Letter of Callistus
| Reference: | Mel. 24, FNS 67 |
| Incipit: | Γινώσκειν ὑμᾶς θέλομεν τὰ πραχθέντα ἐνταῦθα |
| Date: | ca. May-June 335 |
| Greek Text: | P. Lond. 6 1914 |
| English Translations: | FCC: JTS; H.I. Bell, Jews and Christians in Egypt (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1924) doc. 1914, pp. 58-63 |
This document is a letter written by Callistus, a Melitian, to his brothers at the Hathor monastery describing the abuses inflicted upon them by the Athanasian party. The document begins with a description of a drunk mob rampaging against the Melitians on May 19. Callistus names them as “followers of Athanasius” which would then explain their conduct against the Melitians. While some may argue that Athanasius was directly involved with this mob, it seems rather unlikely that he would direct a drunk mob against his enemies. It is interesting that Isaac of Letopolis is mentioned among those who were imprisoned by this mob. He is one who had beaten Ischyras and induced him to spread the charge that Athanasius sent Macarius to break a sacred chalice. The three letters in lines 35 & 36 seem to be about this charge.
The second part is about Athanasius at this time. The aforementioned Macarius was imprisoned abroad, and Callistus reports that Athanasius was disheartened by it. The interesting part of this section relates Athanasius’ actions against the Melitians. Callistus relates both imprisonments and beatings of some kind. This corroborates the Melitian charge against Athanasius that he had imprisoned and beaten them. Notably, this is reported in Sozomen HE 2.25 and not by Athanasius in any of his works.
The English translation below was produced by J. Sauer for FCC with reference to Sir Harold Idris Bell, Jews and Christians in Egypt.
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This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
| 1. τῷ ἀγαπητῷ ἀδελφῷ ἄπα Παιηοῦ καὶ Παταβεὶτ πρεσβυτέροις Καλλιστος ἐν | 1. To my dear brother Apa Paieus and Patabeit, elders. Callistus |
| κ(υρί)ῳ θ(ε)ῷ χαίρειν. Γιν(ώ)σκ(ε)ιν ὑμᾶς θέλομεν τὰ πραχθέντα ἐνταῦθα | greetings in the Lord God. We wish you to know the things which happened here; |
| πράγματα· ἐξάφινα γὰρ ἠκούσατε (ἃ) ἐπάθαμεν ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ ἐκ(ε)ίνῃ ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ Ἡρα- | for suddenly you heard what we suffered on that night at the house |
| κλέου τοῦ κο(<μ>)μενταρησίου. εἰσὶν γὰρ καί τινες ἀδελφοὶ ἐκ τῶν ἐλ[θ]όντων πρὸς ὑμᾶς | of Heraclius the recorder. For there were even some brothers from those who came to you |
| 5. μεθʼ ἡμῶν ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ καὶ δύνονται καὶ αὐτοὶ τὰ πραχθέντα [ὑ]μῖν ἀναγ(<γ>ε)ῖλαι. μετὰ | 5. with you in the house, and they themselves are able to tell you the things which happened. For when |
