To Serapion, Probably for Easter 340

To the beloved brother and our fellow minister Serapion. Thanks be to divine Providence for the things it grants us at all times, for it has now granted us to come to the season of the festival. So, having written the letter about the festival, as our custom is, I have sent it to you, my beloved, so that through you all the brothers may be able to know the day of rejoicing. But some Melitians who came from Syria have boasted that they had received what does not belong to them, I mean, that they too were counted in the catholic church. For this reason I have sent you a copy of one letter from our fellow ministers in Palestine, so that when it reaches you, you may know the fraud of the pretenders in this matter. For because they boasted, as I have said, it was necessary for me to write to the bishops in Syria, and those of Palestine at once sent us a reply, agreeing in the judgment against them, as you may learn from this sample. So that you do not have to go through the letters of all the bishops one after another, I have sent you one which is like the rest, so that from it you may know the purport of them all. I know also that once they are exposed in this matter, they will be utterly detested by everyone. So much, then, for the pretenders. But I have further thought it highly necessary and very urgent to make known to your modesty (for I have written this to each one) that you should proclaim the fast of forty days to the brothers and persuade them to fast. Otherwise, while all the world is fasting, we who are in Egypt would be laughed at as the only people who do not fast but take our pleasure in these days. For if we do not fast because the letter has not yet been read, we should take away this pretext: it should be read before the fast of forty days, so that they cannot make this an excuse for neglect of fasting. Also, when it is read, they will be able to learn about the fast. But, my beloved, whether in this way or any other, persuade and teach them to fast the forty days. For it is a disgrace that when all the world does this, those alone who are in Egypt should take their pleasure instead of fasting. I myself have been grieved because people laugh at us for this, and so I have been constrained to write to you. When, therefore, you receive the letters, and have read them and given the exhortation, write back to me, my beloved, so that I too may rejoice on learning of it. [a]

I have also thought it necessary to let you know that bishops have succeeded those who have fallen asleep. In Tanis, in place of Elias, is Theodorus. In Arsenoitis, Silvanus in place of Calosiris. In Paralus, Nemesion is in place of Nonnus. In Bucolia is Heraclius. In Tentyra, Andronicus is in place of Saprion, his father. In Thebes, Philon in place of Philon. In Maximianopolis, Herminus in place of Atras. In lower Apollon is Sarapion in place of Plution. In Aphroditon, Serenus is in place of Theodorus. In Rhinocoruron, Salomon. In Stathma, Arabion, and in Marmarica. In eastern Garyathis, Andragathius in place of Hierax. In southern Garyathis, Quintus in place of Nicon. So you may write to these, and receive the canonical letters from them. [d]

Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the brothers who are with me greet you.

He wrote this from Rome. There is no twelfth letter. [h]