To the Prefect Protogenes

To Protogenes the prefect. [a] The loving-kindness of the Lord has already given you the opportunity to carry out your good intentions. Now he has given you a greater one, so that your excellency may more easily champion the cause of the truth that is under attack, bring lies to nothing, and give the churches the calm they long for so intensely. Your excellency has already learned from many other sources how great a wave is overwhelming the churches of the East. But you will get more accurate information about it from the very religious bishops who, because of it, have undertaken their long journey in winter, relying, next after the grace of God, on the care of your authority. So scatter the storm for us, Christian man that you are. Change the moonless night into clear sunshine, and bridle the tongues set wagging against us. [b]

By God’s grace we are always fighting for the apostolic decrees. We keep undefiled the faith laid down at Nicaea, and we call ungodly all who dare to violate its doctrines. As evidence that what I say is true I can call my catechumens, those I baptize from time to time, and those who hear my sermons in the churches. If they mean to accuse me in accordance with the law, they must prove the charge in my presence, not slander me in my absence. This is how your excellency is accustomed to pronounce sentence when judging other cases, seeing which side is in the right from the pleading of both the prosecution and the defense.