| γὰρ τὴν ἡμέραν ἐκ(ε)ίνη(<ν>) ἐν τῇ τετράδι καὶ εἰκά(δ)ι τοῦ Παχ[ὼ]ν μηνὸς Ἰσὰκ | that day on the 24th of the month of Pashons [May 19], Isaac |
| ὁ ἐπίσκοπος ἀπὸ Λητοῦς ἦλθεν πρὸς Ἡραείσκον ἐν Ἀλεξα[νδρ]ίᾳ, καὶ ἠθέλησεν | the bishop from Letopolis came to Heraiscus in Alexandria, and he wished |
| γεύσασθαι μετὰ τοῦ ἐπισκόπου ἐν τῇ παρεμβολῇ. ἀκούσαν[τε]ς οὖν οἱ διαφέρον- | to dine with the bishop in the camp. Then, when they heard, the |
| τες Ἀθανασίου καὶ ἤλθασιν φέροντες μεθʼ ἑαυτῶν στρατι(ώ)τας τοῦ δουκὸς καὶ τῆς | followers of Athanasius also came bringing with them the soldiers of the dux and the |
| 10. παρεμβολῆς, οἰν(ώ)μενοι ἤλθασιν ὥρᾳ ἐνάτῃ συνκλ(ε)ίσαντες τὴν [π]αρεμβολὴν βουλομε(<νοι>) | 10. camp. They came intoxicated at the ninth hour after they closed the camp hoping |
| καὶ αὐτὸν καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς πιάσαι. ἀκούσαντες οὖν τινὲς στρατι(ῶ)ται [ο]ἱ ἐν τῇ παρεμβολῇ καὶ | to seize both him and the brothers. Then, when some soldiers in the camp also |
| φόβον θεοῦ ἔχοντες ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ἦρκαν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἔκρυψαν ἐν ταῖς κέλλαις ἐν τῇ παρεμβολῇ. | having the fear of God in their heart heard this, they took and hid them in the storerooms in the camp. |
| καὶ ἐκ(ε)ίνων μὴ εὑρεθέντων ἐγβάντων αὐτῶν εὗραν τέσσαρ(α)ς ἀδελφοὺς ἐρχομένους ἐν τῇ πα- | And because they were not found, the drunk soldiers went out and found four brothers coming into the |
| ρεμβολῇ, καὶ κατακόψαντες αὐτοὺς καὶ (αἱ)μαρ(ρό)εις ποιησάμενοι ὥστε αὐτοὺς κινδυνεῦσαι καὶ ἐξέβαλ(ο) | camp, and after cutting them down and drawing blood so that they were in danger, they even threw |
| 15. αὐτοῦ ἔξω τῆς Νικοπ(ό)λεως. καὶ μετὰ <τὸ> τούτους ἐ(κ)βαλ(ε)ῖν ἀπήλθασιν πάλιν ἐπὶ τὴν πύλην τοῦ | 15. them out of Nicopolis. And after they threw them out, they departed again to the gate of the |
| Ἡλίου ἐν τῇ μονῇ ἐν ᾗ (εἰ)σὶν ἐπιξενούμενοι οἱ ἀδελφοὶ καὶ πιάσαντες ἄλλους πέντ(ε) ἐκ(ε)ῖ εἶ(<ρ>)ξαν | Sun in the inn in which the brothers were being housed, and after seizing five others there, they imprisoned |
| αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ παρεμβολῇ ὀψίας, καὶ συ(γ)νκλ(ε)ίσαντες αὐτοὺς μέχρις τοῦ τ[ὸ]ν πραιπόσιτον προε(λ)θ(ε)ῖν | them in the camp in the evening. And after shutting them in until the praepositus came |
| ἐν τοῖς σίγνοις τὸ πρὸς πρ(ω)ὶ καὶ λαβὼν αὐτοὺς ὁ πραιπόσιτος καὶ ὁ σκρίβας καὶ αὐτοὺς ἐκέλευ- | to the guard room in the morning and the praepositus and scribe took them, he ordered them |
| σεν ἐγβληθῆναι ἐκτὸς τῆς Νικοπόλεως· καὶ τὸν μονάριν Ἡρακλίδην δ(ή)[σα]ντες καὶ ὑβρίσαντες | to be thrown out of Nicopolis, and after they bound and beat the innkeeper Heraclides, |
