Fragmenta

The works which survive. A fragment of an unknown work against the Jews. (Mai Collection, vol. VIII, part II, p. 26.) Another fragment. (Mai, Spicilegium.) Silvester, one of the first bishops of Rome, in a disputation with the Jews concerning our Savior Jesus Christ, says: If someone at midday wished to cut down a tree, with the sun shining, would he not then strike the tree with an axe, the tree being entirely clothed by the sun? Certainly, said Noah. Then Silvester added: Can it happen that the sun is struck or cut, which otherwise entirely surrounds both the axe and the tree? Thus, therefore, in Christ, the body is indeed the tree, the passion is the axe, the sun is the divinity. Christ suffered, but the divinity suffered no diminution on account of the passion. Letters Which pertain to Pope Sylvester I. A note on the following letter. (Coust., p. 341.) In the year of Christ 314, the first year of Pope Silvester, a council was held at Arles, which had been summoned in that city in the same year, within the day before the Kalends of August, by the emperor Constantine, who had been appealed to by the Donatists. Since Silvester could not leave Rome, he sent to Arles in his stead the presbyters Claudianus and Vitus, and also the deacons Eugenius and Cyriacus. The fathers gathered there, not content to pronounce judgment on the case of Donatus, also issued canons pertaining to ecclesiastical discipline, the knowledge of which they decided, through the agency of Silvester, should be communicated to all.

Therefore, they took care to send those same canons inscribed to him, and again a little later, when Constantine, indignant about the appeal of the Donatists, had granted them the power to return to their own sees, before they departed from Arles, they wrote another letter to the same pope, at the end of which they set forth a summary of the principal canons they had issued. The first document is preserved in several manuscripts; the other letter, however, which is neither sufficiently complete nor free from errors, has been copied from an old codex containing the privileges of the church of Arles, now kept in the Colbertine library. LETTER I. FROM THE SYNOD OF ARLES TO POPE SILVESTER. To the most holy lord and brother Silvester, Marinus, or the assembly of bishops who were gathered in the town of Arles: What we have decreed by common counsel, we signify to your charity, so that all may know what they ought to observe in the future.

First of all, concerning the observance of the Lord's Passover, that it be observed by us on one day and at one time throughout the whole world, and that, according to custom, you direct letters to all. Then the remaining canons, which may be read in the editions of the councils, are subjoined. Somewhat later, and with certain small works inserted, there is in the Corbeian codex: "Here begin the names of the bishops with their clerics, or how many and from which provinces they assembled at the Synod of Arles under Bishop Marinus, in the times of Constantine, to resolve schisms and the perverse intentions of men, in the consulship of Volusianus and Annianus (A.D. 314)." Then are subjoined the names of the bishops and clerics in the manner in which Sirmond appended them to the canons of Arles. In the Colbertine exemplar, however, no. 3368, after the same synod's canon 22, which in this codex is so called, there immediately follows: "A synod of bishops held in the city of Arles at the church of Bishop Marinus, in the times of the Augustus Constantine, in the consulship of Volusianus and Annianus (codex: ann.).

From the province of Sicily, the city of Syracuse, came Chrestus the bishop and Florus the deacon. From the province of Campania, the city of Capua, came Protinus the bishop, and Agrippa and Pinus the deacons. From the province of Dalmatia, the city of Aquileia, came Theodorus the bishop, and Agathon the deacon. From the province of Apulia, the city of Arpi, came Pardus and Crescens the deacons. From the city of Rome, those whom Silvester the bishop sent: Claudius and Vitus the presbyters, Eugenius and Quiriacus the deacons. From the province of Italy, the city of Milan, came Merocles the bishop, and Severus the deacon. From the province of Vienne, the city of Marseille, came Horesius the bishop, and Nazarius the lector. From the province of Vienne, the city of Arles, came Marinus the bishop, Salamas the presbyter, and Nicasius, Afer, Ursinus, and Petrus the deacons. From the same province as above, the city of Vienne, came Verus the bishop, and Bedas the exorcist.

From the province mentioned above, the city of Vasiana, came Dafutus (the same manuscript: Dafenus) the bishop, and Victor the exorcist. From the province mentioned above, the city of Arausio, came Faustinus the presbyter. From the port of Nicensis came Innocentius the deacon, and Agapetus the exorcist. [From the city of Aptensis came Romanus the presbyter, and Victor the exorcist]. From the province of Gaul, the city of the Remi, came Imbittausius the bishop, and Primogenius (Sirmond: Imbetausius Primigenius) the deacon. From the city of the Rotomagenses came Avidanus (the same: Avitiapus; Corbei manuscript: Ausanius) the bishop, and Nicetius the deacon. From the city of the Augustodunenses came Reticius the bishop, Amandinus (Sirmond: Amandus) the presbyter, and Filomatius the deacon. From the city of the Lugdunenses came Voccius (the same: Vocius .... Petulinus) the bishop, and Pitolinus the exorcist. From the city of the Agrippinenses came Maternianus the bishop, and Marinus (Sirmond: Maternus ... Macrinus) the deacon. From the province of Aquitania, the city of Gabalum, came Genialis the deacon.

