Historical Fragments 1.5.1.1–1.5.1.3
Latin text: Feder, CSEL 65 (Latin text: Vienna CSEL, digitized by Open Greek and Latin (csel-dev, University of Leipzig), CC BY-SA 4.0).English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0).
Historical 1, chapter 5
1.5.1.1CSEL 65:78–80
Iubente deo et praecepto pietatis tuae credimus fuisse dispositum, ut ad Ariminensium locum ex diuersis prouinciis Occidentalium episcopi ueniremus, ut fides claresceret omnibus ecclesiis catholicis et haeretici noscerentur. dum enim omnes, qui recte sapimus, contractaremus, placuit fidem ab antiquitate perseuerantem, quam praedicauerunt prophetae, euangelia et apostoli per ipsum deum et dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, saluatorem imperii tui et largitorem salutis tuae, (ut) quam semper obtinuimus, teneamus. nefas enim duximus sanctorum aliquid mutilare et eorum, qui in Nicheno tractatu consederant una cum gloriosae memoriae Constantino patre pietatis tuae; qui tractatus manifestatus est et insinuatus mentibus populorum et contra haeresim Arrianam tunc positus inuenitur, (ut non solum ipsa, sed etiam reliquae) haereses inde sunt expugnatae. a quo si aliquid demtum fuerit, uenenis haereticorum aditus panditur
By God’s command and by the order of your Piety, we believe, it was arranged that we bishops of the West should come from various provinces to the place of Ariminum, so that the faith might be made clear to all the catholic churches and the heretics might be recognized. For when all of us who think rightly took counsel together, it was decided that we should hold the faith that has endured from antiquity, which the prophets, the Gospels and the apostles preached through God himself and our Lord Jesus Christ, the protector of your empire and the giver of your well-being, the faith which we have always held. For we judged it wrong to mutilate anything of the saints and of those who sat in the Nicene council together with Constantine of glorious memory, the father of your Piety. That council was made known and implanted in the minds of the peoples, and, set up at that time against the Arian heresy, it is found to be such that not only that heresy but the other heresies too were overthrown by it. If anything is taken away from it, an entrance is opened to the poisons of the heretics.
Notes and citation
Summary: The Western bishops at Ariminum (359) tell Constantius that they resolved to keep the ancient faith of Nicaea unchanged, since any subtraction opens the way to heresy.
- The letter of the council of Ariminum to the emperor Constantius II (359). Feder’s supplements in round brackets are translated.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (unproofed re-OCR: removed the apparatus, the Greek of the facing column and a duplicated copy of the opening sentences; OCR slips fixed (eontractaremus, lesum, Nieheno, manmifestatus, tune, at)): Iubente deo et praecepto pietatis tuae credimus fuisse dispositum, ut ad Ariminensium locum ex diuersis prouinciis Occidentalium episcopi ueniremus, ut fides claresceret omnibus ecColeti 11 905 s4., Manei III 305—308 13 Sequitur epistola Ariminensis concilii ad C. i ubi episcopi praeuaricati sunt a fide uera praem. Cy; C sumpsit eria ex subseriplone el ez lilulo subsequentis documenti auguste«o 4 — 15lubente T Fab et]exy — praecepto] patre coepto A. Ca.c. clesiis catholicis et haeretici noscerentur. dum enim. omnes, qui reete sapimus, eontractaremus, placuit fidem ab antiquitate perseuerantem, quam praedicauerunt prophetae, euangelia et apostoli per ipsum deum et dominum nostrum lesum . s Christum, saluatorem imperii tui et largitorem salutis tuae, (ut) quam semper obtinuimus, teneamus. nefas enim duximus sanctorum aliquid —mutilare et «eorum, qui in jS* Nieheno tractatu consederant una cum gloriosae memoriae uerunt prophetae Eng perphetas A per prophetas C? 4 apostoli Eng apostolos 4ACy — 6 (ut), quam Eng suscepimus quam wel susceptam Cow — quam "Apuijro. avróbov. Kowotarr zepqüeioa tip Bacdei Nic — 20 vd ve ix vf clesiis catholicis et haeretici. noscerentur. dum enim "ommes, qui recte sapimus, eontractaremus, placuit fidem ab antiquitate perseuerantem, quam praedicauerunt prophetae, euangelia et apostoli per ipsum deum et dominum nostrum lesum Christum, saluatorem imperii tui et largitorem salutis tuae, (ut) quam semper obtinuimus, teneamus. nefas enim duximus sanctorum aliquid — mutilare et eorum, qui in is* Nieheno tractatu consederant una cum gloriosae memoriae! uerunt prophetae Eng perphetas A per prophetas C» 4 apostoli Eng apo- - ed. 1777), Socral, hist, ecel. 11.37 (ed. Hussey), Sosomen. hist, eel. IV. (ed. Hussey), Theodoret. híst. eccl. 11 19. (ed. Parmentier), Niceph. Call. hist. eccl, 1X. 40 (ed. Fronton du Duc). damus (erium. secundum. Afhanasium ; uerfionem ex graeco latinam secundum Theodoretum praebet C, dorus hist. trip. V Constantino patre pietatis tuae; qui tractatus manmifestatus est et insinuatus mentibus populorum et contra haeresim Arrianam tune positus inuenitur, (at non solum ipsa, sed etiam reliquae) haereses inde sunt expugnatae. a quo si aliquid demtum fuerit, uenenis haereticorum aditus panditur → Iubente deo et praecepto pietatis tuae credimus fuisse dispositum, ut ad Ariminensium locum ex diuersis prouinciis Occidentalium episcopi ueniremus, ut fides claresceret omnibus ecclesiis catholicis et haeretici noscerentur. dum enim omnes, qui recte sapimus, contractaremus, placuit fidem ab antiquitate perseuerantem, quam praedicauerunt prophetae, euangelia et apostoli per ipsum deum et dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, saluatorem imperii tui et largitorem salutis tuae, (ut) quam semper obtinuimus, teneamus. nefas enim duximus sanctorum aliquid mutilare et eorum, qui in Nicheno tractatu consederant una cum gloriosae memoriae Constantino patre pietatis tuae; qui tractatus manifestatus est et insinuatus mentibus populorum et contra haeresim Arrianam tunc positus inuenitur, (ut non solum ipsa, sed etiam reliquae) haereses inde sunt expugnatae. a quo si aliquid demtum fuerit, uenenis haereticorum aditus panditur.
Cite (SBL): Hilary, Frag. hist. 1.5.1.1 (CSEL 65:78–80; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/hilary-fragmenta-historica/1-5-1-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/hilary-fragmenta-historica/1-5-1-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the PL 10 text; re-read against the Latin (no public-domain English exists).
1.5.1.2CSEL 65:80–83
Ideo Ursatius et Ualens in suspicionem eiusdem haereseos Arrianae uenerunt aliquando et suspensi erant a communione et rogauerunt ueniam, sicut eorum continent scripta, quam meruerant tunc temporis a concilio Mediolanensi assistentibus etiam legatis Romanae ecclesiae. Constantino praesente in hoc cum magno examine fuisset conscriptum, quod tenens baptizatus ad quietem dei commigrauit, nefas putamus inde aliquid mutilare et tot sanctos et confessores et successores martirum ipsius tractatus conscriptores in aliquo remouere, cum et ipsi praeteritorum catholicorum secundum scripturas cuncta seruarunt. (quorum fides) mansit usque in haec tempora, quibus pietas tua (a) deo patre per deum et dominum nostrum Iesum Christum regendi orbis accepit. tunc etiam conabantur conuellere, quod fuerat positum ratione, et cum pietatis tuae litterae iusserunt tractari de fide, offerebatur nobis a supradictis turbatoribus ecclesiarum adsociato Germinio et Gaio nouum nescio quid considerandum, (quod) multa peruersae doctrinae continebat. at uero cum uideretur displicere, quod offerebant publice in concilio, putauerunt aliter esse conscribendum. equidem haec breui tempore saepe mutasse manifestum est. et ne frequentius ecclesiae perturbentur, placuit statuta uetera rata et inmutabilia seruari. ad instruendam quidem tuam clementiam (legatos nostros misimus, ut sententiam concilii per litteras nostras nuntiarent), quibus hoc ipsum solum mandauimus, ut non aliter legationem perferrent, quam (ut) statuta uetera permanerent firmissima, ut et sapientia tua cognosceret non hoc, quod promiserant supradicti Ualens, Ursacius, Germinius et Gaius, si (aliquid rectorum) sublatum fuisset, pacem posse compleri. magis enim turbatio cunctis regionibus et ecclesiae Romanae inmissa est,
So Ursacius and Valens once came under suspicion of the same Arian heresy, were suspended from communion, and asked pardon, as their writings contain; and they obtained it at that time from the council of Milan, with legates of the Roman church also present. Since [the Nicene creed] had been drawn up in Constantine’s presence with great examination, and he, holding it, was baptized and passed to the rest of God, we think it wrong to mutilate anything of it, or to set aside in any way so many saints and confessors and successors of the martyrs who drew up that council’s statement, since they too kept everything of the catholics before them according to the Scriptures. Their faith has remained until these times, in which your Piety received from God the Father, through God and our Lord Jesus Christ, [the power] of ruling the world. Then too they tried to overthrow what had been laid down with reason; and when the letters of your Piety ordered that the faith be discussed, there was offered to us by the aforesaid disturbers of the churches, with Germinius and Gaius joined to them, some new thing or other to be considered, which contained much perverse doctrine. But when what they were offering publicly in the council was seen to displease, they thought it should be drawn up otherwise. Indeed it is plain that they have often changed these things in a short time. And lest the churches be disturbed more often, it was decided that the old statutes be kept valid and unchangeable. To inform your Clemency, (we have sent our legates to report the decision of the council by our letters,) to whom we gave this one charge only, that they should carry out the embassy in no other way than that the old statutes should remain most firm; so that your Wisdom too might know that peace cannot be achieved, as the aforesaid Valens, Ursacius, Germinius and Gaius had promised, if (anything of what is right) is taken away. For rather, disturbance has been brought upon all regions and upon the Roman church,
Notes and citation
Summary: The bishops recall that Ursacius and Valens had once recanted Arianism, defend the Nicene creed drawn up under Constantine, and report that they rejected the new formula offered by Ursacius, Valens, Germinius and Gaius.
- The object of “received” (accepit) is missing in the text; “the power” is supplied. Constantine was baptized shortly before his death (337). The section ends mid-sentence; it continues in 1.5.1.3.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (unproofed re-OCR: removed the Greek of the facing column, apparatus and a running head (LXV, Hilarius pars 4. Feder.); OCR slips fixed (seripta, tune, hoe, eonseribendum, cuneta, lesum, instruuna … endam)): Ideo Ursatius et Ualens in suspicionem eiusdem haereseos Arrianae uenerunt aliquando et suspensi erant a communione et rogauerunt ueniam, sicut eorum continent seripta, quam meruerant tune temporis a concilio Mediolanensi assistentibus etiam legatis daro Bosàorrai. Romanae ecclesiae, Constantino praesente in hoe cum magno $ examine fuisset conscriptum, quod tenens baptizatus ad quietem dei commigrauit, nefas putamus inde aliquid mutilare et tot sanctos et confessores et successores martirum ipsius tractatus 5 conscriptores in aliquo remouere, cum et ipsi praeteritorum catholicorum secundum scripturas cuneta seruarunt. (quorum fides) mansit usque in haec tempora, quibus pietas tua (a) deo patre per deum et dominum nostrum lesum Christum regendi orbis accepit zagibeiv Theod despicere Cass rfc, add. xaboloej; SocrSos — 16 eouór add. rc xaboxüe Nic üxavre; Nic; ef. per omnia sapuisse Cass Socr 18 otto om. Nic 19 oi vm. Soz Nic — 20 roAurjuati] qporápar p LXV, Hilarius pars 4. Feder. ese] n2 £5 Lune etiam conabantur conuellere, quod fuerat positum ratione, et cum pietatis tuae litterae iusserunt tractari de fide, offerebatur nobis a supradictis turbatoribus ecclesiarum adsociato Germinio et Gaio nouum nescio quid. considerandum, (quod) multa peruersae doctrinae continebat. at uero cum uideretur displicere, quod offerebant publice in concilio, putauerunt aliter esse conseribendum. equidem haec breui tempore saepe mutasse manifestum est. et ne frequentius ecclesiae perturbentur, placuit statuta uetera rata et inmutabilia seruari. ad instruuna quidem existens Cass u£rovoa Soz (H ui) uérovoa B, u. Parmentier) qd) 4iévovoa Nic 15 roiaírrc] abrijc Socr, Sos (B), Theod (rowaieng B5), Nic endam igitur tuam clementiam (legatos nostros misimus, ut sententiam concilii per litteras nostras nuntiarent), quibus hoc ipsum solum mandauimus, ut non aliter legationem perferrent, quam (ut) statuta uetera permanerent firmissima, ut et sapientia tua cognosceret non hoc, quod promiserant supradicti Ualens, Ursacius, Germinius et Gaius, si (aliquid rectorum) sublatum fuisset, pacem posse compleri. magis enim turbatio cunctis regionibus et ecclesiae Romanae inmissa est, → Ideo Ursatius et Ualens in suspicionem eiusdem haereseos Arrianae uenerunt aliquando et suspensi erant a communione et rogauerunt ueniam, sicut eorum continent scripta, quam meruerant tunc temporis a concilio Mediolanensi assistentibus etiam legatis Romanae ecclesiae. Constantino praesente in hoc cum magno