| 20. ἐνέτ(ε)ιλαν τῷ αὐτῷ ἐπαπ(ε)ιλούμενοι, ὅτι κατὰ ποίαν (αἰ)τίαν τοὺς μ[ο]ναχ̣οὺς τῶν Μελιτιανῶν | 20. they threatened him and ordered him, “Why did you permit the monks of the Melitians |
| (εἴ)ασας ἐν τῇ μ(ο)νῇ; καὶ ἄλλον ἀδελφὸν Ἄμμωνα ὄντα ἐν τῇ παρεμβ[ο]λῇ [κ]αὶ αὐτὸν ὑποδεχόμενον | in the inn?” And another brother Ammon who was in the camp and was welcoming |
| τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς συνέκλ(ε)ισαν ἐν τῇ παρεμβολῇ, παρήγ(<γ>ε)ιλαν δὲ αὐτῷ ὥστε μὴ ὑποδέχεσθαι αὐ- | the brothers they imprisoned in the camp, they ordered him so that he would not welcome |
| τὸν μοναχοὺς ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ αὐτοῦ. ἄλλος γὰρ ἀδελφὸς οὐκ ἔστιν (ε)ἰ μὴ οὗ[τοι οἱ] δύο ὑποδέχομενοι τοὺς | monks in his home. For there was no other brother welcoming the brothers except these two; |
| ἀδελφούς· ἐποίησαν αὐτοὺς δ(ε)ιλανθῆναι. θλιβόμεθα οὖν πάνυ διειρ[γμέ]νοι ὑπὸ αὐτῶν κατὰ τό- | they made the others to be cowards. Therefore, we were exceedingly afflicted, separated by them in our own |
| 25. πον. ἐπιλ(υ)πούμεθα οὖν ὅτι οὐκ ἐπιτρέπουσιν ἡμῖν πρὸς τ[ὸν] πάπαν Ἡραείσκον ἀπελθ(ε)ῖν | 25. place. Therefore, we are distressed that they do not permit us to leave to Pope Heraiscus |
| καὶ ἐπισκέψασθαι αὐτόν. ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ γὰρ ἐν ᾗ ὑβρίσθησαν οἱ ἀδελφοὶ ὁ πραι[π]όσιτος τῶν στρατιωτῶν ἔπεμ- | and to visit him. For during the night in which the brothers were maltreated, the praepositus of the soldiers |
| (ψ)εν φάσιν τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ λέγων ὅτι ἡμάρτησα καὶ ἐπαρ(ῳ)νήθην ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ ὅτι τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς | sent a report to the bishop saying, “I sinned and became drunk at night so that I mistreated the brothers.” |
| ὕβρισα. ἐποίησεν δὲ καὶ ἀγάπην ἐν ἐκ(ε)ίνῃ τῇ ᾑμέρᾳ Ἑλλην ὢν δ[ιὰ] τὸ ἁμάρτημα ὃ ἐποίησεν. | And he also performed an act of service that day, although he was a Greek, because of the sin which he committed. |
| Written in the left-hand margin | |
| Ἀθανάσιος δὲ μεγάλως ἀθυμ(ε)ῖ καὶ αὐτὸς παρέχ(ε)ι ἡμῖν κάματον διὰ τὰ γραφ(ό)μενα καὶ τὰς | And Athanasius is greatly disheartened, and he himself gives us trouble because of what is being written and the |
| 30. φάσ(ε)ις τὰς ἐρχομένας αὐτ[ῷ] ἀ[πὸ] ἔξωθεν, ἐπ(ε)ιδὴ ὁ β[α]σιλεὺς Μακάριον εὑρὼν ἔξω ἐν τῷ | 30. reports coming to him from outside. For the emperor, finding Macarius outside in the |
| Κομι(τ)ά[τῳ] [- ca.15 -]υρῳ γράψας [ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣] ̣ανυους ὅτι δήσας αὐτὸν καὶ ̣επι | court …written to…because having bound him and… |
| ̣α ἀπο ̣[- ca.16 -]α ἵνα αὐ[το ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣] ̣εσται. ἀπελθόντων οὖν Ἀρχελά- | …so that… Therefore, Archelaus leaving |
