Fragmenta Synodicae Epistulae.

Fragments of a Synodical Letter. Which Was Written By Saint Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyon, To Victor, Bishop of Rome, Near the End of the Second Century.

For the dispute is not only about the day, but also about the very form of the fast. For some think that they ought to fast one day; others two, others even more. And some measure their day as forty continuous hours, both day and night. And such is the variety among those who observe it; and this variety did not arise in our time, but long before, among those before us, who, as is likely, holding to the precise rule, handed down the custom in its simplicity and plainness to later generations. And yet all these lived in peace, and we live in peace with one another; and the disagreement in the fast commends the harmony of the faith. Eusebius brought these things in book 5 of his History, chapter 24, and immediately after says: To these he (Irenaeus) adds a narrative, which I will fittingly set forth, in the following manner. Among these, the presbyters before Soter who presided over the church which you now lead—I mean Anicetus and Pius, Hyginus and Telesphorus and Xystus—neither themselves observed it, nor did they permit those with them to do so; and yet they, not observing it, were at peace with those who came to them from the parishes in which it was observed. And indeed it was more contrary for those who observed it to be at peace with those who did not. And never on account of this form were any cast out; but the presbyters before you, who did not observe it, sent the Eucharist to those from the parishes who did observe it. And when the blessed Polycarp visited Rome under Anicetus, and they had some small differences with each other about other matters, they immediately made peace.

concerning this point they did not contend with one another in a quarrelsome spirit. For Anicetus could not persuade Polycarp not to observe what he had always observed with John, the disciple of our Lord, and with the other apostles with whom he had associated; nor did Polycarp persuade Anicetus to observe it, since Anicetus said that he ought to keep the custom of the presbyters who preceded him. And with matters in this state, they communed with one another; and in the church Anicetus yielded the eucharist to Polycarp, evidently out of respect, and they parted from one another in peace, the whole church having peace, both those who observed and those who did not. From Eusebius, same place.

From the same Epistle. "In which if someone is able to do good to their neighbors and does not do so, they will be considered a stranger to the love of the Lord." This Maximus Confessor brought in Sermon 7, On Almsgiving, vol. 2 of his Works, p. 554, ed. Combefis. "For the dispute is not only about the day, but also about the form of the fast itself. For some think they ought to fast one day; others two, others even more. And some measure their day as forty hours, both day and night. And such is the variety among those who observe it; this has not arisen in our time, but long before, among those before us; those who, as is likely, holding to the precise, have made the custom according to simplicity and common practice for the future. And none the less, all these both were at peace, and we are at peace with one another; and the disagreement of the fast establishes the concord of the faith." Eusebius brought these in Book 5 of the History, chapter 24, and immediately after says: "To these Irenaeus also adds a narrative, which I will fittingly set forth, being of this manner: 'Among these, the presbyters before Soter who presided over the church which you now lead—we mean Anicetus and Pius, Hyginus and Telesphorus and Xystus—neither themselves observed it, nor did they permit those with them to do so; and none the less, they themselves, not observing, were at peace with those coming to them from the parishes where it was observed. And indeed it was more contrary for those who observed to be with those who did not observe. And never on account of this form were any cast out.'

But those presbyters before you, not observing it themselves, would send the Eucharist to those from the parishes who did observe it. And when the blessed Polycarp visited Rome in the time of Anicetus, and they had some minor differences with each other about other matters, they immediately made peace, not contending with each other over this point. For neither could Anicetus persuade Polycarp not to observe it, since he had always observed it with John, the disciple of our Lord, and the rest of the apostles with whom he had associated; nor could Polycarp persuade Anicetus to observe it, since Anicetus said that he must hold to the custom of the presbyters before him. And with matters thus, they communed with each other; and in the church, Anicetus yielded the Eucharist to Polycarp, evidently out of respect, and they parted from each other in peace, the whole church being at peace, both those who observed and those who did not. From Eusebius, ibid. From the same Epistle. "In which if someone is able to do good to their neighbors and does not do so, they will be considered a stranger to the love of the Lord." This Maximus Confessor brought in Sermon 7, On Almsgiving, vol. 2 of his Works, p. 554, ed. Combefis.