Letter LVII to Emperor Eugene

In a letter to Emperor Eugene (12 chapters, 393) St. Ambrose of Milan outlines his position on the issue of financing pagan cults from the state treasury. The saint recalls how he had previously addressed Emperor Valentinian II regarding the request of the prefect Symmachus to return the funds taken to the churches. In two messages from the bishop it was stated: a Christian cannot allocate money for pagan sacrifices. Addressing Emperor Eugene, the saint points out the contradiction between imperial power and the power of God: although the emperor has great power, God sees the hearts of people and knows their thoughts. He calls on the emperor to show more persistent resistance to requests for support of paganism, for this is contrary to the sacred law. As a historical example, St. Ambrose cites an episode from the history of Jerusalem and Antioch, when money intended for a sacrifice to Hercules was used to build a ship - thanks to the firmness of believers who did not want to participate in idolatry. This example is intended to show the emperor that even under conditions of external coercion, a way can be found not to violate God's law; This is all the more possible for a ruler who is not subordinate to anyone. To the most merciful Emperor Eugene Ambrose Bishop. 1. The reason for my departure was the fear of the Lord, to whom I used to direct all my actions, as far as I was able, and never turn my soul away from Him, and not place any person higher than the grace of Christ. After all, I do no harm to anyone if I prefer God to everyone, and, relying on Him, I am not afraid to tell you, emperors, what I feel according to my understanding. So, what I did not keep silent about before other emperors, I will not keep silent about before you, most gracious emperor. And to keep things in order, I will briefly tell you what led up to this case. 2. The most distinguished man, Symmachus, when he was prefect of the city, appealed to the young emperor Valentinian, of most august memory, to order that what had been taken from them be restored to the churches. He did this, for his part, in accordance with his zeal and his cult. Be that as it may, I, the bishop, for my part, had to examine the essence of the matter. I presented two messages to the emperors, in which I noted that a Christian could not return the funds for the sacrifices and that I was not responsible for their being abolished; however, I was responsible for the fact that no decisions were made; finally, since it will seem that he himself gives to idols so that he does not return. After all, what he himself did not take away, he cannot return, but of his own free will he will make large handouts for expenses on superstitions. Finally, if he had done this, he either would not have come to church, or, if he had come, he would not have found a priest there, or he would have found resistance in the church in his person. And the fact that he was a catechumen could not be justified, since even catechumens should not provide funds to idols. 3. My letters were read out in the consistory; There was a commit of the highest rank, Bauto, the commander of the troops, and Rumorid, himself of the same dignity, committed from early childhood to the veneration of the pagan religion of his people. Then Valentinian listened to my report and did nothing except what the cause of our faith required. And his surroundings also accepted this. 4. Subsequently, I personally turned to the most merciful Emperor Theodosius and did not hesitate to speak to his face. He, having received this kind of appeal from the Senate embassy, ​​although not the entire Senate made a request, finally approved my explanation: so for several days I did not approach him, but he did not take it with annoyance, since I did not do it for my own benefit, but was not embarrassed to say in front of the king what would have been sacrificed to himself and my soul. 5. Once again, the embassy sent by the Senate to Valentinian, the sovereign of the most august memory, in Gaul could not achieve anything, and I was really absent, and then I did not write anything to him. 6. But when your grace took the helm of power into your hands, after that it became known that gifts were given to these people - remarkable in state affairs, but who worship paganism; and perhaps they can say, Emperor Augustus, that you did not return it to the temples, but bestowed it on those who duly deserved it before you. However, we should constantly act out of fear of our God, which is also often done in the name of freedom, not only by priests, but even by those who serve you, or are in large numbers in the provinces. When you became emperor, the ambassadors asked you to return the churches; you didn't do it; others asked again, you resisted; and after that you considered that you should give gifts to those who asked. 7. Although the power of the emperor is great, think, emperor, what is the power of God; he sees the hearts of everyone, he asks for the inner conscience, he knows all deeds before they happen, he knows what is happening in your chest. Don't you suffer when you are deceived and want to hide something from God? Didn't it get to you? Although they acted so persistently, was it not your duty, Emperor, for the true and highest and living God to show even more persistent resistance with your respect and refuse what was in violation of the sacred law. 8. Whoever is jealous because of this, what you desired, you gave to others. We are not examiners of your course of action, and we do not envy the privileges of others, but we are interpreters of the faith. How can you offer your gifts to Christ? Few will appreciate what you have done; whatever you wanted them to do will be yours, whatever they do will be yours. Although you are an emperor, you must be more subservient to God. How will the priests of Christ manage your gifts? 9. There was a question of this kind in former times, but persecution gave way to the faith of the fathers, and paganism was overthrown. For when the five-year competition was to be held in the city of Tyre, and the greatest villain, the king of Antioch, arrived to watch them, Jason appointed sacred commissioners to deliver 300 silver didrachmas from Jerusalem to the Antiochians and give them for sacrifice to Hercules; but the fathers did not give money to the pagans, and the faithful men sent solemnly declared that money would not be paid for sacrifices to the gods, since this was not appropriate, but funds would be given for other things. And it was decreed that since he had said that the silver should be sent as a sacrifice to Hercules, exactly what was sent should be taken. But since those who brought it resisted, because of their zeal and religion, not to be used for the sacrifice, but for other needs, the money was given for the construction of the ship: although forced, they sent the money, however, not for the sacrifice, but for other expenses of the state. 10. In general, those who delivered the money could at least have remained silent, but they would have harmed the faith, since they knew why the money was delivered, and therefore they sent men who feared God, who made sure that what was sent was intended not for the church, but for the expenses of building the ship. For they entrusted the money to those who respected the foundations of the sacred law; the judge of the case was the one who frees the conscience. If they, being in someone else's power, were so wary, then there is no doubt what you should have done, O Emperor. In any case, you, whom no one forces, no one has in your power, should have asked the priest for advice. 11. Indeed, when I resisted then, although I was the only one who resisted, I was not the only one who wanted it, nor was I the only one who advised it. For because by my words I was obliged both to God and to people, I understood that nothing else was allowed to me, nothing else was due to me, if not that I take care of myself, because I could not humbly trust you. Indeed, I held back for a long time, hid my grief for a long time; I believed that I shouldn’t tell anyone anything, now I don’t have to hide anything anymore, there was no freedom to remain silent. For the same reason, at the beginning of your reign, I did not answer your letters, because I foresaw that this would happen. Finally, when you demanded an answer to the letter, since I had not written an answer to it, I said: I believe that this is the reason for what should be obtained from him. 12. However, when occasion arose for the performance of my duty, I both wrote and pleaded for those who felt uneasy about themselves, that I might show that in the affairs of God there was a just fear in me, and that I valued no more flattery than my soul; in the same matters in which it is proper to ask you, it is also my duty to show zeal for authority, as in Scripture: “To whom is honor, honor; to whom to give, to give” (Rom. 13:7). For since from the depths of my heart I rely on a private person, how can I not rely on the emperor? But those who want to be relied on are tormented by the fact that we rely on Him - the one you want to see as the creator of your power. You might be interested in: