Iberian Fathers, Volume 3

Letter 1

1. For current scholarship on Dositheus and the other heretics and heretical groups named by Pacian in this and later sections, consult the pertinent entries in Angelo Di Berardino, ed., Encyclopedia of the Early Church, trans. Adrian Walford , with foreword and bibliographic amendments by W. H. C. Frend, 2 vols. (Oxford: Oxford University, 1992); Everett Ferguson, ed., Encyclopedia of Early Christianity, 2nd ed., 2 vols. (New York: Garland, 1997); and E. A. Livingstone and F. L. Cross, eds., The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, 3rd ed. (Oxford: Oxford University, 1997). Also, on the classification of such heretics by Pacian, see Ángel Anglada Anfruns, “La fuente del catalogo heresiologico de Paciano,” Emerita 33 (1965): 321–46. 2. Cf. Virgil, Aeneis 5.302. LETTER 1 acian to sympronian, his brother, [greeting]. 1. Sir, if it is not an earthly purpose but, as I think, a spiritual calling that leads you to inquire of us regarding the faith of Catholic truth, you above all else, having begun your exposition so it appears from the vantage of a small stream far away and not holding to the fount and source of the original Church, should have shown what or how different the ideas are that you follow. You also should have revealed what cause more than any had detached your group from the unity of our body. For those parts for which a remedy is required should be exposed . Since now, if I may say, the refuge of correspondence has been closed, we do not see on what members especially we have to bestow our care. So numerous are the heresies which have arisen from the Christian headwaters that the roster of the mere names would be immense. For even if I were to neglect to mention the heretics of the Jews—Dositheus the Samaritan,1 the Sadducees , and the Pharisees—it would take a very long time to recount how many emerged in the times of the apostles—Simon Magus, Menander, Nicolaus, and all the rest of them now hidden by a dark fame.2 What again in later times were Ebion, Apelles, Marcion, Valentinus and Cerdo, and not long after them, the 17 3. Another, earlier name for the Montanists. Such writers as Eusebius of Caesarea and Epiphanius of Salamis used the phrase “heresy of (kata) the Phryges” to designate this heretical movement; hence “Cataphrygians.” Its birthplace was the region between Mysia and Phrygia in Asia Minor. 4. Peyrot here conjectures a gap in the text. Rubio Fernández notes such in his critical apparatus, but maintains the text. Either interpretation is possible. 5. Again, the Montanists are meant. Also, Pacian here as elsewhere in his letters purposely links Sympronian and his Novatianist colleagues with the Montanists . 6. A reference to the mythological Lernaean Hydra, a multi-headed serpentine monster disposed of by Heracles in the course of his Labors. The Hydra’s mortal heads were believed to regenerate themselves and multiply when cut off. Cataphrygians3 and the Novatianists, not to mention any of the recent swarms? (2) Who, therefore, must first be refuted through my letter? Even if you wish it, these pages will not be able to hold just the mere names of all of these heretics,4 unless by your own writings, which in every way are condemnatory of penance, you declare that you have shared the views of the Phrygians.5 But, dear Sir, so manifold and diverse is the error alone of these individuals that among them we have not only to strike against that belief which they hold against penance, but also to cut off the heads, as it were, of some Lernaean creature.6 2. First of all, they rely on several authorities, for, I think, Blastus the Greek is one of them; Theodotus also and Praxeas were once teachers of your group. They themselves, also Phrygians of some notoriety who falsely allege that they are inspired by Leucius , boast that they are instructed by Proculus. And having followed Montanus, Maximilla, and Priscilla, what numerous controversies have they roused concerning the day of Easter, the Paraclete, the apostles, the prophets, and many other things— as, for example, the appellation “Catholic” and the forgiveness of penance! (2) Hence, if we should wish to discuss all of these matters, you would need to be present and ready to listen. And if my instruction should not be sufficient concerning only those points on which you write, nevertheless, since we ought to serve in whatever way...