The Avellana is a collection of 244 documents, dating from 367 to 553, including many imperial and papal letters. These were first gathered into what is now known as the the Collectio Avellana in the second half of the sixth century. Many of the documents have not been preserved in any other collection. The oldest and best manuscript is Vat. lat. 3787 (XI). This text has been edited by O.Guenther: Epistolae Imperatorum Pontificum Aliorum Inde ab a. CCCLXVII usque DLIII datae Avellana Quae Dicitur Collectio, CSEL vol. 35, 2 parts (Prague,Vienna, and Leipzig 1895).

View/download the Guenther edition of the Avellana from Google books:

Fourth-century documents in the Avellana:

G #: document number in Guenther edition
G pp.: pages in Guenther edition
date: the date assigned by Guenther. If a specific day is given, that day is recorded in the document
description click on a description to see a translation, if available.
Coleman-Norton: the volume, document number (pages) of the translation and notes in Coleman-Norton, Roman State and Christian Church, 3 volumes (London: SPCK, 1966)
G # G pp. Date Description Coleman-Norton
1 1-4 describes 352-380 An account of the schism which occurred between the bishops Liberius and Felix and continued under Damasus and Ursinus *note- a translation is available for this document. Click the description.
2 5-44 383/4 Petition of Luciferian leaders Marcellinus and Faustus to the emperors Valentinian, Theodosius, and Arcadius –
2a 45-46 383/4 Reply of Valentinian, Theodosius, and Arcadius to the Luciferian petition vol. 2, #195 (pp. 390-92)
3 46-47 386 Letter of Valentinian, Theodosius, and Arcadius to Salustius on the construction of the St. Paul’s basilica in Rome. vol. 2, #211 (pp. 412-14)
4 47-48 385
Feb 24		 Letter of Valentinian, Theodosius, and Arcadius, congratulating Siricius at his election as bishop of Rome vol. 2, #200 (pp. 396-97)
5 48 367
before Sept 15		 Letter of Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian to Praetextatus recalling Ursinus and his associates from exile vol. 1, #137 (pp. 311-12)
6 49 367-368
Nov.16 367 – Jan 12 368		 Letter of Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian to Praetextatus, restoring the basilica of Sicininus to the supporters of Damasus. vol. 1, #138 (pp. 313-14)
7 49-50 368
Jan 12		 Letter of Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian to Praetextatus, expelling the Ursinians from Rome vol. 1, #140 (pp. 315-16)
8 50 368 Letter of Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian to Olybrius, forcing schismatic groups 20 miles from Rome vol. 1, #142 (pp. 318-19)
9 50-51 368 Letter of Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian to Aginatius, forcing schismatic groups 20 miles from Rome vol. 1, #143 (pp. 319-20)
10 51-52 368 Letter of Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian to Olybrius on repressing disturbers of the peace vol. 1, #141 (pp. 316-18)
11 52-53 Aug 370-Aug. 372 Letter of Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian to Ampelius, banning Ursinus and 8 of his followers from Rome. vol. 1, #152 (pp. 328-29)
12 53-54 Aug 370-Aug. 372 Letter of Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian to Maximin, banning Ursinus and 8 of his followers from Rome. vol. 1, #153 (pp. 329-30)
13 54-58 378/9
Aug 9		 Gratian and Valentinian to Aquiline, in response to Pope Damasus, on papal jurisdiction vol. 1, #164 (pp. 345-50)
14-37 59-84 418-419 These 24 documents deal with the papal schism that ensued at the death of the briefly-reigning Pope Zosimus. Boniface and Eulalius both had factions supporting them as the next pope. Eventually the emperor became involved and ruled in favor of Boniface. vol. 2, #352-67 and 371 (pp.586-612) 17 documents translated
38 85-88 404
after June 20		 Honorius to Arcadius concerning John Chrysostom –
39 88-90 386/7 Letter of Maximus the imperial usurper to Valentinian, against Arians and Manichaeans –
40 90-91 385 Letter of Maximus the imperial usurper, to Pope Siricius, in support of orthodoxy (defending his decision to execute Priscillians) vol. 2, #203 (pp. 399-402)
41-50 92-117 417-418 These 10 documents are letters relating to the last years of Innocent I’s papacy and the brief reign of Zosimus. –

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