From the city of the Burdigalenses, Orientalis the bishop, Flavius the deacon. From the city of the Treviri, Agreicius the bishop, Felix the exorcist. From the city of Tolosa (Sirm. Elusatium), Mamertinus the bishop, Leontius the deacon. From the province of Britannia, the city of Tubricentium (Id. Eboracensi, Corb. ms. Eboricensi), Eburius the bishop. From the city of the Londinenses, Restitutus the bishop. From the city of Colonia Londinensium, Adelfius the bishop. From the province of Spania, the city of Emerita, Liberius the bishop, Frontinus (Sirm. Florentius) the deacon. From the city of Boetica, Sabinus the presbyter. From the city of Ursolentium, Natalis the presbyter, Celerius the deacon. From the city of Tarracone, Probatius the presbyter, Castorius the deacon. From the city of Caesaraugusta, Clementius the presbyter, Rufinus the exorcist. From the city of Bastigensium, Termasius the presbyter (Corb. ms. Genesius the presb.), Victor the lector. From Mauritania, the city of the Caesarienses, Fortunatus the bishop, Deuterius the deacon.

From the province of Sardinia, city of Caralis: Quintanius the bishop, Ammonius the presbyter. From the province of Africa, city of Carthage: Caecilianus the bishop, Sperantius the deacon. City of Uthina: Lampadius the bishop. City of Uthica: Victor the bishop. City of Beneviventiana (Corb. ms. Beneventeni, Sirm. Beneventina): Anastasius the bishop. City of Tybartina (Id. Tuborbitana): Faustus the bishop. City of Proculfiltis (Id. Procofeltis): Surgentius the bishop. Of the Numidias, city of Legis volumini: Victor the bishop. City of Verensium: Vitalis the bishop. From the port near the City: Gregorius the bishop. From Centumcellae: Epictetus the bishop. From Ostia: Leontius and Mercorius the presbyters. Thus far the Colbertinus codex 3368, which we have not thought to transcribe here because we consider it less genuine than the Corbeiensis which Sirmondus published in volume I of the Gallic Councils, but so that by the addition of new readings, those which had already been published might be either illustrated or confirmed.

LETTER II OF THE SYNOD OF ARLES TO POPE SILVESTER. (Coust., p. 345.) Concerning the matters transacted in it and the canons established by it. To the most beloved Pope Silvester, Marinus, Agraecius, Natalis, Theodorus, Proterius, Vocius, Virus, Probatius, Caecilianus, Faustinus, Surgentius, Gregarius, Reticius, Ambitausus, Termatius, Merocles, Pardus, Adelfius, Hibernius, Fortunatus, Aristasius, Lampadius, Vitalis, Maternus, Liberius, Gregorius, Crescens, Avitianus, Dafnus, Orientalis, Quintasius, Victor, Epictetus, send eternal greeting in the Lord. I. The Donatists either condemned or repulsed. Clinging by the common bond of charity and the unity of the mother Catholic Church, we were brought to the city of Arles by the will of the most pious emperor, and from there we salute you, most glorious pope, with merited reverence. There we endured grave and pernicious men (the Donatists) hostile to our law and tradition and of unbridled mind, whom the present authority of our God, and the tradition and rule of truth, so repudiated that no reason for speaking remained in them, nor any manner or proof of accusing (Caecilianus) was fitting. Therefore, by the judgment of God and of mother Church, which knows and approves her own, they were either condemned or repulsed. And would that, most beloved brother.

You would have done so much to attend this spectacle alone: we truly believe that a harsher sentence would have been pronounced against them, and, with you judging together with us, our assembly would have rejoiced with greater joy. But since you could by no means withdraw from those regions, where the Apostles also sit, and their blood without ceasing bears witness to the glory of God. II. Yet these were not the only matters we thought should be treated, dearest brother, for which we had been invited; but we also judged that we should take counsel for ourselves. And since there are various provinces from which we come, so also various things occur, which we deem we ought to observe. It pleased us, therefore, in the presence of the Holy Spirit and his Angels, to set forth for the present peace those things which we would bring forward to judge each one who was stirring. It also pleased us that these be made known to all, especially through you, who hold the greater dioceses. But what we have determined, we have subjoined in the writing of our mediocrity.

III. And first of all, it was necessary to treat of our life and its usefulness; so that, since one died for all and rose again (Rom. V), the season itself be observed by all with such religious mind that no divisions or dissensions may arise in so great an observance of devotion. We therefore decree that the Lord's Pascha be observed throughout the whole world on one day. Concerning also those who have been ordained ministers in any places, that they persevere in those places. Concerning those also who cast away their arms in peace, it was decided that they be kept from communion. Concerning charioteers who are faithful, it was decided that as long as they drive, they be separated from communion. Concerning those who are placed in infirmity and wish to believe, it was decided that hands be laid upon them. Concerning governors who are faithful and for the council of the governorship, it was decided thus: that when they have been promoted, they indeed receive ecclesiastical communicatory letters; yet so that in whatever places they act, care be taken for them by the bishops of that same place; and if they begin to act against discipline, then finally they be excluded from communion. And concerning those who wish to act in the republic, similarly. Concerning the Africans, however, because they use their own law, that they rebaptize, it was decided that if any heretic comes to the Church, they interrogate him concerning the Creed; and if they perceive that he has been baptized in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, only hands be laid upon him.

If, when asked about the Creed, he does not answer this Trinity, he is rightly baptized, etc. Then, growing weary, he ordered all to return to the eastern sees. Amen.