through slander. Arrange it, and grant the favor, putting away contentiousness for our sake, so that the matter may not become a proof that our friendship was feigned; for you will grieve not only me but also your mother the church, if you treat the request as a side matter. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 39 (PG 77 77:1507; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/39). ## Letter 40 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-40 - Source: PG 77 77:1509 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus asks a judge to give justice to a wronged man. ### Greek text Εἰς καιρον ἔοικεν ἡ δίκη τεταμιεῦσθαι τῷδε εἰς ἄμυναν ὧν ἡδίκησεν, ὑπὸ σοὶ κριτῇ τῆς δίκης βραβευομένης. Καὶ καταξίωσον, παρακαλῶ, μαθὼν, ὅσα τετόλμηται αὐτῷ κατὰ τοῦδε, καὶ ἐπεξελθεῖν ἀνδρικῶς τῇ ὑποθέσει, καὶ βοηθῆσαι τῷ ἡδικημένῳ, καὶ δίκας εἰσπράξασθαι τὸν ἀδικοῦντα, τῆς περὶ τὸ δίκαιον γινομένης σπουδῆς εἰς ἡμετέραν περιουσίας τιμήν. ### English translation (Claude) To Eupnius. Justice seems to have been stored up at the right time for this man, to avenge the wrongs he has suffered, since the case is decided with you as judge. Deign, I beg you, having learned what has been dared against him by that man, to pursue the case manfully, to help the wronged man, and to exact a penalty from the wrongdoer, since zeal for justice adds to our abundance of honor. ### Translation notes - The last clause is uncertain: εἰς ἡμετέραν περιουσίας τιμήν as printed. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 40 (PG 77 77:1509; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/40). ## Letter 41 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-41 - Source: PG 77 77:1509 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus asks a bishop to punish and excommunicate a woman who abandoned her ascetic vow and robbed another woman. ### Greek text Γύναιον μοχθηρὸν ἀποταξάμενον πρότερον τῷ βίῳ, εἶτα δι᾿ ἀσωτείαν εἰς πᾶν ἀσεβείας ἐληλακὸς, μικρὸν ἡγησάμενον ψεύσασθαι τὴν πρώτην ὁμολογίαν, συνεργῷ τῷ κεκοινωνηκότι τῆς ἁμαρτίας χρώμενον, ἐφόδους ἐτόλμησεν κατὰ τῆσδε, καὶ τῶν ὄντων αὐτῇ ἁρπαγὰς, καὶ ἀνδραπόδων ἀφαιρέσεις, οὐδεμίαν ἐλλεῖπον μοχθηρίας ὑπερβολὴν εἰς τὸ προσθεῖναι ἁμαρτίας ἐφ᾽ ἁμαρτίαις. Τοῦτο ὑπὸ τὴν σὴν θεοσέβειαν μετοικῆσαν, καὶ τῆς εἰς τὸν Χριστὸν ἀρνήσεως, καὶ τῶν μετὰ ταῦτα τολμωμένων εἰσπραχθῆναι δίκας κελευσάτω ἡ ὁσιότης σου, καὶ ἀποκηρυχθῆναι αὐτὸ πάσης ἐκκλησιαστικῆς κοινωνίας, εἰ μὲν δοκιμάσειας, καὶ ἀεί· εἰ δὲ μὴ τοῦτο, ἄχρι γοῦν τῆς τοῦ πράγματος διορθώσεως. ### English translation (Claude) To Helladius the bishop. A wretched woman who had first renounced the world, and then through profligacy had driven on to every impiety, thinking it a small thing to belie her first profession, used the man who had shared her sin as an accomplice and dared to make attacks against this woman, to seize her property and take away her slaves, leaving no excess of wickedness undone in heaping sins upon sins. Since she has moved under your piety, let your holiness order that she be punished both for her denial of Christ and for what she has dared since, and that she be cut off from all church communion, permanently if you so judge, or if not, at least until the matter is set right. ### Translation notes - "Renounced the world" (ἀποταξάμενον τῷ βίῳ) refers to taking the ascetic life; abandoning it is called a denial of Christ. Translated as written. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 41 (PG 77 77:1509; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/41). ## Letter 42 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-42 - Source: PG 77 77:1509 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus asks a bishop to hand over a fugitive who had robbed monks. ### Greek text Εἰ ἦν σύμβολα τῆς προαιρέσεως ἐπὶ τοῦ προσώπου φέρειν τοὺς πονηροὺς, ἤρχει ὁ δεῖνα, καὶ μηδενὸς ἐπιστάντος τῇ κατηγορίᾳ, ὀφθεὶς τῇ θεοσεβείᾳ σου, ὑπόδικος γενέσθαι τοῖς τολμηθεῖσιν ἐγκλήμασιν · ἐπειδὴ λωποδυτήσας ἀνθρώπους εὐλαβεῖς, καὶ σεμνὸν ἠρημένους βίον, καὶ περιελὼν αὐτῶν τὰς πρὸς τὸ ζῇν ἀφορμὰς, ἐντεῦθεν ἀποδρὰς πρὸς τὴν ὑπὸ τὴν θεοσέβειάν σου τεταγμένην μετέστη, τοῦτον ὑποδεικνύμενον κέλευσον καὶ τὰ πράγματα ὑπεξέθετο, ἀποκαταστῆσαι, καὶ παραδοθῆναι τοῖς ἀφικομένοις, ἐνταῦθα μετὰ τοὺς ἐλέγχους εἰς σωφρονισμὸν τῶν οὕτω προῃρημένων δίκας ὑφέξοντα. ἱκανὸν δὲ εἰς ἀναίρεσιν ἀδικήματος τὸ μὴ οἴεσθαί τινας ἐν ἀλλαγῇ τῶν τόπων διαφεύγειν τὴν τιμωρίαν, καὶ αὐτόθι, καὶ παρ' ἡμῖν ἐπιμελῶς τῆς τοῦ δικαίου φυλακῆς τιμωμένης. ### English translation (Claude) To Daniel the bishop. If the wicked bore the tokens of their purpose on their faces, it would have been enough for so-and-so, even with no one pressing the charge, to be seen by your piety to become liable for the crimes he has dared: for having robbed devout men who had chosen a dignified life, and taken from them their means of living, he ran away from here and moved to the district placed under your piety. Order him, when he is pointed out, to restore the things he has hidden away, and to be handed over to those who have come, so that here, after proof, he may pay the penalty, for the correction of those who choose such a course. For it is enough to remove wrongdoing that no one should think he escapes punishment by a change of place, when justice is carefully guarded both there and with us. ### Translation notes - "Devout men who had chosen a dignified life" are probably monks. "Restore the things he has hidden away": a relative pronoun seems lost in the printed text; translated by sense. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 42 (PG 77 77:1509; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/42). ## Letter 43 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/1/#p-43 - Source: PG 77 77:1509 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus playfully sends Inachius a Laconian hunting hound named Helen, a terror to hares. ### Greek text Ἥνεγκε και καθ' ἡμᾶς χρόνος Ἑλένην Λάκαισει γεγονώς βραχείᾳ εἰς τὰς σὰς πολλάκις ἀναπέμπειν ὥρμησα χεῖρας, οἷα δὴ Τρῶες ἑβουλεύσαντο περὶ τῆς ὁμωνύμου. Ἐγὼ μὲν μακρότερον πόλεμον ἢ κατ' αὐτοὺς πολεμούμενος μέχρι νῦν διετέλεσα. Tὶς γὰρ ἐν ἐφέσει τῆς ταύτης ὡραιότητος γεγονὼς ὃς κόπους ἐμοὶ παρέσχε καὶ πράγματα, οὐδεμίαν ἐκεχειρίαν ἀσπαζόμενος, οὐδὲ βραχεῖαν ἀνακωχήν διδοὺς τῷ πολέμῳ· τοσοῦτος ἦν ὁ πάντας ἐπ᾿ αὐτὴν κινῶν θερμὸς ἔρως. Εἰκότως. Τί δὲ οὐκ ἔμελλον τῶν ταύτης ἡττᾶσθαι καλῶν, ὥρᾳ σώματος εὐεχούσης, σχέσει, καὶ ποδωκείᾳ εὖ μάλα κοσμουμένης, ὡς μιᾷ πτώσει κατέχεσθαι πάντας τοὺς πανταχῆ πτῶκας δεδοικότας, καὶ τρέμοντας, ὁσάκις ἂν Ἑλένης τὴν κατ᾿ αὐτῶν στρατείαν πύθωνται; Τούτου δὲ τοῦ ναν πολέμων ὑπόθεσιν, ἧς τοῦ κάλλους ἐν ἀπολαύδέους ἀπήλλαξα τοὺς παρ᾿ ἡμῖν ἐν τοῖς ὅρεσι διάγοντας, εἴ τις ἄρα που καὶ περιλέλειπται τῷ λαθεῖν ἰσχύσας διαδρᾶναι τὴν ταύτης ταχύτητα. Σὺ δὲ, τοῖς πᾶσιν, ὀσιώτατε, θαύμαζε μὲν ταύτην ὅσον ἔχεις δυνάμεως· μικρὸς γὰρ, οἶμαι, καὶ ὁ παντὶ σθένει γινόμενος ἔπαινος, εἴ γε τοῖς ταύτης ἀντεξετάζοιτο καλοῖς. Ἐπαίνει δὲ γλώττῃ τὸν πέμψαντα καὶ τῇ προσφιλεῖ, τῇ ἀπερίττῳ, τῇ Λακωνικῇ, τῇ συντόμῳ καὶ σαφεῖ, ὅ μάλιστα λόγων κάλλος δημιουργεῖν πέφυκεν. ᾿Αλλὰ δέδοικα μή πως αἴσθησις ἤδη τῆς ταύτης παρουσίας τοῖς παρ' ὑμῖν λαγωοῖς ἐγγινομένη τρέψῃ τούτους πρὸς φυγήν· κακουργεῖν γὰρ ὄντες σοφοὶ, εἰώθασί πως καὶ ταῖς ἐξ ἀνέμων αὔραις διὰ τῶν οἰκείων αἰσθήσεων τὰς παρά τινων αὐτοῖς μελετωμένας γινώσκειν ἐπιβουλάς. Ἵν᾿ οὖν μὴ τοῦτο γένηται, μηδὲ τούτοις ἐκβῇ κατὰ σκοπὸν τὸ ἐγχείρημα, ὥρα ταχυτέραν τῆς αὐτῶν προσδοκίας τὴν κατ᾿ αὐτῶν ἔξοδον γενέσθαι· οὕτω γὰρ ἐμὲ μὲν λοιδορήσονται τὸν ὡς τοσαύτης αὐτοῖς λύμης αἴτιον γινόμενον, σὲ δὲ θαυμάσονται οἷα δὴ τοιούτου κτήματος κύριον. ### English translation (Claude) To Inachius. Time has brought forth in our day too a Helen, a Laconian … many times I was minded to send her back into your hands, as the Trojans planned concerning her namesake. I for my part have continued until now fighting a longer war than theirs. For whoever came to desire her beauty gave me labors and troubles, accepting no truce and granting no brief respite in the war: so hot was the passion that stirred everyone toward her. Naturally. For how could they not be overcome by her excellences, endowed as she is with bodily beauty and finely adorned with bearing and swiftness of foot, so that with a single pounce she seizes all the cowering hares everywhere, who fear and tremble whenever they hear of Helen's campaign against them? This cause of wars, in the enjoyment of whose beauty … I have freed from fear those who live among us in the mountains, if indeed any is left anywhere who has managed, by escaping notice, to flee her speed. And you, most holy one, admire her in everything as far as you are able; for even praise given with all one's strength would be small, I think, if it were measured against her excellences. But praise the sender too with your tongue, the friendly, the unaffected, the Laconian, the concise and clear, which most naturally creates beauty of speech. But I fear that some sense of her