First Letter to Lucifer

To our lord and most beloved brother, the bishop and confessor Lucifer, Athanasius sends greetings in the Lord. [a]

Being well in body by God’s favor, we have now sent our most beloved deacon Eutyches, so that your most devout holiness may be pleased, as we greatly desire, to let us know of the safety of yourself and those with you. For we believe that it is through the life of you confessors and servants of God that the state of the catholic church is being renewed, and that what heretics have tried to tear to pieces, our Lord Jesus Christ is restoring whole through you. For although the forerunners of Antichrist have done everything, by the power of this world, to put out the lamp of truth, yet the Deity, through your confession, shows its light all the more clearly, so that no one can fail to see their deceit. Before, perhaps, they were able to hide what they were; now they are called Antichrists. For who can do anything but curse them, and flee from communion with them as from a contagion, or the poison of a serpent? The whole church everywhere is mourning; every city groans; aged bishops are suffering in exile; and heretics play the hypocrite, who, while denying Christ, have made themselves tax collectors, sitting in the churches and exacting revenue. What a new kind of men, and of persecution, the devil has devised: to use such cruelty, and to use even ministers as the agents of evil! But although they act like this, and have gone to every length in pride and blasphemy, your confession, your devotion and your wisdom will be the very greatest comfort and consolation to the brotherhood. For it has been reported to us that your holiness has written to Constantius Augustus; and we wonder more and more that, living as it were among scorpions, you still keep your freedom of spirit, so as to bring those in error to the light of truth by advice, or teaching, or correction. So I ask, and all the confessors join me in asking, that you be good enough to send us a copy, so that all may see, not by hearsay only but from the writings themselves, the courage of your spirit, and the confidence and firmness of your faith. Those who are with me greet your holiness. I greet all those who are with you. May the Deity always keep you safe and well and mindful of us, most beloved lord, and true man of God. [c]

When he received this letter, blessed Lucifer sent the books he had addressed to Constantius; and when Athanasius had read them, he sent the following letter: [e]