| ου τοῦ [ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ καὶ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣] ̣ μετὰ Ἀθαν[ασίου το]ῦ υἱου Καπίτωνος, | …and…with Athanasius son of Capiton, |
| The reverse side | |
| βουλόμενοι ἀποσπάσ(αι) Μακάριον, ἡ φάσις οὖν ἀπ(ῆ)λθην πρὸς ἄπα Ἰωάννην ἐν Ἀντιοχίᾳ· | wishing to drag away Macarius. Then the report went out to Apa John in Antioch. |
| 35. ἦλθεν καὶ πιάσας αὐτοὺς κατέσχεν αὐτούς, ἐπ(ε)ιδὴ ἐπὶ συκοφαντίᾳ καὶ δ(ε)ινὰ ἦσαν γράψαν- | 35. He came and after seizing them imprisoned them, because in slander they were even writing terrible things |
| τες κατὰ Ἡραείσκου, καὶ αὐτὸς Ἀρχέλαος τὰ γ(<ρ>)άμματα ἦρκεν ἔξω. ὁ θεὸς οὖν ἐποίησεν | against Heraiscus, and Archelaus himself took the writings out. Therefore, God both brought |
| καὶ τοὺς τρ(ε)ῖς ἔξω καὶ ἔχ(ε)ι ἔξω. τοῦτʼ οὖν ἤκουσεν Ἀθανάσιος ὅτι Ἀρχέλαος | the three abroad and keeps them abroad. Then, Athanasius heard this, that Archelaus |
| συνεσχέθη, πάνυ ἀθυμεῖ Ἀθανάσιος. πολλαχῶς οὖν ἦλθαν ἐπὶ | was detained; Athanasius is exceedingly disheartened. Then many times they came for |
| αὐτὸν καὶ μέχρις νῦν οὐκ ἀπεδήμησεν· ἐνεβάλ(ε)το δ[ὲ] τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ θα- | him, and until now he did not flee home; but he placed his luggage in the |
| 40. λάσσῃ ὡς αὐτοῦ ἀπ(ο)δημοῦντος, καὶ πάλιν εἰς δεύτερον ἤνε(<γ>)κεν τὰ σκεύη | 40. sea as if he were fleeing, and again a second time he took the luggage |
| ἀπὸ τοῦ πλοίου, μὴ βουλόμενος̣ ἀ[π]οδημῆ[σ]α[ι] ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ψαι ̣ ̣ ἔγρ[α]ψα (ἵ)να | from the boat, not wishing to flee home…I wrote so that |
| γνοῖτ(ε) ἐν ποίᾳ θλίψ(ε)ι ἐσμέν· ἤνε(<γ>)κεν γὰρ ἐπίσκοπον τῆς κάτω χώρας | you may know in what affliction we are; for he took a bishop of the lower country |
| καὶ συνέκλ(ε)ισεν αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ μακέλλῳ, καὶ πρεσβύτερον τῶν αὐτῶν μερῶν | and imprisoned him in the meat market, and an elder of the same parts |
| συνέκλ(ε)ισεν καὶ αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ ἀπλικίτῳ καὶ διάκ(ο)να ἐν τῇ μεγίστῃ φ(υ)λακῇ, καὶ μέχρις | he imprisoned him also in the camp’s prison, and a deacon in the great prison, and until |
| 45. τῆς ὀγδόης καὶ εἰκάδος τοῦ Παχὼν μηνὸς καὶ Ἡραείσκος συνκεκλ(ε)ισμέ- | 45. the 28th day of the month of Pashons [May 23] even Heraiscus was imprisoned |
| νος ἐστὶν ἐν τῇ παρεμβολῇ εὐχαριστῶ μὲν τῷ δεσπότῃ θεῷ ὅτι ἐπαύθησαν (αἱ) πλη- | in the camp. I thank the Lord God that the blows have ended |
| γαὶ ἃς εἶχεν καὶ ἐπὶ τῇ ε(β)δόμῃ καὶ εἰκάδι ἐποίησεν ἐπισκόπους ἕπτα ἀποδη- | which he had, and on the 27th [May 22] he caused seven bishops |