presence, reaching the hares among you, may already turn them to flight; for, being clever at mischief, they are accustomed by their own senses to learn even from the breezes of the winds the plots laid against them. So that this may not happen, and their attempt may not succeed as they aim, it is time for the expedition against them to come sooner than they expect. For so they will revile me as the cause of such ruin to them, but they will admire you as the master of such a possession. ### Translation notes - "Helen" is a Laconian hound (Sparta was Helen's home). The OCR has mixed lines in two places, marked …: the opening sentence and "This cause of wars, in the enjoyment of whose beauty …"; translated by sense. Hares are called πτῶκες, "cowerers" (Homer). A footnote mark "(a)" is removed. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 43 (PG 77 77:1509; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/43). ## Letter 44 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/44/#p-44 - Source: PG 77 77:1511 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus answers Inachius's witty letter about the hound Helen, jokes about the hares and a hawk, and thanks him for wine. ### Greek text Επαφρόδιτος ἀληθῶς ἡ ἐπιστολή, καὶ χαρίτων μεστὴ, αὐτῆς τάχα τῆς τῶν ἐρώτων μητρὸς ἐργασαμένης αὐτὴν ποικίλην τῇ τῶν ὀνομάτων συνθήκῃ. καὶ τοῖς νοήμασι. Τὸ γὰρ ἀπὸ ὁμωνυμίας, καὶ πατρίδος, καὶ περιμαχήτου γυναικὸς εἰς ὥραν, καὶ κάλλος βεβοημένης, συνθεῖναι ἔπαινον τῇ κονίποδι τίς οὐκ ἂν ἀγασθείη τὸν τεχνησάμενον; ἀλλ᾿ ὅτι καὶ σαυτὸν ἡμῖν δέδωκας ἐν τοῖς ἤρωσιν ἀριθμεῖν, τοσοῦτον ἐκείνων ῥώμῃ κρατήσας, ὅσον μὲν αὐτοῖς περιῆν ἀριστέων πλῆθος, καὶ στρατὸν ὅλον πρὸς τὴν μάχην ἐγεῖραι. Αὐτὸς δὲ ἤρκεσας τὴν σαυτοῦ ῥώμην ἀντιστήσας πολλοῖς, καὶ ἄθλον τῆς νίκης τὴν Ἑλένην λαβὼν ἀργυρόπεζάν τινα, καὶ ὡς οὕτως εἰπεῖν ἐναλίου γέροντος θυγατέρα. Ἡ δὲ οἷα τε θεῖν ἐπ᾿ ἄκρων ἀνθερίκων, ὡς μὴ πτῶκας αἴρειν μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰς τῶν ἀνέμων μιμεῖσθαι πνοάς. Λεγόντων οἱ πειράμενοι· τοῖς γὰρ ἐνταῦθα λαγωοῖς τοσοῦτον ἡμῶν κατεξανίστασθαι ὁ σὸς ἱέραξ δέδωκεν, ὡς μηδὲ πτῶκας εἶναι νομίζεσθαι ὑπὸ τοῦ θαῤῥεῖν ἀμέτρως ἐπιλανθανομένους τῆς φύσεως. ᾿Αλλ' οὗτος μὲν ἤξει παρὰ σὲ· τὴν δὲ γε Ἑλένην ἐπὶ κυνηγέσιον ἕξομεν, καὶ ἀλοῦσιν ἐπιτωθάζοντες ἀναγνωσόμεθα τὴν ἐπιστολήν. Εἰ δὲ διασωθεῖεν φυγόντες, ὅρα ὅπως ἀγωνιούμεθα πρὸς αὐτοὺς ψευδομαρτυριῶν ἁλισκόμενοι. Καὶ ταῦτα μὲν ταῦτα. Τῶν δὲ οἴνων ἑκάτερος τῶν Διὸς κήπων ἀποῤῥὼξ ἔστι τις νέκταρος, Ὁμήρου δεόμενος ἐπαινέτου, ἡδὺν λέγοντος, καὶ ἀκηράσιον, καὶ θεῖον ποτὸν, καὶ οἷον ἐκεῖνος ἐποίησεν παρὰ πλεῖον ἐν Ὀδυσσείᾳ αὐτὸν [οἶνον?] Μάρωνος ### English translation (Claude) To the same. Truly charming is your letter, full of graces, as if the mother of the Loves herself had worked it, varied in the composition of its words and in its thoughts. For who would not admire the craftsman who composed praise for the dusty-footed one from her name, her homeland, and the woman fought over for her bloom and famed for her beauty? But more, that you have also given us yourself to count among the heroes, having surpassed them in strength as far as they had a host of champions and raised a whole army for the battle, while you alone sufficed, setting your own strength against many and taking as the prize of victory Helen, a silver-footed one, and, so to speak, a daughter of the old man of the sea. She can run on the tips of the ears of grain, so as not only to catch hares but also to imitate the blasts of the winds. Let those who have tried it say so; for your hawk has given the hares here such license to rise up against us that, forgetting their nature through boundless boldness, they are not even thought to be cowerers. But he will come to you; Helen we will keep for the hunt, and we will read your letter aloud, mocking the hares she catches. And if they escape by flight, see how we shall contend against them, convicted of false witness. So much for that. Of the wines, each is a fragment of nectar from the gardens of Zeus, needing Homer to praise it, who calls it sweet, unmixed, a divine drink, and such as he made it at greater length in the Odyssey, [the wine] of Maron. ### Extrabiblical texts - Homer, Il. 20.226–227 (Homer, Iliad): allusion, medium confidence - Homer, Od. 9.196–211 (Homer, Odyssey): allusion, high confidence ### Translation notes - "Silver-footed" and "daughter of the old man of the sea" are Homer's terms for Thetis; running on the ears of grain recalls the horses of Iliad 20.226–227. Maron's wine: Odyssey 9.196–211 (Migne's bracket "[wine?]" is the editor's suggestion). The roles of the hawk and the hound in the exchange are not clear from the letters; translated as printed. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 44 (PG 77 77:1511; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/44). ## Letter 45 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/44/#p-45 - Source: PG 77 77:1513 - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 Summary: Firmus asks a country bishop to receive an old man fairly. ### Greek text Γέροντα μὲν ἐλαττούμενον συνέσει συγγνώμης ἀξιοῦσθαι περιττόν. Προλαβὼν δὲ φιλανθρωπίᾳ, καὶ ἡμᾶς ἐφειλκύσω ποιῆσαί τι περὶ τὸν ἄνθρωπον δεξιόν. Καὶ πρόσδεξαι αὐτὸν, τοῦτο παραφυλάξας τὸ μήτε ῥᾳδίως κατηγορεῖν, μήτε ἐξαιτεῖσθαι εὐκόλως. ### English translation (Claude) To Pergamius the chorepiscopus. It is superfluous to ask pardon for an old man who is lacking in understanding. But you, anticipating us in kindness, have drawn us too to do something favorable for the man. Receive him, then, taking care neither to accuse him readily nor to beg him off too easily. ### Translation notes - The staged text continues with Migne's editorial notes on Letter 44 (on Maron and the quotation of Odyssey 9.196–205); they are not part of the letter and are removed by a logged correction. ### Citation (SBL) Firmus of Caesarea, Ep. 45 (PG 77 77:1513; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/firmus-caesarea-epistulae/45).