Resultados25 letters/passages
synesius_cyrene · c. 397 · score 0.02
To Aurelian. I believe your divine soul was sent into this world for the common good of humanity — and you should be grateful to those who bring you cases like this, because they supply you with exactly the kind of work you were made for. I am not recommending the young Herodes to you because he is my relative, but bec …
synesius_cyrene · c. 400 · score 0.02
To Aurelian. If cities have souls — and they must, with their divine guardians and spirits — then you can be sure those spirits are grateful to you and remember the good you did for all nations during your great administration [as Praetorian Prefect]. Believe me, those powers stand beside you always, as advocates and a …
synesius_cyrene · c. 398 · score 0.02
To Aurelian. Providence has not yet turned its attention to the Romans — but it will, someday. Those men [perhaps the Goths of Gainas] will not sit quietly in their houses forever, they who have the power to save the state. As for our old friend the orator: the power you currently hold is enough to give him what he nee …
synesius_cyrene · c. 403 · score 0.02
To Pentadius the Augustalis [the governor of Egypt]. As for the flood of people coming to see both you and me about their problems — you have only yourself to blame. You have been too zealous in making it obvious to everyone that you hold me in high honor, and the result is a perfect deluge of people in trouble beating …
synesius_cyrene · c. 403 · score 0.02
To Heliodorus. Rumor says you have great influence with the present Prefect of Egypt — and in this case, rumor tells the truth. You deserve that influence because you use your power honorably. Here, then, is an excellent opportunity to display your kindness: help the man who carries this letter. He deserves it.
synesius_cyrene · c. 411 · score 0.02
… gn to have him excommunicated and removed. It is addressed to Anastasius at the imperial court in Constantinople, in hopes that the central government will finally intervene. The letter reveals the desperate situation of a provincial bishop in a collapsing frontier zone — caught between barbarian raiders from outside, …
synesius_cyrene · c. 400 · score 0.01
To the Bishops. Andronicus of Berenice — let no one call him a Christian, for he was born, raised, and grew up to be the evil destiny of Pentapolis, having seized the government of his country for his own profit — is accursed of God. Let him and his entire household be expelled from every church. The reason is not mere …
synesius_cyrene · c. 407 · score 0.01
To Joannes. One should use the friendship of the powerful, but not abuse it.
synesius_cyrene · c. 406 · score 0.01
… rom the bottom of my heart I rejoice to hear that those golden children have by imperial decree become legally your own. This is the most wonderful news. May you enjoy them for many years.
synesius_cyrene · c. 410 · score 0.01
To my Brother. Poemenius, who carries this letter, was sent by Artabazaces — our recent governor — to take charge of all the property he acquired in this region. In performing this task, Poemenius showed himself gentle and considerate. What other man would have behaved so well with such an opportunity? No one in Libya …
synesius_cyrene · c. 404 · score 0.01
To the Governor. If Your Excellency remembers Theodorus — and how could you not? — I beg you to show some respect for his memory by honoring his kinsman in the same way. By treating an excellent man with kindness, you will confer a favor on the senate of our illustrious city.
synesius_cyrene · c. 408 · score 0.01
To Pylaemenes. You are quite right to return to the capital. Even if good fortune had attended you in the mountains of Isauria, good fortune becomes unfortunate when it comes in the wrong place. Besides, I have a personal reason to want you prospering at court: as long as I have a friend near the throne, I have hope th …
synesius_cyrene · c. 411 · score 0.01
To Theophilus. Justice has departed from humanity. In the past, Andronicus committed injustice; now he in turn suffers it. But it is the nature of the Church to raise the humble and humble the proud. The Church detested Andronicus for his crimes, but now that he has been brought low, it is the Church's duty to show mer …
synesius_cyrene · c. 403 · score 0.01
To Pentadius the Augustalis. I am worried about two people: about you, that you may not commit an injustice; and about this man, that he may not suffer one.
synesius_cyrene · c. 402 · score 0.01
To my Brother. I have entrusted a letter to the charming Gerontius, addressed to your august and thrice-longed-for self, providing an occasion for your first meeting. At first, perhaps, you will honor him for my sake. But after you have tested him, you will honor someone else for his.
synesius_cyrene · c. 399 · score 0.01
Against Andronicus [Letter 57]. [This is not a letter but a formal episcopal decree — the longest document in Synesius's correspondence. It is a devastating indictment of Andronicus, a corrupt governor of Pentapolis.] The malevolent forces in the universe fulfill the designs of Providence insofar as they punish the des …
synesius_cyrene · c. 409 · score 0.01
To Domitian the jurist. Righteous causes always need allies, and those who come to their rescue may count themselves fortunate — since they share in the merit of the cause they defend. Here is an opportunity to add to your already considerable store of merit. Act on it.
synesius_cyrene · c. 411 · score 0.01
To the Bishops. Let Andronicus [a notoriously corrupt local official], who has made a mockery of the Church, now experience her justice. Just yesterday he sinned against God and insulted humanity. For this we closed the church against him and drafted a letter to your brotherhood announcing the sentence. He anticipated …
synesius_cyrene · c. 412 · score 0.01
To Theophilus. I was prepared to place my hand and my judgment at the service of your fatherly command. However, I do not think Andronicus could have served his own profit better than Nicaeus has served his own ruin. I do not clearly understand why Nicaeus first left, nor why he has now returned in this state. The whol …
synesius_cyrene · c. 409 · score 0.01
To Domitian the jurist. I know from the facts themselves that your greatest pleasure lies in doing good, and that you are always ready to extend a helping hand. I am therefore not embarrassed to ask you: help the man who carries this letter. His case is just, and your assistance will cost you nothing but a little time …
synesius_cyrene · c. 411 · score 0.01
To Theophilus. I act on your instructions because it is my desire — and a divine necessity compels me — to treat as law whatever your sacred throne ordains. For that reason, I forced my sick body into action, traveled through hostile territory as though it were safe, and arrived at Palaebisca and Hydrax — two villages …
synesius_cyrene · c. 404 · score 0.01
To my Brother. This man [probably named Ammonius] is a senator of the city where my children were born. In some way, we ought to honor all Alexandrians as fellow citizens. More than that, he is a man of learning and virtue who deserves our help for his own sake. Receive him warmly and do whatever you can for him.
synesius_cyrene · c. 401 · score 0.01
To my Brother. Who deserves the admiration of your peers? The man who is prudent, orderly, well educated, and devout. In a word: a man like Gerontius. Here he is, along with this letter. Once you have made his acquaintance, you will say my praise was not exaggerated.
synesius_cyrene · c. 412 · score 0.01
To a Bishop, expelled from his diocese for refusing to accept Arian doctrine. You have recovered what you truly are — you have not lost it. When a man is struck from the rolls of impiety, he is not at the same moment deprived of the throne of genuine piety. Welcome your exile from Egypt, and believe that the prophet's …
synesius_cyrene · c. 411 · score 0.01
To Anysius. Nothing could benefit Pentapolis more than honoring the Unnigardae [a barbarian military unit], who are excellent both as men and as soldiers, above all the other troops — not just the so-called native forces, but every auxiliary unit that has ever been stationed in our region. The proof of their quality is …