Letter to the Mareotis from Sardica

Athanasius, to the presbyters and deacons and the people of the catholic church in the Mareotis, brothers and sisters, beloved and longed for: greetings in the Lord. [a]

The holy council has praised your devotion in Christ. They have all recognized your spirit and your courage in everything: you did not fear threats, and though you had to bear insults and persecutions for your devotion, you held out. When your letters were read aloud to everyone, they brought tears and won the sympathy of all. They loved you though you were absent, and counted your persecutions as their own. Their letter to you is proof of their affection. It would have been enough to include you along with the holy church of Alexandria, yet the holy synod has written to you separately, so that you may be encouraged not to give way because of your sufferings, but to give thanks to God; for your patience will bear good fruit. [c] In the past the character of the heretics was not plain. But now it has been revealed and laid open to all. For the holy synod has examined the slanders these men have concocted against you, and has held them in abhorrence. By the consent of all it has deposed Theodore, Valens and Ursacius, and has given notice of it in Alexandria and the Mareotis. The same notice has been given to other Churches as well. And since the cruelty and tyranny they practiced against the Churches can no longer be borne, they have been thrown out of the episcopate and shut out from communion with everyone. As for Gregory, they did not even want to mention him. Since the man has lacked the very name of bishop, they thought it needless to name him. But they have mentioned his name for the sake of those he has deceived: not because he seemed worth mentioning, but so that those he deceived might recognize his disgrace and blush at the kind of man they have been in communion with. You will learn what has been written about them from the document sent before this one. And though not all the bishops came together to sign it, it was drawn up by all, and those who signed did so for all. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the brothers greet you. [d]

I, Protogenes, bishop, pray that you may be kept safe in the Lord, beloved and longed for. [f] I, Athenodorus, bishop, pray that you may be kept safe in the Lord, most beloved brothers and sisters. Other signatures: Julian, Ammonius, Aprianus, Marcellus, Gerontius, Porphyrius, Zosimus, Asclepius, Appian, Eulogius, Eugenius, Liodorus, Martyrius, Eucarpus, Lucius, Caloes. Maximus: by letters from the Gauls, I pray that you may be kept safe in the Lord, beloved. We, Archidamus and Philoxenus, presbyters, and Leo, a deacon, from Rome, pray that you may be kept safe. I, Gaudentius, bishop of Naissus, pray that you may be kept safe in the Lord. Also: Florentius of Meria in Pannonia, Ammianus of Castellum in Pannonia, Januarius of Beneventum, Praetextatus of Narcidonum in Pannonia, Hyperneris of Hypata in Thessaly, Castus of Caesaraugusta, Severus of Calcisus in Thessaly, Julian of Therae Heptapolis, Lucius of Verona, Eugenius of Hecleal Cycbinae, Zosimus of Lychni Sunosion in Apulia, Hermogenes of Syceon, Thryphos of Magara, Paregorius of Caspi, Caloes of Castromartis, Irenaeus of Syconis, Macedonius of Lypianum, Martyrius of Naupacti, Palladius of Dius, Broseus of Lugdunum in Gaul, Ursacius of Brixia, Amantius of Viminacium, through the presbyter Maximus, Alexander of Gypara in Achaia, Eutychius of Mothona, Aprianus of Petavio in Pannonia, Antigonus of Pallene in Macedonia, Dometius of Acaria Constantias, Olympius of Enorodope, Zosimus of Oreomarga, Protasius of Milan, Mark of Siscia on the Save, Eucarpus of Opus in Achaia, Vitalis of Vertara in Africa, Helianus of Tyrtana, Symphorus of Herapythae in Crete, Mosinius of Heracla, Eucissus of Chisamus, Cydonius of Cydonia. [g]