The Presbyters Project

Book III, chapter 24

1. Κυρίῳ ἀδελφῷ Ἀθανασίῳ ἐπισκόπῳ Οὐρσάκιος καὶ Οὐάλης ἐπίσκοποι. Ἀφορμὴν εὑρόντες διὰ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ καὶ συμπρεσβυτέρου ἡμῶν Μουσαίου ἐρχομένου πρὸς τὴν σὴν ἀγάπην, ἀδελφὲ ἀγαπητέ, διὰ τούτου σε καὶ πάνυ προσαγορεύομεν ἀπὸ τῆς Ἀκυλίας καὶ εὐχόμεθά σε ὑγιαίνοντα τὰ γράμματα τὰ ἡμέτερα ἀναγνῶναι. 2. δώσεις γὰρ ἡμῖν θαρρεῖν, ἐὰν καὶ σὺ ἐν τῷ γράφειν ἀποδῷς ἡμῖν τὴν ἀμοιβήν. γίνωσκε γὰρ ἡμᾶς εἰρήνην ἔχειν μετὰ σοῦ καὶ κοινωνίαν ἐκκλησιαστικήν. καὶ τούτων γνώρισμα ἡ διὰ τούτων τῶν γραμμάτων προσηγορία.

(ed. Bidez, Hansen 2008)

Book III, chapter 24

1. The bishops, Ursacius and Valens, to Athanasius, our brother in the Lord. We take the opportunity of the departure of Musaios, our brother and fellow presbyter, who is going to your esteemed self, O beloved brother, to send you amplest greeting from Aquileia through him, and hope that our letter will find you in good health. 2. You will afford us great encouragement if you will write us a reply to this letter. Know that we are at peace and in ecclesiastical communion with you.

(trans. Hartranft 1890: 300; adapted by M. Szada)

Place of event:

Region

Italy north of Rome with Corsica and Sardinia
East

City

Aquileia
Alexandria

About the source:

Author: Hermias Sozomen
Title: Ecclesiastical History, Church history, Historia ecclesiastica, Ἐκκλησιαστικὴ ἱστορία
Origin: Constantinople (East)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

Sozomen was born in Bethelea near Gaza in Palestine probably ca AD 380. We do not know the year of his death, but the last book of his work written probably in 448 AD is incomplete, thus the death might hindered its completion. The Ecclesiastical History has nine books relating the history from the rule of Constantine (AD 324-337) to the seventeenth consulate of Emperor Theodosius II (AD 439). Originally the work was preceded by the two book compendium of the history of the Church of the first three centuries, but they did not survive to our times (Sabbah 1983: 7-31). Sozomen was a contemporary of the other ecclesiastical historian Socrates, and it is usually accepted that it was he who used the work of his collegue, although he had different approach and method (for the detailed comparison with further readings see Sabbah 1983: 57-87).

Edition:

J. Bidez, G.Ch. Hansen eds., Sozomenus, Historia ecclesiastica, Griechischen Christlichen Schriftsteller der ersten Jahrhunderte 50, Berlin 1960.

Translations:

Ch.D. Hartranft rev., The ecclesiastical history of Sozomen, [in:] A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene, second sereis, eds. P. Schaff, H. Wace, vol. 2, New York 1890 online edition

A.-J. Festugière trans., J. Bidez ed., Hermias Sozomen, Histoire ecclesiastique, Sources Chrétiennes 306, 418, 495, 516, Paris 1983, 1996, 2005, 2008.

G.Ch. Hansen trans., Hermias Sozomenos, Historia ecclesiastica Kirchengeschichte I–IV, Turnhout 2004.

Bibliography:

G. Sabbah, Introduction, [in:] A.-J. Festugière trans., J. Bidez ed., Hermias Sozomen, Histoire ecclesiastique, Sources Chrétiennes 306, Paris 1983.

Categories:

Writing activity - Correspondence

PR749.

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

PR749.

Ecclesiastical administration - Ecclesiastical envoy

PR749.

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1643, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1643