examine fuisset conscriptum, quod tenens baptizatus ad quietem dei commigrauit, nefas putamus inde aliquid mutilare et tot sanctos et confessores et successores martirum ipsius tractatus conscriptores in aliquo remouere, cum et ipsi praeteritorum catholicorum secundum scripturas cuncta seruarunt. (quorum fides) mansit usque in haec tempora, quibus pietas tua (a) deo patre per deum et dominum nostrum Iesum Christum regendi orbis accepit. tunc etiam conabantur conuellere, quod fuerat positum ratione, et cum pietatis tuae litterae iusserunt tractari de fide, offerebatur nobis a supradictis turbatoribus ecclesiarum adsociato Germinio et Gaio nouum nescio quid considerandum, (quod) multa peruersae doctrinae continebat. at uero cum uideretur displicere, quod offerebant publice in concilio, putauerunt aliter esse conscribendum. equidem haec breui tempore saepe mutasse manifestum est. et ne frequentius ecclesiae perturbentur, placuit statuta uetera rata et inmutabilia seruari. ad instruendam quidem tuam clementiam (legatos nostros misimus, ut sententiam concilii per litteras nostras nuntiarent), quibus hoc ipsum solum mandauimus, ut non aliter legationem perferrent, quam (ut) statuta uetera permanerent firmissima, ut et sapientia tua cognosceret non hoc, quod promiserant supradicti Ualens, Ursacius, Germinius et Gaius, si (aliquid rectorum) sublatum fuisset, pacem posse compleri. magis enim turbatio cunctis regionibus et ecclesiae Romanae inmissa est,.
Topics: Heresy, Baptism, Church office
Cite (SBL): Hilary, Frag. hist. 1.5.1.2 (CSEL 65:80–83; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/hilary-fragmenta-historica/1-5-1-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/hilary-fragmenta-historica/1-5-1-2
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the PL 10 text; re-read against the Latin (no public-domain English exists).
1.5.1.3CSEL 65:83–85
Ob quam rem tuam rogamus clementiam, ut placidis auribus et sereno uultu uniuersos legatos nostros et respicias et audias neue aliquid permittat clementia tua iniuria ueterum conuelli, sed manere ea, quae a maioribus nostris accepimus, quos fuisse et prudentes et sine spiritu sancto dei non egisse confidimus, quia ista nouitate non solum fideles populi perturbati sunt, uerum etiam et infideles ad credulitatem uetantur accedere. oramus etiam, ut praecipias tot episcopos, qui Arimino detinentur, inter quos plurimi, qui aetate et paupertate defecti sunt, ad suam prouinciam remeare, ne destituti sine episcopis laborent populi ecclesiarum. hoc etiam frequentius postulamus, ut nihil innouetur, nihil minuatur, sed maneant incorrupta, quae patris sanctae pietatis tuae temporibus et tuis religiosis saeculis permanserunt. nec iam nos fatigari aut conuelli a sedibus nostris tua sancta prudentia permittat, sed ut quieti (cum populis suis episcopi) uacent semper postulationibus, quas habent semper et pro salute tua et pro regno tuo et pro pace, quam tibi diuinitas meritis tuis profundam et perpetuam largiatur. legati autem nostri et suscriptiones et nomina episcoporum uel legatorum perferent, sicut idem alia scriptura instruit tuam sanctam religiosamque prudentiam.
For this reason we ask your Clemency to look upon and hear all our legates with calm ears and serene face, and not to allow anything of the ancients to be overthrown to their injury, but to let remain what we received from our forebears, who, we are confident, were both prudent and did not act without the Holy Spirit of God; for by this novelty not only have the faithful peoples been disturbed, but even unbelievers are kept from coming to belief. We also pray that you command the many bishops who are detained at Ariminum, among whom very many are worn out by age and poverty, to return to their province, lest the peoples of the churches, left without bishops, suffer. This too we ask yet more often: that nothing be innovated, nothing diminished, but that what remained in the times of the father of your holy Piety and in your devout age remain uncorrupted. And may your holy Prudence not allow us to be wearied or torn from our sees any longer, but let (the bishops with their peoples) be at peace and give themselves always to the prayers which they make always for your safety, for your reign and for peace, which may the Godhead grant you, deep and lasting, for your merits. Our legates will bring the signatures and names of the bishops or legates, as another document likewise informs your holy and devout Prudence.
