a portable size, the provision and use of which you know to be needful for the instruction
of the Church. Letters have also been despatched from our clemency, to the financial agent185
of the diocese that he be careful to provide all things necessary for the preparation of them.
That these copies may be got ready as quickly as possible, let it be a task for your diligence:
and you are authorized, on the warrant of this our letter, to use two of the public carriages
for their conveyance; for thus the copies which are most satisfactorily transcribed, may be
easily conveyed for our inspection, one of the deacons of your church fulfilling this commis-
sion; who when he has reached us shall experience our bounty. May God preserve you, be-
loved brother.
Another Epistle to Macarius.186
Victor Constantine Maximus Augustus, to Macarius of Jerusalem.—Such is the grace
of our Saviour, that no supply of words seems to be adequate to the expression of its present
manifestation. For that the monument187 of his most holy passion, long since hidden under
the earth, should have lain concealed for a period of so many years, until, through the de-
struction of the common enemy of all,188 it should shine forth to his own servants after
their having regained their freedom, exceeds all admiration. For if all those who throughout
the whole habitable earth are accounted wise, should be convened in one and the same place,
desiring to say something worthy of the event, they would fall infinitely short of the least
part of it; for the apprehension of this wonder as far transcends every nature capable of
human reasoning, as heavenly things are mightier than human. Hence therefore this is always
my especial aim, that as the credibility of the truth daily demonstrates itself by fresh miracles,
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so the souls of us all should become more diligent respecting the holy law, with modesty
and unanimous eagerness. But I desire that you should be fully aware of what I conceive is
pretty generally known, that it is now my chief care, that we should adorn with magnificent
structures that hallowed spot, which by God’s appointment I have disencumbered of a most
disgraceful addition189 of an idol, as of some grievous burden; which was consecrated indeed
from the beginning in the purpose of God, but has been more manifestly sanctified since
he has brought to light the evidence of the Saviour’s passion. Wherefore it is becoming your
185 διοικήσεως καθολικόν: this office was peculiar to the Eastern Church. The nearest equivalent to it in the
terminology of the Western Church is that of vicar-general; but as the non-technical expression ‘financial agent’
describes the official to the modern reader, it has been adopted in the present translation. Concerning the office,
cf. Euseb. H. E. VII. 10. It may be also noted that the very common ecclesiastical term diocese (διοίκησις ) ori-
ginated during the reign of Constantine, as becomes evident from his letters. See Euseb. Life of Const. III. 36.
186 Euseb. Life of Const. III. 30.
187 γνώρισμα: the sepulchre near Calvary commonly known as the Saviour’s is meant.
188 Licinius.
189 A temple of Venus built by Adrian, the emperor, on Mount Calvary.
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The Letter of the Synod, relative to its Decisions: and the Condemnation…