Theodoret of Cyrrhus
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All letters (181)
To an Unknown Correspondent.
This kind of comparison is, I think, actually forbidden by the divine Apostle.
Had I heard earlier of the death of your most honorable husband, I would have written long before now.
There is no need for me to call on the spells of the spirit to treat your grief once more.
To an Anonymous Correspondent.
To the Learned Elias.
The Creator and Governor of all the universe has made you a light to the world, and changed deep, moonless night...
Job — that famous fortress of unyielding resolve, that noble champion of goodness — was not shaken even by the...
I had heard of the island of Lesbos and of its cities — Mytilene, Methymna, and the rest — but I knew nothing of the...
If I had thought only of the size of the loss you have suffered, I would have needed consolation myself — not just...
I know that my words of consolation come somewhat late.
There is nothing good in prospect, it seems.
To the Deaconess Casiana.
When I look at the divine law that calls husband and wife joined in marriage one flesh, I hardly know how to comfort...
To the Presbyter Basilius.
To the Presbyter Martyrius.
To the Learned Eusebius.
It is said that what is defective in human behavior can be corrected and improved by words.
To the Patrician Areobindas.
Your piety, nursling of the love of God, longs for my company — I am certain of it.
No one who has received the divine adoption mourns as an orphan, because no guardian care could be more powerful...
Those who have adorned the vigor of their youth with virtuous labor come happily to old age, gladdened by the memory...
The sufferings of the people of Carthage would demand — and in their magnitude might exceed — the full power of...
Now is the moment for your Academy to prove the value of all your discussions.
The knowledge that Your Magnificence abounds in the love of God encourages me to call upon your great and generous...
I have received your letter with delight, not only because it came from a friend, but because it revealed the...
The praises that are borne to us by the many who speak of you match what I already knew of your character.
The cares of this life press upon us from every side, and sometimes the weight seems almost more than flesh can bear.
Theodoret to Andreas, Bishop of Samosata.
What I have long feared has now come to pass.
Theodoret, Festal Letter.
Theodoret to Firmus, Bishop of Caesarea.
The arrival of your letter was like a refreshing breeze in the heat of summer.
Your eloquence, which I have long admired from afar, has now been demonstrated to me afresh through your excellent...
The divine celebration [Easter or a major feast] has brought us its usual spiritual blessings, but the bitter fruits...
If no pressing need compelled me to write to your greatness, I might rightly be accused of presumption -- of failing...
To the Augusta Pulcheria [Pulcheria was the elder sister of Emperor Theodosius II and a powerful political figure in...
To the Patrician Senator,
To the Patrician Anatolius,
To the learned Petrus,
A year ago, thanks to your holiness, the distinguished Philip -- governor of our city -- was delivered from serious...
I gladly accept the accusation, though I have no trouble disproving it.
It is the nature of mirrors to reflect the faces of those who look into them -- anyone who gazes at one sees his own...
To the Archimandrite Gerontius,
To the Presbyter Agapius,
To Ibas, Bishop of Edessa [one of the major cities of Roman Mesopotamia, modern Urfa in southeastern Turkey],
Since I know, beloved of God, how generous and bountiful your right hand is, I am placing a precious opportunity...
To the Prefect Eutrechius,
To the Consul Nomus,
Sincere friendships are neither dissolved by distance nor weakened by time.
To Dioscorus, Bishop of Alexandria [the patriarch of the most powerful see in the eastern church after Constantinople],
To the Presbyter Archibius,
To the Presbyter John,
To the General Zeno,
She who bore you and raised you invites you to the long-awaited feast.
It was really your task, my good sir, to summon the rest to the feast of the dedication as well.
I wanted to invite you to the feast of the holy apostles and prophets -- not only as a fellow citizen, but as one...
Had I not been unavoidably detained, the moment I heard that your great and distinguished husband had fallen asleep...
The story of the noble Mary belongs in a tragedy.
Your courage has won universal admiration -- courage tempered by gentleness and meekness, showing kindness to your...
In the days when humanity was buried in the darkness of ignorance, different cities celebrated different festivals.
Themistocles, son of Neocles -- that famous and admirable general -- is described by his admiring historian as...
Our generous Lord has granted us once again to enjoy the feast and to send your excellency the festal greeting.
True friendship is strengthened by contact, but separation cannot sever it -- its bonds are too strong.
I know that Satan has sought "to sift you as wheat" [Luke 22:31], and that the Lord has allowed it -- so that he...
Whenever anything happens to the helmsman, the officer at the bow or the highest-ranking sailor takes his place --...
To the Patrician Anatolius,
To the Prefect Eutrechius,
To the Consul Nomus.
I had hoped at this time to receive frequent letters from Your Holiness.
Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrus, to Dioscorus, Archbishop of Alexandria.
The divine Paul names love as the chief of all goods, and commands that the children of the faith be nourished by it.
I have been struck by many waves in this time, most beloved lord — but I have called on the great Pilot and have...
The law of brotherly love required that I should have received many letters from your godliness at this time.
Slanderers have forced me past the bounds of moderation and compelled me to write to you — a man who has adorned the...
In writing to your Greatness I am overreaching myself — but the cause of my daring is not self-confidence; it is the...
I have passed through the contests of my prime.
To the Prefect Eutrechius.
The most holy lord Archbishop Domnus has arranged for the devout bishops to travel to the imperial city, to bring a...
I hold an indelible memory of your Magnificence in my heart, and I greet you now through these most devout and holy...
The loving-kindness of the Lord has already given you an opportunity to carry out your good intentions.
To the Prefect Antiochus.
I have written to you two letters — three, I think — and received no reply.
Your Excellency's letter has given me great delight.
