Alexander of Thessalonica to Athanasius (CPG 2123.18)
| Reference: | Mel. 20, CPG 2123.18, FNS 58 |
| Incipit: | Συγχαίρω τῷ βελτίστῳ Σαραπίωνι |
| Date: | ca. 333 |
| Greek Text: | Athanasius, Apol. Sec. 66 |
| English Translation: | NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 134-135, adapted for FCC by SMT and GLT |
This letter written by Alexander of Thessalonica to Athanasius shows that the Meletian controversy was known outside of Egypt. Bishop Alexander had read John Arcaph’s own letters and so was familiar with the plot to convict Athanasius of killing Arsenius. He then confirms for Athanasius that the plot had been found out, and that John Arcaph was disgraced. In the narrative leading up to this letter in his Apologia Secunda, Athanasius states that he had received many other letters of a similar nature.
The Greek text below is that of Opitz as found in AW 2.4:66. The English translation has been adapted from NPNF2 vol. 4, p.134-135 by SMT and GLT for FCC.
Click here to access a downloadable pdf of this document.
The derivative translation below is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
| Κυρίῳ ἀγαπητῷ υἱῷ καὶ ὁμοψύχῳ συλλειτουργῷ Ἀθανασίῳ Ἀλέξανδρος ἐπίσκοπος ἐν κυρίῳ χαίρειν. | To his dearly beloved son and fellow like-minded minister, the lord Athanasius, Alexander the Bishop sends health in the Lord. |
| Συγχαίρω τῷ βελτίστῳ Σαραπίωνι οὕτως ἱεροῖς ἑαυτὸν ἤθεσι κοσμεῖν ἀγωνιζομένῳ καὶ τήν [τε] τοῦ πατρὸς μνήμην ἐγκωμιαστικώτερον ἐπαύξοντι. »ἐτελεύτησε γάρ«, ὥς που ἡ ἱερά φησι γραφή, »ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ καὶ ὡς οὐκ ἀπέθανε«, κατέλιπε γὰρ τῷ βίῳ μνημόσυνον. | I congratulate the most excellent Sarapion that he is striving so earnestly to adorn himself with holy habits, and is thus advancing to higher praise the memory of his father. For, as the Holy Scripture somewhere says, ‘though his father die, yet he is as though he were not dead;’ for he has left behind him a memorial of his life. |
| ὅπως μὲν οὖν διεκείμεθα περὶ τὸν μνήμης ἄξιον Σώζοντα, οὐδ᾽ αὐτὸς ἀγνοεῖς, δέσποτα, τὴν περὶ ἐκεῖνον ἱερὰν μνήμην καὶ τὴν προσοῦσαν τῷ νεωτέρῳ ἐπιείκειαν. μίαν μόνην τὴν διὰ τοῦ νεωτέρου τούτου ἐδεξάμην παρὰ τῆς σεμνότητός σου ἐπιστολήν. ἐδήλωσα οὖν σοι αὐτὸ τοῦτο, ἵν᾽ εἰδέναι ἔχοις, δέσποτα. | What my feelings were towards the very memorable Sozon, you yourself, my lord, are not ignorant, for you know the sacredness of his memory, as well as the goodness of the young man. I have received only one letter from your reverence, which I had by the hands of this youth. I mention this to you, my lord, in order that you may know. |
| ὁ ἀγαπητὸς ἡμῶν καὶ συνδιάκονος Μακάριος εὔφρανέ με ἀπὸ τῆς Κωνσταντινουπόλεως γράψας, ὅπως Ἀρχὰφ ὁ συκοφάντης ἠσχημόνησε τὸν ζῶντα ὡς φονευθέντα παρὰ πᾶσι κηρύξας. ὅτι γὰρ τὴν ἐπὶ τοῖς τολμηθεῖσιν αὐτῷ ἀξίαν εἴσπραξιν κομιεῖται παρὰ τοῦ δικαίου κριτοῦ μετὰ τοῦ ὁμοτρόπου στίφους, αἱ ἀψευδεῖς ἀναφωνοῦσι γραφαί. | Our dearly beloved brother and deacon Macarius afforded me great pleasure by writing to me from Constantinople, that the false accuser Archaph had met with disgrace for having proclaimed to everyone that a live man had been murdered. The infallible Scriptures assure us that he will receive from the righteous Judge, together with all the tribe of his associates, that punishment, which his crimes deserve. |
| ὁ τῶν ὅλων διατηροίη σε ἐπὶ μήκιστον δεσπότης, κύριε πάντων χάριν χρηστότατε. | May the Lord of all preserve you for very many years, my lord, in every way most kind. |
Back to Documents Concerning the Melitian Schism
Previous Melitian Document – Next Melitian Document
Created by SMT
Last updated 04/16/2025 JTS and GLT
No Responses yet
