Reference:Mel. 16, CPG 2123.19, FNS 59
Incipit:Γινώσκειν σε θέλω
Date:ca. 333
Greek Text:Athanasius, Apol. Sec. 67
English Translation:NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 135, adapted for FCC by SMT and GLT

This letter written by Pinnes gives details of the accusation that Athanasius had murdered Arsenius. Pinnes confirms that the Melitians were trying to shuffle Arsenius from place to place so that Athanasius’ deacon could not find him. However, Pinnes was brought before the dux along with another monk, and the two could not deny that Arsenius was alive. This letter also implicated John Archaph directly with that conspiracy.

The Greek text below is that of Opitz as found in AW 2.4:67. The English translation has been adapted from NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 135 by SMT and GLT for FCC.

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The derivative translation below is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

Τῷ ἀγαπητῷ ἀδελφῷ Ἰωάννῃ Πίννης πρεσβύτερος μονῆς Πτεμενκύρκεως τοῦ Ἀντεοπολίτου νομοῦ χαίρειν.To his dearly beloved brother John, Pinnes, Presbyter of the Monastery of Ptemencyrcis, in the home of Anteopolis, sends greeting.
Γινώσκειν σε θέλω ὅτι ἀπέστειλεν Ἀθανάσιος εἰς τὴν Θηβαίδα διάκονον ἑαυτοῦ ἐρευνῆσαι πάντα ἕνεκεν Ἀρσενίου. καὶ πρῶτον μὲν εὑρεθέντες Πεκύσιος πρεσβύτερος καὶ Σιλβανὸς ὁ ἀδελφὸς Ἠλία καὶ Ταπενακεραμεὺς καὶ Παῦλος μοναχὸς ἀπὸ Ὑψηλῆς ὡμολόγησαν ὅτι παρ᾽ ἡμῖν ἐστιν Ἀρσένιος, ἡμεῖς δὲ μαθόντες πεποιήκαμεν αὐτὸν ἐμβληθῆναι εἰς πλοῖον καὶ πλεῦσαι εἰς τὰ κάτω μέρη μετὰ Ἠλία μοναχοῦ.I wish you to know that Athanasius sent his deacon into the Thebais to search everywhere for Arsenius. Pecysius the Presbyster, Silvanus the brother of Helias, Tapenacerameus, and Paul monk of Hypsele, whom he first fell in with, confessed that Arsenius was with us. Upon learning this we caused him to be put on board a ship and to sail to the lower districts with Helias the monk.
καὶ ἐξαίφνης μετὰ ταῦτα πάλιν ἀνελθὼν ὁ διάκονος μετά τινων ἐπιστὰς ἐν τῇ μονῇ ἡμῶν ἕνεκεν τοῦ αὐτοῦ Ἀρσενίου αὐτὸν μὲν οὐχ εὕρηκεν διὰ τὸ ἀπεσταλκέναι ἡμᾶς αὐτόν, ὡς προείπομεν, ἐν τοῖς κάτω μέρεσιν, ἐμὲ δὲ μετὰ τοῦ μοναχοῦ τοῦ παραλαβόντος αὐτὸν Ἠλία κατήνεγκαν εἰς τὴν Ἀλεξάνδρειαν καὶ προσήνεγκάν με τῷ δουκί, καὶ οὐκ ἴσχυσα ἀρνήσασθαι, ἀλλ’ ὡμολόγησα, ὅτι ζῇ καὶ οὐκ ἀνῃρέθη. τὰ αὐτὰ δὲ καὶ ὁ παραλαβὼν αὐτὸν μοναχὸς ὡμολόγησε.Afterwards the deacon returned again suddenly with certain others and entered our monastery in search of the same Arsenius, and they did not find him because, as I said before, we had sent him away to the lower districts. But they conveyed me to Alexandria together with Helias the monk, who had taken him out of the way, and brought us before the dux. I was unable to deny but had to confess that he was alive and had not been murdered; and the monk who also had taken him out of the way confessed the same.
διὰ τοῦτο ταῦτά σοι γνωρίζω, πάτερ, ἵνα μὴ δόξῃ σοι κατηγορῆσαι Ἀθανασίου· εἶπον γὰρ ὅτι ζῇ καὶ παρ᾽ ἡμῖν ἧν κρυπτόμενος. καὶ ἐγνωρίσθη πάντα ταῦτα ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ καὶ οὐκέτι δύναται κρυβῆναι τοῦτο.Therefore, I acquaint you with these things, Father, so that you would no decide to accuse Athanasius. For I said that he [Arsenius] was alive and had been hidden with us; all this has become known in Egypt, and it can no longer be kept secret.
Παφνούτιος μοναχὸς τῆς αὐτῆς μονῆς ὁ γράψας τὴν ἐπιστολὴν πολλά σε ἀσπάζομαι, ἐρρῶσθαί σε εὔχομαι.I, Paphnutius, monk of the same monastery, who wrote this letter, heartily salute you. I pray for your health.

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