Presbyters Uniwersytet Warszawski
ID
ER 1507
Trifolius, presbyter possibly of Rome, writes a letter to the senator Faustus from Rome on the Theopaschite doctrine of the Scythian monks, AD 519/520.
Epistula Trifolii presbyteri ad beatum Faustum senatorem contra Ioannem Scytham monachum.
 
1. Mandare mihi dignatus es, monachos Scythas a Constantinopolim aduenisse, qui "unum de trinitate" praedicant "crucifixum"; sperans a paruitate mea, si tale aliquid in doctrina patrum reppererim.
Ista doctrina de fonte Arrii prodiuit, et est conueniens omnibus heredibus [bona].
 
In what follows, Trifolius explains how the Theopaschite doctrine is contrary to the doctrine established by the councils of Nicaea, Constantinople, Ephesus and Chalcedon, and why it should be seen as an offspring of the Arian heresy, and is also affiliate with the condemned doctrine of Eutyches.
 
(ed. F. Glorie 1972: 135-141; summary M. Szada)
 
The letter of Trifolius presbyter to the blessed Senator Faustus against the monk John the Scythian.
 
1. You were so kind to inform me that the Scythian monks had arrived from Constantinople. They teach that "one from Trinity was crucified", and you asked my humble self whether I find something like this in the doctrine of the Fathers.
This doctrine proceeds from the font of Arius and agrees with all his heirs.
 
In what follows, Trifoilus explains how the Theopaschite doctrine is contrary to the doctrine established by the councils of Nicaea, Constantinople, Ephesus and Chalcedon, and why it should be seen as an offspring of the Arian heresy, and that it is also affiliate with the condemned doctrine of Eutyches.
 
(trans. and summary M. Szada)

Discussion:

The letter discusses the so-called Theopaschite theology which was promoted by the Scythian monks in the context of the Christological debates of the fifth and sixth centuries. From AD 513 they advocated the formula that "One of the Trinity suffered in the flesh", which, however, led to further controversy in Constantinople. In AD 519 the Acacian schism came to an end, and the doctrine of the Scythian monks started to be interpreted as an attack on the Council of Chalcedon and a newly re-established union between Rome and Constantinople. The monks proceeded to Rome in 519, but Hormisdas did not grant them an audience. They left Rome, and in response Hormisdas wrote a letter to Bishop Possessor in August AD 520 in which he criticized the theology of the Scythian monks. When the Scythian monks were still in Rome, the Senator Faustus asked the Presbyter Trifolius about the Theopaschite formula, and received the present letter (see Grillmeier and Hainthaler 1995: 322–27).
 
The recipient of the letter should probably be identified with Flavius Anicius Probus Faustus iunior Niger (PLRE, vol. 2, Faustus 9), consul of the year 490, magister officiorum in the years 492–94, quaestor palatii in 503–5/6, and praefectus praetorio in Italy in 509-512. He was an addressee of many letters of Ennodius, deacon of Milan and later bishop of Pavia.

Place of event:

Region
  • Rome

About the source:

Author: Trifolius
Title: Epistula ad beatum Faustum Senatorem contra Ioannem Scytham monachum, Epistula Trifolii presbyteri, Letter of Trifolius to the senator Faustus
Origin: Rome
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian
Trifolius is known only from the letter to the Senator Faustus. He wrote the letter after AD 519 when the Scythian monks whose doctrine he discusses arrived to Rome, and probably before August AD 520 when Pope Hormisdas distanced himself from their theology (PCBE, Italie, v. 2, Trifolius). The letter is incomplete.
Edition:
Trifolius, Epistula ad beatum Faustum senatorem contra Ioannem Scytham monachum, in: Gennaro S., F. Glorie eds., Liber ad Renatum monachum; Praefationes latinae genuinae; Exempla sanctorum patrum; Epistula ad beatum Faustum senatorem contra Ioannem Scytham monachum; Confessio sive formula libelli fidei, Corpus Christianorum Series Latina 85, Turnhout 1972
Bibliography:
A. Grillmeier and T. Hainthaler, Christ in Christian tradition, vol. 2, pt. 2, London 1995.

Categories:

Writing activity - Correspondence
Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος
Relation with - Secular authority
Relation with - Monk/Nun
Education - Theological interest
Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1507, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1507