| μῆσαι· Ἔμις καὶ Πέτρος εἰς αὐτούς ἐστιν, υἱὸς Τουβέστις. μὴ ἀμελήσητ(ε) οὖν | to leave home. Emis and Peter were among them, as well as the son of Tubestis. Therefore, do not overlook |
| περὶ ἡμῶν, ἀδελφοί, ἐπ(ε)ιδὴ τὰ ψωμία ἀφῆκαν ὀπίσω, ἵνα διὰ τὸν ἐπίσκοπον μή- | us, brothers, because they left behind the pieces of bread, in order that, on account of the bishop, |
| 50. πως ἔξω ἀρθῇ ἵνα τ(η)ρῇ αὐτὰ μετʼ αὐτοῦ. ἐγὼ γὰρ ἀγοράζων ἄρτους εἰς δια- | 50. it may not be taken outside and he may guard them with himself. For I, while buying bread for |
| τροφὴν ἠγόρασα ἀρτάβην σίτου (ταλάντων) ιδ. ἐπὰν οὖν εὕρητ(ε) εἰδήμ(ο)να ἀπο- | food, bought an artaba of grain for 14 talents. Then, after you find an expert, |
| στ(ε)ίλατέ μοι ὀλίγα ψωμία. ἀσπάζομ(αι) τὸν πατέρα μου Πραυοῦν καὶ πάντας τοὺς | send to me a few pieces of bread. I greet my father Prauos and all the |
| ἀδελφοὺς τοὺς ὄντας μετʼ αὐτοῦ καὶ Θέονα τὸν διάκ(ο)να Σαπρίωνα καὶ Ὡρίωνα | brothers who are with him and Theon the deacon, Saprion and Orion |
| καὶ Παπνούτιν καὶ ἄπα Σαρμάτην καὶ Παώμιν καὶ Πιὸρ καὶ Εὐδαίμωνα καὶ ἄπα Τρύφωνα | and Papnutius and Apa Sarmates and Paomius and Pior and Eudaimona and Apa Tryphon |
| 55. καὶ Γερόντιον καὶ ἄπα Ἱέρακα καὶ ἄπα Ἑλενᾶν καὶ ἄπα Ἁρηοῦν καὶ ἄπα Πιὰμ καὶ Κορνήλιν | 55. and Gerontius and Apa Hierax and Apa Helenas and Apa Harenus and Apa Piam and Cornelius |
| καὶ Πισάτιν καὶ Κολλοῦθον καὶ Ἰωσὴπ καὶ τὰ παιδία αὐτοῦ καὶ Φίνες. μὴ ἀμελήσῃς οὖν, | and Pisatius and Colluthus and Joseph and his children and Phines. Then do not neglect, |
| πάτ(ε)ρ, ἀποστ(ε)ῖλαι πρὸς Ψαεῖν ἀπὸ Τερὸτ ἕνεκεν τῆς ἀρτάβης τοῦ σίτου, καὶ ποίησον | father, to send to Psaeis from Terot on account of the artaba of grain, and send |
| Τουᾶν ἀπὸ Ταμούρω ἵνα καὶ αὐτὸς ἀπέλθῃ εἰς Ταμούρω ἕνεκεν τῆς ἀρτάβης τοῦ σίτου· | Tuan from Tamuro in order that he also may leave for Tamuro for the artaba of grain; |
| (αἱ) ἡμέραι γάρ εἰσιν τοῦ λαβ(ε)ῖν αὐτοὺς αὐτάς. ἀσπάζομ(αι) Παῦλον τὸν ἀναγνώστην καὶ ἄπα | for these are the days that they should receive them. I greet Paul the lector and Apa |
| 60. Ἠλι(<α>)ν καὶ Ἀνουβᾶν μέγαν καὶ Ἀνουβᾶν μικρὸν καὶ Παμούτιν καὶ Τιτούην καὶ τὰ παιδία αὐτοῦ καὶ Ὃρ | 60. Elias and Anubas the elder and Anubas the younger and Pamutius and Titues and his children and Hor |
| ἀπὸ Τουμνακὼν καὶ πάντας τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ τοὺς μετʼ αὐτοῦ καὶ Παπνούτιν καὶ Λεο- | from Tumnakon and all his brothers with him and Papnutius and |
| νίδην τὸν ἀδελφὸν α[ὐ]τ[οῦ] καὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν τὸν ἄλλον τὸν μετʼ αὐτῶν. | Leonides his brother and the other brother with them. |
| Written perpendicular | |
| ἄ[πα Παιηοῦ καὶ Παταβεὶτ π(αρὰ)] Κα(<λ>)λίστου. | To Apa Paieus and Patabeit from Callistus. |
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