Letter 68

68. To Meletius, bishop of Antioch.

For a while we wished to keep with ourselves the most reverend brother Dorotheus, the deacon, so that, sending him off at the conclusion of affairs, we might make known to your honour through him each of the things accomplished. But since, putting it off from day to day, we were drawn out to a great length of time, and at the same time, as happens in a difficult situation, some deliberation fell upon us concerning what should be done, we sent the aforesaid man to reach your holiness, both to report each matter himself and to show our memorandum, so that, if the things we have conceived should appear to be of use, they might be set to work with zeal by your perfection.

To speak briefly, the resolve has prevailed that this same brother of ours, Dorotheus, should cross over to Rome, to rouse some of those from Italy to a visitation of us, going by sea so as to escape those who would hinder them. For I have seen that those in power beside the rulers neither wish nor are able to remind them concerning the men who have been cast out, but count it gain to see nothing worse happening in the Churches. If, then, the plan should commend itself as useful to your wisdom also, you will deign both to draft letters and to dictate memoranda concerning the matters about which he must speak, and to whom. And so that the letters may carry some trustworthiness, you will assuredly take along with you those of one mind, even if they are not present. Matters here are still uncertain, Euippius having arrived but as yet revealed nothing. They threaten, however, a gathering of those of like mind with them, both from Armenia of the Tetrapolis and from Cilicia.