We are distressed to see the tempest assailing the churches, but their Master and Ruler — through mighty billows —...
Although you have not yet met me in person, I believe your Excellency is already aware of the open slanders that...
I have recently received your Excellency's letter, and for the zeal you have shown on my behalf I give you my...
To the Deaconess Celarina,
There is nothing surprising in strangers who do not know me listening in silence to the slanders against me.
To the Count Apollonius,
I have already informed your holiness in another letter how openly my accusers are slandering my teaching.
We have heard from many quarters of your piety's efforts on behalf of true religion.
Through these godly bishops I greet you.
To the Presbyter Theodotus,
The promise of David's psalm is true indeed, for through him the Spirit of truth gave this assurance to believers:...
Many are the plots secretly being hatched against me, and through me against the apostolic faith itself.
When I read your letter I remembered the blessed Susannah, who saw the wicked elders threatening her and, knowing...
God will repay your excellency for the kindness you have shown me -- everything done for His sake carries its reward.
When I heard that the emperor's hostility had ended, that he and the godly bishop had been reconciled, the summons...
If Paul, the herald of truth, the trumpet of the Holy Spirit, hurried to the great Peter to bring back solutions for...
The reverend presbyter Peter is distinguished not only by his priestly rank but also by his skill as a physician.
When I first took charge of the see of Cyrrhus, I brought in practitioners of essential trades from every direction...
We have heard of the warm and righteous zeal of your holiness -- the just and outspoken boldness you displayed in...
Truly the grace of our God and Savior has not yet abandoned the human race.
To the Archdeacon of Rome,
Your excellency is fully aware of the acts of the "most righteous" judges at Ephesus.
Even the enemies of the truth, I think, must be outraged at the injustice and illegality of the violence done to us.
The Lord who watches over and governs all things has now demonstrated both the apostolic truth of my teaching and...
I was delighted that we who are alike in character should now correspond by letter.
To the Same,
To the Learned Maranas,
To the Magistrates of Zeugmatensis,
I praised your holiness for leaving the see you were envied for.
The patriarch Abraham won his victory in old age.
I am afraid that the vigor of your godly spirit has been overcome by old age, and that you can no longer keep your...
Sailors at night are cheered by the sight of harbor lights, and so are those of us in peril for the apostolic faith...
The supreme Ruler does not allow the forces of evil to stir up waves of impiety without purpose.
You have demonstrated both your zeal for true religion and your love for your neighbor -- two things closely...
The Lord has taught those who suffer injustice not to be downcast but to rejoice, and to draw comfort from ancient...
I have always known, my lord, that you have not forgotten our friendship.
Our Savior, Lawgiver, and Lord was once asked, "What is the first commandment?
You have reminded me of the ancient story -- how the king of Syria, knowing the merciful reputation of the kings of...
I was deeply distressed to hear of the trouble that has fallen on you.
To the Archimandrite John,
I have warmly welcomed the rest that has come my way, and I am enjoying its pleasant fruits.
To your excellency's many good deeds must be added this: that you informed our pious and most Christian emperor --...
To the Master Vincomalus,
Your holiness is made bright by your worthy life, which mirrors on earth the manner of the angels.
To the Same,
I have never met your piety in person, and we have never exchanged letters.
To the Soldiers,
To the Monks of Constantinople,
Rest and a life free from cares are deeply welcome to me.
I replied to your holiness's earlier letter as soon as I received it.
This is not a letter by Theodoret but a brief editorial note indicating that Cyril of Alexandria's memorandum to...
Another editorial note indicating that this position in the manuscript contained John of Antioch's letter to...
I have been deeply distressed reading the anathemas you sent me and asked me to refute in writing, making their...
To the Monks of Euphratensis, Osrhoene, Syria, Phoenicia, and Cilicia,
Report of the Bishops of the East to the Emperor,
Report of the Bishops of the East to the Empresses Pulcheria and Eudoxia,
A brief editorial note indicating this position in the collection contained a report to the Senate.
A brief editorial note.
Report of the Council of the Eastern Bishops to the Emperor,
Report of the Bishops of the East to the Emperor,
A brief editorial note indicating a letter was sent to these imperial officials.
A brief editorial note.
A brief editorial note indicating a report was delivered to the emperor via an imperial courier.
Writing from Ephesus, I greet your holiness.
First Letter of the Eastern Commissioners from Chalcedon,
Second Letter of the Eastern Commissioners from Chalcedon,
Third Letter of the Eastern Commissioners from Chalcedon,
First Petition of the Eastern Commissioners to the Emperor,
Second Petition of the Eastern Commissioners to the Emperor,
Third Petition of the Eastern Commissioners to the Emperor,
We have left no means untried -- courtesy, firmness, entreaty, eloquence -- before the most pious emperor and the...
To our most godly and holy fellow minister Rufus,
God, who governs all things in wisdom, who desires our unanimity and cares for the salvation of His people, has...
Your holiness is, I think, well aware that I take no pleasure in social distinction, nor in the advantages of this...
"God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear, but with the temptation will also...
We wish to inform your holiness that after reading and frequently discussing the letter brought from Egypt [Cyril's...
I have already informed your holiness that if the teaching of the most holy and venerable bishop, my lord Nestorius,...
Your holiness should know that when I read the letter addressed to the emperor, I was deeply distressed.
The illustrious Aristolaus has sent a magistrianus [imperial courier] from Egypt with a letter from Cyril in which...
I believe that more than anyone else, the most holy and venerable bishop, my lord John [of Antioch], must have been...
An editorial note indicating this position in the collection contained Cyril of Alexandria's letter to John of...
On the Death of Cyril of Alexandria,
My dear lord and very holy brother, Theodoret sends greetings in the Lord.