Letter 12: Go, brother Cyril, to your mother Church — from which you were not excommunicated, only separated for a period...

Synesius of CyreneCyril Of Alexandria|c. 413 AD|Synesius of Cyrene
women

Letter 12: Congratulations

[1] To Cyril

Go, my brother Cyril, to your mother Church, from whom you have not been excommunicated, but only separated for a period which is measured according to that which your shortcomings deserve. [2] I feel sure that our common Father of holy memory note [Patriarch Theophilus of Alexandria.] would have taken this step long ago if the fatal hour had not come too soon; for to shorten the term of your penalty was clearly the act of one whose heart prompted him to pardon. [3] Consider then that that sacred priest himself has given you permission to return, and approach God with a soul free from suffering and enjoying amnesty from evil. Hold, moreover, in all happy memory that sacred elder clear to God, who appointed you a leader of the people. May all this be not without joy to you!

Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.

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