Notes and citation
Summary: The council asks Constantius to hear its legates, keep the old faith unchanged, and let the bishops detained at Ariminum return to their churches.
- The apparatus notes that the Greek translator read “crudelitatem” (cruelty) for “credulitatem” (belief).
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (unproofed re-OCR: removed the Greek of the facing column and apparatus that interrupt the text, and a repeated closing phrase; OCR slips fixed (saneto, praeeipias, eum)): Ob quam rem tuam rogamus clementiam, ut placidis auribus et sereno uultu uniuersos legatos nostros et respicias et audias neue aliquid. permittat clementia tua iniuria ueterum conuelli, sed manere ea, quae a maioribus nostris accepimus, quos fuisse et prudentes et sine spiritu saneto dei non egisse confidimus, quia ista 5 dyyiwo(az re xal qgorrjotoz xai zweípatoz dylov. ztexoupdvai qoauiev dr. 15 M]ye Socr — 16 xal dexaíam] dexalex; Sos Nie — dxpopéveov So Nic ait Cass — re om. Mau Soz Nic — 18elnéo rv p 20 tàv om, Theod — yevrj- nouitate non solum fideles populi perturbati sunt, uerum etiam et ] 2 infideles ad credulitatem uetantur accedere, oramus etiam, ut. praeeipias tot episcopos, qui Arimino detinentur, inter quos plurimi, qui aetate et paupertate defecti sunt, ad suam prouinciam remeare, ne destituti sine episcopis laborent populi ecclesiarum. hoc etiam frequentius postulamus, ut nihil innouetur, nihil minuatur, sed maneant incorrupta, quae patris sanctae pietatis tuae temporibus et tuis religiosis saeculis permanserunt. nec iam nos fatigari aut conuelli a sedibus nostris tua sancta prudentia permittat, sed ut quieti (eum populis suis episcopi) uacent semper postulationibus, quas 1e tl; exydc ve xai Aargelaz axo) dyowv, ixerevorreg énip ric oi; famdría; 11 37: 'Graecus interpres. pro credulitatem legi! crudelitatem'; Epiphanius habent semper et pro salute tua et pro regno tuo et pro pace, quam tibi diuinitas meritis. tuis profundam et perpetuam largiatur. legati autem nostri et suscriptiones et nomina episcoporum uel legatorum perferent, sicut idem alia scriptura instruit tuam sanctam religiosamque prudentiam. tuam sanctam religiosamque prudentiam. → Ob quam rem tuam rogamus clementiam, ut placidis auribus et sereno uultu uniuersos legatos nostros et respicias et audias neue aliquid permittat clementia tua iniuria ueterum conuelli, sed manere ea, quae a maioribus nostris accepimus, quos fuisse et prudentes et sine spiritu sancto dei non egisse confidimus, quia ista nouitate non solum fideles populi perturbati sunt, uerum etiam et infideles ad credulitatem uetantur accedere. oramus etiam, ut praecipias tot episcopos, qui Arimino detinentur, inter quos plurimi, qui aetate et paupertate defecti sunt, ad suam prouinciam remeare, ne destituti sine episcopis laborent populi ecclesiarum. hoc etiam frequentius postulamus, ut nihil innouetur, nihil minuatur, sed maneant incorrupta, quae patris sanctae pietatis tuae temporibus et tuis religiosis saeculis permanserunt. nec iam nos fatigari aut conuelli a sedibus nostris tua sancta prudentia permittat, sed ut quieti (cum populis suis episcopi) uacent semper postulationibus, quas habent semper et pro salute tua et pro regno tuo et pro pace, quam tibi diuinitas meritis tuis profundam et perpetuam largiatur. legati autem nostri et suscriptiones et nomina episcoporum uel legatorum perferent, sicut idem alia scriptura instruit tuam sanctam religiosamque prudentiam..
Topics: Church office, Prayer
Cite (SBL): Hilary, Frag. hist. 1.5.1.3 (CSEL 65:83–85; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/hilary-fragmenta-historica/1-5-1-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/hilary-fragmenta-historica/1-5-1-3
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the PL 10 text; re-read against the Latin (no public-domain English exists).