XX.

POLYCRATES, BISHOP OF EPHESUS.

FRAGMENT OF HIS SYNODICAL LETTER

ΤΟ

VICTOR, BISHOP OF ROME.

We then celebrate the inviolable day, neither adding to it nor taking from it. For in Asia also great elements have been laid to sleep: which will rise again on the last day of the coming of the Lord, in which he comes with glory from heaven, and shall seek out all the saints, Philip one of the twelve apostles, who sleeps in Hierapolis, and his two daughters, virgins who have grown old; and his other daughter whose conversation was in the Holy Spirit, rests in Ephesus. But moreover also John, who leaned on the breast of the Lord, who became a priest bearing the plate, and martyr and teacher: he sleeps in Ephesus. Moreover Polycarp also both bishop and martyr in Smyrna, and Thraseas and bishop and martyr of Eumenia, who sleeps in Smyrna. Why need I speak of Sagaris bishop and martyr, who sleeps in Laodicea? Moreover also the blessed Papirius, and Melito the eunuch, whose conversation was wholly on the Holy Spirit: he lies in Sardis waiting for the overseership from heaven, in which he shall rise from the dead. All these kept the day of the fourteenth of the passover according to

the gospel, transgressing in nothing, but following according to the rule of the faith. Moreover I also Polycrates the least of all of you, according to the tradition of my kinsmen, some of whom I have followed.-I had seven kinsmen bishops, and I the eighth and my kinsmen always celebrated the day, when the people removed the leaven-I then, my brethren, being sixty-five years in the Lord, and having conferred with the brethren of the whole world, and having gone through all sacred writing, am not disturbed at those who threaten us; for those who are greater than I have said, we must obey God rather than men.

I could name the bishops that were present, whom you ordered to be assembled by me, and I sent for them: whose names if I write, they are large numbers. But those who have seen my small man, have consented to the letter, knowing that I have not borne my grey hairs in vain, but have ever conversed in the Lord Jesus. [EUSEB. Eccl. Hist. v, 24.]

XXI.

SYNODICAL LETTER

OF

THE COUNCIL OF LYONS:

WRITTEN BY

IRENEUS, BISHOP OF LYONS,

ΤΟ

VICTOR, BISHOP OF ROME.

Frag. 1. For not only is the controversy concerning the day, but also concerning the very nature of the fast. For some think that they ought to fast one day, others two, and others more. Some measure their day as forty hours both of the day and of the night. Such is the variance of those who observe it, which arose not in our times, but long before in the time of those who preceded us, who, as is likely, governed negligently, and left a simple and irregular custom to posterity. And nevertheless both all of these have been at peace, and we are at peace with one another; and the difference about the fast holds together the harmony of the faith.

To this he adds a history, which I will opportunely insert, in form as follows:

And the elders before Soter, who governed the church

which you now are at the head of, we mean Anicetus and Pius, Hyginus, Telesphorus and Xystus, neither themselves kept it, nor enjoined those who were with them to do so; and nevertheless those who did not keep it, were at peace with those who came to them from the districts in which it was kept. And still more opposed was the keeping it to those who did not keep it: and never were any rejected for this peculiarity: but the elders your predecessors, who themselves did not keep it, sent the Eucharist to those from the districts who kept it. And when the blessed Polycarp was sojourning at Rome in the time of Anicetus, when also they had some small matters with one another concerning other subjects, they immediately were at peace, not being fond of strife with one another on this head. For neither could Anicetus persuade Polycarp not to keep it, seeing that he had always kept it with John the disciple of our Lord and with the other disciples, with whom he dwelt; nor did Polycarp persuade Anicetus to keep it, for he said that he ought to retain the custom of the elders who went before him. And though things were so, they were in communion with one another and Anicetus conceded the eucharist in the church to Polycarp, out of respect, and they parted in peace from one another, in peace with all the church, both those who kept it and those who did not keep it. [EUSEB. Eccl. Hist.,

v, 24.]

Frag. 2. In whatsoever a man is able to do good to his neighbours and does it not, he shall be deemed an alien from the love of the Lord. [MAXIMI CONF. Serm. 7. de Eleemos, tom. ii, Opp. p. 554, ed. Combefis.]

XXII.

SERAPION, BISHOP OF ANTIOCH.

I. HIS LETTER TO CARINUS AND PONTIUS.

Frag. 1. But that ye may see this also that the working of this false order called the new prophecy is abominated among all the brotherhood in the world, I have sent to you also the writings of the blessed Claudius Apollinarius, who was bishop of Hierapolis in Asia.

I Aurelius Cyrenius martyr pray that you are well !

Ælius Publius Julius, bishop, from Debeltum a colony of Thrace.

The Lord liveth, that is in heaven, that the blessed Sotas of Anchialus wished to cast out the devil of Priscilla, and the hypocrites would not let him. [EUSEB. Eccl. Hist., v, 19.]

II. CONCERNING THE GOSPEL OF ST. PETER.

Frag. 2. For we, brethren, receive both Peter and the other apostles like as we do Christ: but, as knowing men, we beg to be excused about their falsely inscribed names, knowing that we received not such. For I, when I was among you,